In the Odyssey, women play a completely different role than is commonly seen in literature. Although this was written at a time where women were seen as objects and means of sex. They were dominated and held to the standards that they account for men’s need.  

However, in the writing of Homer, women are depicted as the opposite. They are in positions of power, and have the authority to make decisions that impact others. They have unique relationships with men, that are not mirrored in real life. Without several of the women in Odyssey, Odysseus wouldn’t be able to have made it home. The earliest example is Athena praying to Zeus to make Kalypso to let Odysseus go. Kalypso held Odysseus captive for 7 years. Odysseus could not over power her, which was one example of a women determining someone’s life, and Athena was the only person who changed his fate. She convinced Zeus to release him, which is another position of power that a woman held.