Odyssey vs Sure Thing: Compare & Contrast

Homer’s Odyssey and David Ives Sure Thing plays present a similar and contrasting view on love. They are in tandem in showing that love is an important aspect in the lives of humans. The plight of the characters in Odyssey and Sure things shows that love is significant in shaping the lives of individuals. It is in the pursuit of love that they hope to achieve happiness. Insure thing, Bill engages Betty with the hope that they can develop a relationship that might ultimately lead to happiness. He shows persistence in luring Betty to respond positively to his advances. It shows the possibilities of romance as language is used to navigate through these possibilities. The play largely concentrates on the foundations of love and the persistence involved in making it work for both characters. It demonstrates the emergence of second chances to make the pursuance of love work. There are many mishaps along the way but there are possibilities of utilizing second chances to obtain the happiness that comes from love. There is a connotation in the play that love between two people should be cultivated by any means necessary efforts should be made to maintain faithfulness and keep it strong. The Odyssey play also shows the significance of love in the life of the main characters such as Odysseus and Penelope. They have a lasting relationship that exudes love between them. All along, while away, Odysseus remains faithful to his wife and Penelope also remains committed to their promise of love by delaying marriages to suitors who come to seek her hand in marriage.

 A contrasting vision of love develops in the two plays in relation to the stages. While Sure Thing concentrates on showing the building blocks towards developing love, Homers’ Odyssey highlights the impacts of love after it is established between two persons. It shows the ability of love to influence the actions of a person and its significance in shaping their lives after it has developed. Sure Thing serves to show the essentials of developing love in a contemporary world. The challenges involved in developing love are different from those that emerge after love is manifested in two people. The two plays thus serve to educate readers on two different aspects of love.

The discussion regarding the roles of men and women in Odyssey looks natural to focus mainly on evidence in relation to Ithaka. In the play, men are described as warriors, and it was imperative for them to undergo the warlike situation to prove their manhood. War is viewed as ennobling, and it brings men to glory. Men are the head of the households whereas the rest of the family are just subordinates (Homer & Diet 41). The family is occupied by suitors who are said to be wasting inheritance. This situation shows the chaos that can occur in the absence of the head of the household. Sure Thing also shows the man as the leader who spearheads many actions. It connotes that women are recipients and rarely trigger an action.

Women had an essential role to act in Homer’s Odyssey not just entertaining men, gods, and monsters, but they also served as a cultural standard in which significant role and relationship are defined. Women have a vital role in the Odyssey as they have a particular personality, excellent relationship with men, and pure intentions. Despite the fact that women are not alike, their vices and virtues help to describe the role of the perfect lady. Women in Odyssey play a significant role as goddesses, princesses, wives, or even slaves. Nymph Calypso enslaves Odysseus for a number of years. Odysseus desires so much to get home to his wife, Penelope. Homer demonstrates that women have the power in the face of men. This is also evident in Ives Sure Thing where Betty initially refuses Bill’s advances. To a certain extent, women can control the action taken by men. However, both plays show the power of men in overturning situations to favor their motives.

The treatment of women in Homer’s Odyssey Judged by the current western standards, men’s treatment of women is viewed as sexist. In Homer Odyssey, women are mainly judged by their looks. Sure Thing suggests that the physical appeal of a woman is very instrumental.  In Odyssey, if principal gods and men take a woman to be beautiful, or her husband or a son is a hero or holds a significant position, the woman is perceived successful. Women in Odyssey are treated based on their appearance, things that men need from them, and whether the woman has the power over men. There is also a display of double standards when it comes to certain behaviors. The poem highlights the frustrations of women as they were not allowed to have any other men in the absence of their husbands while men could lie with other women. Calypso exclaims “Oh you vile gods, in jealousy supernal!/ You hate it when we choose to lie with men” (124-125, V).

All social relationships outside the Oikos are carried out by men. The institution of guest friendship was done by men only, and the social specialty of women was restricted. The women’s specialty was in the household but occasionally attended the social events. Men gave the orders as women were restricted to household work as noted in this quote, “tend to your own tasks, the distaff, and the loom, and keep the women working hard as well. As for giving orders, men will see to that” (89:410-414).

The play Sure Thing, points out the fundamental things one needs to be sure of when dating. Throughout the play, there is one character who wants a certain thing in a relationship, and most of the time it calls for a bell ringing. Betty does not know Bill meaning she was looking for a certain thing. Ives is trying to conclude that certain things do not end to normative relationships. From the play, it is clear that men are the ones who initiate a conversation with women. At first, women will resist the discussion but later give in to the conversation. It shows that the role of women has been relegated to be controlled by men. The superiority of women towards men or over a situation is suppressed.

Works Cited:

Homer and Norman Dietz. The Odyssey. Prince Frederick: Recorded Books, 1989. Print.