From the earliest recorded stories, women have been portrayed in myriad ways, often mirroring the societal norms and values of their times. In ancient epics and religious texts, women were frequently depicted as either virtuous and submissive or as dangerous and seductive, embodying the duality of societal expectations. For instance, in Greek mythology, figures like Penelope from Homer's "Odyssey" are celebrated for their fidelity and domestic virtue, while characters like Helen of Troy and Medusa represent beauty, power, and the threat of chaos. Similarly, in ancient Indian texts such as the "Mahabharata" and the "Ramayana," women like Draupadi and Sita are revered for their devotion and moral fortitude but also endure great suffering and trials, reflecting the ideals and constraints placed upon women in those times.
The medieval period saw women primarily in roles defined by their relationships to men, with literature emphasizing their piety, chastity, and domesticity. Medieval European literature often portrayed women as either saintly figures, like the Virgin Mary, or as temptresses, like Eve, whose actions led to the fall of man. Courtly love poetry and the chivalric romances of the Middle Ages idealized women as distant, unattainable objects of male devotion, such as Dante's Beatrice or Petrarch's Laura, emphasizing purity and virtue. However, this period also gave rise to powerful female figures in literature and folklore, like the legendary Joan of Arc or the cunning Queen Guinevere from Arthurian legends, who exhibited strength and agency within the confines of their societal roles.