his life and eventually cost the suitors lives. In addition, Klytemnestra unfaithfulness led to Agamemnon's death. These many depictions of women have a profound affect on the poem and the reader.The theme of women is deeply woven into the Odyssey that it has an affect on the reader's feelings as the plot develops and on the two sexes. A main purpose of women in the poem is to define the characters of Odysseus and Penelope. Women's seductive natures serve as a test of character for Odysseus. His choice to leave the sexual pleasures of Kirke and Calypso is proof of his virtue and desirability as a husband. The same depiction causes the virtuous Penelope to stand out in the large pool of vileness as a desirable wife. The contradictions also have a significant affect on the poem and the reader. The main suspense that is built throughout the poem is whether Penelope will remain loyal to Odysseus. Another man had seduced Klytemnestra while her husband was at war. Anxiety is developed as to whether the poem will turn out differently or the fate of Agamemnon would also be that of Odysseus. However, this is not the only source of the anxiety, even the gods for whom the mortals pay tribute is capable of adultery. The affair between Ares and Aphrodite poses the question of whether Odysseus will return home to find Penelope with another man. The story of Klytemnestra and Agamemnon is a theme itself throughout most of the poem. Therefore its is hard to ignore it as both hold the same story with different outcomes. In addition, the level of anxiety builds through Penelope's actions and the contradicting traits of different women. Penelope exhibited traits of being deceptive and crafty, traits that belonged to the "worst of women". It shows her potential to be deceptive nature towards men although she seems faithful, this causes distrust in the woman and unease. A remedy to this feeling of anxiety is Penelope's nearest counterpart H...
