se. In ancient Greek times, women were seen as more delicate and placed figurative pedestals. They were expected to take care of the house, but this only included making sure everything ran smoothly, and delegating chores and responsibilities. They were not actually expected to do the manual labor themselves. Some of the important women in Sakuntala include: Sakuntala, the lover of nature and the prospective heroine of the play; Anasuya and Priyamvada, aides of Sakuntala and women you help in her chores; and Mother Gautami the first hand maiden of father Kanva and caregiver of Sakuntala. Even though they are seen as more subservient and have to perform more of the meaningless tasks they are still valued and loved. This is seen through the love that Dusyanta feels for Sakuntala and also in the despair he shows when he realizes he has turned her away.The changing role of women in literature can be seen by reading and comparing Homer's The Odyssey and Kalidasa's Sakuntala. The women in both works are highly valued the men close to them but not as much in society. Women can actually be seen as regressing instead of progressing in that they are made to seem more subservient in the later work....
