Comparing female powerlessness in the Iliad and Metamorphoses

¶ … Homer's Iliad is an epic poem that is set in Ancient Greece. The story is meant to be an historical account of the Trojan War. The Trojan Prince Hector is eager to help lead his men to victory but Andromache, Hector's wife, is terribly worried about losing him and their son and breaking up their family. The "Ceres & Proserpina" of Ovid's Metamorphoses a poem that is also set in Ancient Rome. In this story Pluto, God of underworld, steals away Proserpina who is the daughter of Ceres and Jupiter. Ceres pleads to Jupiter, God of Heaven, that he uses his power to facilitate the return of her daughter. Both Andromache and Ceres are devoid of female significance or any sense of empowerment in both Greek and Roman mythology, and this portrays a sense of general helplessness in women. In the stories conclusion, Andromache loses her husband in the Trojan War and her family is also put to death, however Ceres is allowed to get her daughter back and gets to see her 6 months a year.

Andromache, though not a central figure, functions as a reminder to her husband, Hector, of his duties to the family. Andromache demonstrates an almost psychic understanding of the events of the war and lobbies for herself and her son as well as essentially the entirety of their family. Andromache tells Hector, "Your courage is going to kill you, and you have no feeling left for your little boy or for me" (Homer, 427-429). These blatant confrontations lead Hector to the realization that before he is a fighter, he's a devoted family member, he's a father, and he's the leader of their clan. Andromache offer much of anything in regards to fighting in the war so she pleas with Hector not to fight Achilles, who is a strong Greek fighter, but Hector rejects the plea. This rejection of her advice illustrates the core dynamic of the male/female relationship as male being stronger than female in the Iliad story. Andromache is powerless to do anything in the Trojan War for her or for her family.

In the story of "Ceres & Proserpina," Ceres is the goddess of crops and but she cannot get her daughter back. Ceres, filled with panic due to the loss of her daughter from Pluto, goes to the Jupiter, father of Proserpina and god of heaven. She tells Jupiter that Pluto steals away Proserpina; however Jupiter answers Ceres, "This is not an injury requiring my retribution, but an act of love by my son-in law who won't shame you" (Ovid,699-670). He rejects her request and he believes that it is out of love. Jupiter believes his brother Pluto, so he does not concern himself with the daughter. The rejection of Ceres' request is another illustration that shows that lack of importance of females' authority because the men are dominant. After the decision is made by Jupiter, Ceres has nothing left to do for her daughter nor does she have power to protect her daughter.

In the Trojan War, Achilles kills Hector and he brings Hector's dead body back to the Greek side. When Andromache hears of the death of Hector, she said, "There's nothing left for him in life but pain and deprivation, all his property" (Homer, 542-543). Because of her husband's death she also fears for her son's impending death because without Hector, Andromache has no ability to protect her son. Even though she was opposed to the fight between Hector with Achilles, he decides to fight and consequently dies.

In the Ovid's story, Jupiter says to Ceres that if Proserpina does not eat anything in the Underworld, he will agree to get her back to Ceres. However, Proserpina eats seven of pomegranate's seeds. When Jupiter becomes aware of this, he tries to find a solution to satisfy Pluto, Ceres, and Proserpina and Jupiter says," But poised between his sorrowing sister and brother, great love divided the year into two equal portions" (Ovid, 740-741). Ceres is allowed to see Proserpina six months a year and then Proserpina has to go back to the Underworld to see Pluto and spend the remaining six months of the year.

In the Iliad, it is not only Andromache, but also Hector's mother and Prince Paris's wife do wish their men to fight in the Trojan War. "Trojan wives and daughters ran up to him / each woman in turn, to pray to the gods. Sorrow clung to their heads like mist" (Ovid, 247/250-151). Women just plead with their husbands and sons but there requests are never granted. The position of female in the Greek mythology is portrayed as relatively powerless compared with the male position. In the Ceres & Proserpina, Ceres has power to control crops and harvest, but Jupiter is goddess of Heaven. Even though Ceres has great power, she cannot protect her daughter herself so she has to ask Jupiter who has even greater power to help her.