Misogyny in Theogony Essay Example for Free

Misogyny in Theogony EssayIn Theogony, Hesiod expresses misogynistic notions and shows the triviality of the creation of women. Hesiod portrays the undistinguished role for women. He uses marri suppurate as a light-hearted yet serious judgment and stereotypes against all women. Hesiod explains the close to misogynistic attitudes in the story of Pandora. He works misogyny into fe male monsters and goddesses that use their tricks on men. Hesiod displays the dominance of the male sex in his poem, Theogony.Hesiod touches on his feelings toward the idea of marriage. Referring to Theogony, he states that the man who avoids marriage arrives at an old age with no one to look after him and distant relatives share out his living. The man who finds a wakeless wife spends a life, that is balanced between evil and good, / A constant struggle.(393-394) While the man who gets an foul wife lives with, He lives with pain in the heart all down the line, / Pain in temperament and mind, incura ble evil.(395-396) Hesiods idea of marriage is more of a teaching process with the man as dominant and the woman is to be controlled.The very creation of women was a punishment to mankind. Out of Zeus angriness toward Prometheus, came Pandora, the first woman. Hesiod explains the thoughts of immortal gods and mortal men as they first glanced at the scenic creation as sheer deception, irresistible to men. / From her is the race of female women, / The deadly race and population of women, / A great pest among mortal men. (373-376) The only reason women live in this world is because of the sins of one male figure. Women have no other purpose in Hesiods words than to be the bad that upsets the good in the world.In Theogony, Hesiod mentions the monster Echidna stern of heart, who was half nymph with fair cheeks and curling lashes, and half a foolish serpent, terrible and huge, glinting and ravening, down in the hidden depths of the numinous earth. This monster that Hesiod describes se ems to parallel with his image of women beautiful but deceiving. Theogony also describes Aphrodite as a modest and beautiful goddess. Although she is the goddess of intimacy, tenderness, and pleasure, she is also the goddess of deceptions. Aphrodite claims she is the most powerful because she give the sack influence all other gods.Hesiod wrote this poem with a lot of misogynistic thoughts in mind. The idea of marriage is impertinent except for the matter of reproduction of strong and courageous men in Theogony. The creation of women was originally a punishment to Prometheus but Hesiod shows that this is a punishment to all mankind. Women are also often compared to monsters and evil creatures. Hesiod states throughout his poem that women are often insignificant and trivial to the lives of men.