Heads Held Quote by Homer
““he took a cable which had been service on a blue-bowed ship, made one end fast to a high column in the portico, and threw the other over the round-house, high up, so that their feet would not touch the ground. As when long-winged thrushes or doves get entangled in a snare . . . so the women's heads were held fast in a row, with nooses round their necks, to bring them to the most pitiable end. For a little while their feet twitched, but not for very long.””
About This Quote
Source Epic: The Odyssey, Book 12, 8th century BC
The passage describes women being bound and led to a tragic fate, likening them to birds caught in a snare, emphasizing helplessness and impending doom.
In simple terms: Women are trapped and led to death like birds caught in a trap.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and resist forces that bind and dehumanize.
Themes
oppression
victimhood
tragedy
power dynamics
Mood
somber
tragic
Type
literary
mythological
When to use this quote
- war
- slavery
- ritual sacrifice
- human trafficking
Key Concepts
mythology
symbolism
gender violence
Questions to Reflect On
- How does this imagery shape our view of suffering?
- What can be done to break such cycles of oppression?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may obscure the agency of victims and oversimplify complex social structures.
