In The Iliad, Helen and Athena are two characters who display "the influential power female sexuality has in relation to the mortal male...[they are] in control" (LeVan). Helen's physical beauty was her source of influence as "She plays out her role or destiny as a symbol of the beauty that men fight for..." (Bespaloff 121). Helen was Menelaus' beautiful wife, and when Paris kidnapped her because he wanted her to be his wife, Menelaus had to go to battle against Troy to defend his honor and retake Helen as his wife. Thus, if Helen had not possessed beauty, then Paris would not have wanted her, and the Trojan War would not have occurred.

Pallas Athena also wields an influential power, through her intelligence and her supernatural power as a goddess. She directs the actions of men, such as

Circe directs the actions of men mainly through her "dire divine beauty...", although she has the powers that all demi-goddesses have (LeVan). When Odysseus "rushed on Circe as if intending to kill her..." after drinking the potion that protected him, Circe uses her beauty to change Odysseus' action (Cook 137). Instead of killing Circe, Odysseus sleeps with her and stays at her island for one year. If Circe had been a male, then she would have surely died without the availability of her magical powers, which are associated with her femininity. Instead, she directs the action of Odysseus by utilizing her beauty.

Since the women of Homer's epics had so much influence over men, women could be held responsible for the actions of men. Therefore, Helen should be responsible for the Trojan War, and Calypso should be responsible for Odysseus' transition from his primary goal.

Penelope, like Helen, indirectly influenced the actions of men. While Odysseus was gone, Penelope attracted many suitors because she was known to be one of the most beautiful women of the Greek world. If her beauty had not attracted the suitors, then Odysseus would not have faced trouble when he arrived at Ithaca.

Achilles, by making herself invisible to all others except Achilles, and then plucking his hair and warning him not to strike Agamemnon. Achilles does not strike Agamemnon, and a grand mistake is avoided. Athena also influences the actions of Achilles by handing him a spear during the final battle against Hector. By handing Achilles the spear, Achilles knows that he is to kill him. If Athena had not interfered, Achilles would not have delivered his fatal attack. "Odysseus is successful, because he has the help of Athene" (Wright 67). Clearly, Athena is responsible for the actions

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1202
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)