Long Response Two

Question 1

Intro

Answer 1

Heroic qualities from not only stem from physical strength and courage

The quality of these women challenge traditional gender norms

Complex traits such as…
- intelligence
- leadership
- moral courage

They redefine heroism

Question 2

P2

Answer 2

Penelope from The Odyssey
- Navigated the social pressures and expectations while Odysseus was absent for 20 years
- while also maintaining her household

Intelligence
- uses cunning strategies to curb suitors and other pressures
- ex. she weaved and unraveled Learte’s shroud to delay marriage

Loyalty
- loyal through her husbands absence
- loyal through social pressures

These qualities allowed her to stay loyal to her husband while also maintaining her household highlighting resilience and perseverance

Greek Culture
- Balance between domesticity and courage and intellect

Question 3

P2

Answer 3

Dido from Aenid
- The queen of carthage
- falls in love with Aeneas but is ultimately left by him when he choose his duty to his state over her
- her story highlights an important interplay between leadership and passion

Leadership
- her role as queen highlight her ability to rule showcases attributes of power, authority, and vision

Passion
- Many view her love for Aeneas as a foolish element of the myth as the love story ends tragically with Dido’s death however i argue that her passion is what drives her heroic acts of generosity
- furthermore, passion is a heroic quality in any hero’s story as it is a driving factor in their determination on their journey

Significance
- her ability to lead showcases the heroic qualities of leadership
- while her passion highlights the important interplay between personal desire and public duty that many heros grapple with in varying myths

Cultural Reflection
- Her leadership highlights the roman value of political prowess and the emphasis of the state and common good

Question 4

P3

Answer 4

Antigone from Antigone
- Antigone defies Kreon by giving her brother a proper burial - prioritizing divine law over state law
- Antigone prioritizes moral justice over fear of punishment

Moral Conviction
- she demonstrates unwavering loyalty to familial duty and justice

Defiance
- defies Kreon, representing a defiance of state laws

Significance
- Rooted in self sacrifice and and her willingness to uphold her principles at a great cost

Cultural Reflection
- Antigine highlights the Greek values of familial loyalty
- Having a woman as the moral compass is a contrast to the patriarchal norms of Greek myth

Question 5

Conclusion

Answer 5

Similarities
- All three demonstrate resilience - defying social expectations of women as passive figures
- Each embody a unique heroic quality
All three challenge traditional notions of heroism

Differences
1. Cultural Focus
- Greek myths often depict women in a domestic sphere
- Roman myths often depict women as figures of political or public context

2. Endings
   
   • Peneleope ends in with restoration and triumph
   • Dido and Antigone end in tragedy showcasing the cost of heroism