Theme Of Women In Medea - 1850 Words

In most Greek tragedy, it is clear that females are not vital in society. Women are rather a necessity for the birth of new citizens and seen as just the vessels for carrying children. Greek cultural values depict women as subservient to men given no chance or opportunities to participate in society. The female is not considered to be part of Greek democracy because she is perceived to be dishonest and frankly her entire life is then masked by the masculinities that this society tends to favor. Thus, it is important to note the frustrations this belittling of expression brings upon females in these tragedies. In Euripides’s Medea, we can observe the fascination of women and the effects being subordinate to their male counterparts has in†¦show more content†¦In the speech to the chorus Medea recites, â€Å"The Suffering I have endured, endured, calling for bitter lament aloud!† (111-112). This line is significant because right from the beginning of the play Mede a acknowledges what befalls her as a woman. She speaks out against the status of women in society and emphasizes the lack of control they have over their marriages. Her â€Å"bitter lament† is a cry for relief on behalf of all Greek women. It is additionally important to notice why the chorus is specified in the play as the â€Å"Chorus of Corinthian women†. This highlights Medea’s status as a foreigner and underlines her isolation in Corinth. Thus, even as a foreigner to the city of Corinth, Medea empathizes with the ordinary woman and the chorus which when recalled consist of only women. Furthermore, Medea touches upon more flaws of her society when she states, â€Å"We women are the most beset by trials of any species that has breath and power of thought.† (230-231). Here the word â€Å"beset† is used to compare females to other species. The word carries a noticeably negative connotation and further supports the argument that perhaps the female to death dichotomy is not natural, but rather an inability for men to appreciate women for their passions to love. Loyalty and patience are virtues Medea seems to cherish most. She notes again that as womenShow MoreRelated Love and Deception in Medea, by Euripides Essay507 Words   |  3 PagesLove and Deception in Medea, by Euripides There are many pieces of literature that may entail more than one theme throughout the story. The tragedy, Medea, by Euripides is very good example of this. Throughout this story, the themes of betrayal and love, revenge, and women’s rights arise. Euripides brings these points up to help the reader to realize that women are powerful.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Betrayal is a very important theme throughout this story. Her husband Jason betrays Medea, when he abandons herRead MoreWomen and Femininity in Medea1032 Words   |  5 PagesWomen and Femininity in Medea Women’s rights movements have made incredible progress in recent times. Although there are many countries around the world where women are facing political and social unjustness, the social class of women in ancient Greece of 5th century BCE was solely grounded by patriarchal ideologies. The Greek playwright Euripides creates a persistent character Medea, in his classic tragedy Medea. Today, scholars study this relentless protagonist who has become an eternal andRead MoreA Dream Of Passion By Euripides Medea And Apollonius s Argonautika1287 Words   |  6 PagesThe character Medea is a well known character throughout Greek culture due to Euripides’s Medea and Apollonius’s Argonautika. Jules Dassin’s A Dream of Passion presents the story of Medea in a modern way, allowing myth and reality to intertwine. 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