Gender Roles In Euripides 'Medea'

256 Words1 Page

While I enjoyed how Mills analyzed Medea’s action by bringing up relevant information regarding her historic roots and comparing her to several similar Greek characters, I disagreed with his heavy emphasis on her celestiality. She certainly does implore many aspects that a witch or mystical spirit would exhibit, such as her use of herbs and her method of escape, but I don’t think it is appropriate to blame her act of vengeance on aspects of alienation from humanity. Because Euripides’ intention of writing this play was to compel his audience to question social norms and gender roles in society, I don’t think he would have crafted Medea in a way that cast her outside of the human realm. While it certainly would have not been socially accepted

Show More
Related

  • Euripides Medea Vs. Greek Prejudices And Gender Roles

    1165 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the story of Medea, the author, Euripides, addresses the topics of foreignism and female roles in the ancient Greek society. In the play, Medea, a foreign born woman, marries Jason, a Greek man, and moves to Greece to be with him after leaving her homeland with death and devastation. Then, when their marriage fails, Medea lashes out against Jason, causing her own exile and murdering her children, to which she has no love connection, and Jason’s new wife in the process. The main character, Medea, confirms many of the alleged Greek prejudices against foreigners and creates some prejudices of her own in return. Medea’s foreign roots and misconceptions, as well as her familial and societal atrocities,

    Read More

  • Women, Outsider and Barbarian in The Play Medea by Euripides

    1269 Words  | 3 Pages

    Personal Development, one of the core values at Saint Leo University, plays an important role in students’ daily lives. From the moment you step foot on campus to the day you graduate, you automatically become a different person. As a first year student, you are entering a new life and not knowing what to expect. Once you are in college, it is the start of a new chapter. You will become more mature and all the obstacles that you will go through will make you a different person. In order to have a successful Undergraduate experience, it is crucial to have a balance between personal life and school. Your personal development will strengthen your academics and the community. The Campus Life Handbook states, “Saint Leo University stresses the development of every person’s mind, spirit, and body for a balanced life. All members of the Saint Leo University community must demonstrate their commitment to personal development to help strengthen the character of our community” (Saint Leo 1). Based on the Saint Leo core values, personal development, responsible stewardship, integrity, respect, and community exemplifies Medea’s character as a Hero devolving throughout the play.

    Read More

  • The Evil Character Medea in Euripides' Medea

    579 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Evil Character Medea in Euripides' Medea. Euripides created a two-headed character in this classic tragedy. Medea begins her marriage as the ideal loving wife who sacrificed much for her husband's safety. At the peak of the reading, she becomes a murderous villain that demands respect and even some sympathy.

    Read More

  • Repression of Women in Euripides' The Bacchae

    1111 Words  | 3 Pages

    Many different interpretations can be derived from themes in Euripides's The Bacchae, most of which assume that, in order to punish the women of Thebes for their impudence, the god Dionysus drove them mad. However, there is evidence to believe that another factor played into this confrontation. Because of the trend of male dominance in Greek society, women suffered in oppression and bore a social stigma which led to their own vulnerability in becoming Dionysus's target. In essence, the Thebian women practically fostered Dionysian insanity through their longing to rebel against social norms. Their debilitating conditions as women prompted them to search for a way to transfigure themselves with male qualities in order to abandon their social subordination.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of The Euripides Play Medea

    1288 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Euripides Play Medea the character of Medea does fit Aristotle’s Percepts because of the Aristotelian arc which States that a Character must be of a high class, must be relate able, and actions must follow that of the class they are in. [Aristotle Poetics]

    Read More

  • Medea as a Heroine in Euripides

    344 Words  | 1 Pages

    In Euripides' Medea, the main character of the same name is a controversial heroine. Medea takes whatever steps necessary to achieve what she believes is right and fair. She lived in a time when women were expected to sit in the shadows and take the hand that life dealt them without a blink of their eye. Medea took very radical steps to liberate herself and destroys the life of the man who ruined hers. She refused to accept the boundaries that a patriarchal society set upon her. Medea was a very wise and calculated woman who was brave enough to leave her homeland, along with everything she knew and loved, in order to follow her heart down the path of what she expected to be eternal happiness.

    Read More

  • medea

    455 Words  | 1 Pages

    The tragic play Medea is a struggle between reason and violence. Medea is deliberately portrayed as not a ‘normal woman’, but excessive in her passions. Medea is a torment to herself and to others; that is why Euripides shows her blazing her way through life leaving wreckage behind her. Euripides has presented Medea as a figure previously thought of exclusively as a male- hero. Her balance of character is a combination of the outstanding qualities of Achilles and Odysseus.

    Read More

  • Gender Roles In Medea And Clytemnestra

    925 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the play written by Euripides, Medea refuses Jason the right to bury his children. Jason pleads Medea, "give me the bodies to bury and to mourn"(111). Medea denies Jason, "no I will not I will bury themselves." The quote represents the difference in power between Jason and Medea. Jason and Medea completely switch gender roles, as at the beginning Jason is the one that hold the power in the relationship; however, by the end of the play Medea is the one in control. Medea rejecting Jason request to bury his own children is a symbol of Medea challenging patriarchy, as she is the one who has advantage and she is the one who power over Jason. Similarly, in Agamemnon, Clytemnestra also displaces power when she is talking to the Chorus, "If we end of suffering, we can be content broken as we are by the brute heel of angry destiny. Thus, a woman speaks among you. Shall men deign to understand?" (Source, 244). This passage shows the power that Clytemnestra possesses. She is displaying her power as she is directly confronting both Aegisthus and the Chorus to stop fighting. In this passage, she is portrayed as someone who is logical and in control, traits that are synonymous with males. She challenging the idea that women are not fit to be in power because they are too emotional and irrational. Ironically, she (a woman) is most reasonable one (and the most powerful) person

    Read More

  • Representation of Womens Roles in Society- Medea

    1102 Words  | 3 Pages

    Medea’s illegitimate marriage and the betrayal of Jason drive Medea to extreme revenge. Medea chooses to act with her immortal self and commit inhumane acts of murder rather than rationalize the outcomes of her actions. Medea see’s this option as her only resort as she has been banished and has nowhere to go, “stripped of her place”. To create sympathy for Medea, Euripides plays down Medea’s supernatural powers until the end of the play. Throughout the play Medea represents all characteristics found in individual women put together, including; love, passion, betrayal and revenge. Medea’s portrayal of human flaws creates empathetic emotions from the audience. The audience commiserates with Medea’s human flaws as they recognize them in themselves. Medea plays the major role in this play as she demonstrates many behavioral and psychological patterns unlike any of the other Greek women in the play; this draws the audience’s attention to Medea for sympathy and respect.

    Read More

  • The Role Of Women In Medea

    1274 Words  | 3 Pages

    “A time comes when the female sex is honored” (29). In the history of ancient civilization, the roles of male figures seem to override the female counterpart in the social strata. Even in modern times, widely accepted premises distinguish womanhood as being composed of child-bearers and caretakers, dependent on the male head of the household. In the play Medea, Euripides challenges the cultural beliefs of women’s role in Athens, Greece through his characterization of Medea; moreover, her pursuit to revolutionize the way women are treated by men begins with Jason and comes to effect the Chorus of the Corinthian women. Medea constructs a plan of action based on her fervent emotions. She implements control in her life, even by sacrificing everything in her possession; consequently, she defies the instituted mannerisms for the women of ancient Greece as they do not have autonomy over their lives because they are granted a free will that falls far inferior to the Grecian males’.

    Read More

  • Justice in Euripides' Medea

    434 Words  | 1 Pages

    As she is "Faced with her husband's cold pragmatism, Medea responds according to her nature." Euripides really stresses the "otherness" of Medea's nature: she is "of a different kind", described in terms of nature and animals: she is "a rock or wave of the sea'", "like a wild bull", "a tiger". Yes, she is a little dangerous, but she is driven by her hear; that vital force which distinguishes the body from the corpse and has been crushed by Jason's betrayal.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Women In Medea

    1171 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Euripides ' play, Medea, tells a short story of the sufferings of a woman 's marriage life. In the play, Euripides develops the character, Medea , who is mentally abused by her husband, Jason, to show how women are mistreated in the Greek society. Jason 's action of leaving his wife and marrying the princess causes Medea suffering and shows us his selfishness. Jason also is not a good father figure to his own sons causing Medea to take care of them herself and taking all the burden. This shows us Jason is uncaring towards Medea and his sons. Lastly, Jason did not help Medea with problems that they’re having, this seems like he is excluding them from his life and everything else.

    Read More

  • Feminism and its Role in Medea

    1046 Words  | 3 Pages

    ... takes matters into her own hands and doesn’t wait for a man to handle things for her. Also, her internal conflict that is visible throughout the entire play signify that she actually thinks for herself, and is strong enough to need to make serious decisions on her own, regardless of her gender. All of this goes back on the traditional Greek society, and helps make Medea into a play that is ahead of its time. With Euripides challenging the notion of misogyny, he creates Medea to show how powerful and dangerous a woman can be in a story, even though it was never heard of in the modern eras.

    Read More

  • Gender Roles in Medea by Euripides

    1283 Words  | 3 Pages

    Centuries of traditions has enabled men and women to define gender roles in society. Although some critics declare gender roles do not exist today, others believe they do. In society, men and women are defined by gender roles throughout their activities and emotions. A doctor is typically portrayed by a male while women rear the children and cook for the men. However, although still in existence, today these roles are less obvious but tend to have similar meaning when compared to the past. In ancient Greece, women suffered great hardships. Currently, females work, vote, and run for office. In comparison to ancient Greece, these activities are a phenomenal leap from being under the direct supervision of a male husband.

    Read More

  • Euripides A Woman Scorned

    274 Words  | 1 Pages

    Medea aids Jason in completing several dangerous tasks, in the process Medea falls in love with Jason and she dishonors her family by killing her brother to please and protect Jason.

    Read More

More about Gender Roles In Euripides 'Medea'

Open Document