us’ son, Telemacchus, goes the great hall of Menelaos, hiding his identity. With everyone Tessier 4gathered, ready to eat, Helen takes it upon herself to discover the identity of their guest: “Menelaos, my lord, have we yet heard our new guests introduce themselves? Shall I dissemble what I feel? No, I must say it. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . This boy must be the son of Odysseus Telemakhos, (145-147,4.3, 150-151,4.4)Helen, not even waiting for permission from Menelaos, lashes out at Telemakhos. Most women of this time would have never made such a bold move, especially without first consulting their husband. Helen is very secure in her authority using her sex to her benefit rather than as a handicapt. The third character of Focus, Nausikaa, seems at the start of book VI to be helplessly trapped by gender boundaries. The reader sees her supposed innocence as she waits to be married. She is responsible for her brothers and for making sure that she gets herself married. The tables are suddenly changed when she wakes the sleeping Odysseus. This young woman, having no prier knowledge of the male body is face with this nude warrior: Streaked to the brine, and swollen, he terrified them, so that they ran this way and that. OnlyTessier 5 Alkinoos’ daughter stood her ground, being given a bold heart by Athena, and steady knees.(146-149,6.4)The fact that she stays with the stranger, although all others run displays great courage on her part. She does not allow fear of this strange man’s possible motives frighten her, standing her ground. She continues to show her bravery by providing Odysseus with clothing and a place to stay, inviting him into her own house. Even by today’s standards, her assertiveness to remain in control is remarkable. As individuals approac...
