Hellenistic views of marriage are very different from modern views in many ways, and because of these differences, it can be easy to dismiss archaic and Athenian marriages as loveless or purely functional. However, it should be noted that there are definite examples of these marriages being mutually supportive and loving. One can see these characteristics especially well in two works, Oeconomicus by Xenophon, and Alcestis by Euripides. Although different, these two stories demonstrate both the mutual support and love that can be found in Hellenistic marriages.
In Xenophon’s Oeconomicus, Ischomachos describes his own marriage to Socrates who then relates it to Kritoboulos, and consequently to the audience as well. This marriage retains many of the same functional characteristics that are commonly seen in Hellenistic marriages, but it also exhibits some less common, but still very significant details of how the marriage is mutually supportive, especially in terms of these details of the institution of marriage in Ancient and Athenian Greece. It is evident in the way that Ischomachos describes his wife’s duties to her, that there is a definite teacher-student dimension in their relationship. However, it should be noted that Ischomacus’ intimate knowledge of his wife’s tasks allows him to do something that is not altogether common in modern society—understand the difficulty and complexities of his wife’s duties, and how important they are to the household as a whole. This knowledge and appreciation of his wife’s work is manifested in his response when she makes a mistake with the housekeeping, saying charitably, “Don’t be discouraged, woman…you aren’t at fault in this, but rather I am”(Oeconomicus, VIII,2). By this statement he recognizes the team element of the marriage, and emphasizes that not fulfilling ones duties hurts the marriage in general, in this case taking responsibility for his own actions and reassuring his wife of her good work.
Based on this understanding and appreciation of the roles that each member of the couple plays in the marriage, the marriage becomes a stronger bond, and the couple can function like a team. Indeed, Ischomachos is very generous, at least in comparison to other Greek husbands in famous drama in terms of how he shares his wealth and wisdom with his wife.
This emphasis is notably unique from the portrayal of couples among contemporary societies such as the Greeks and Romans. This depiction of couples reflects the essential role woman clearly held in Etruscan society. “Women in Etruria participated more fully in the public life of than Greek and Roman women. They had their own names, and passed rank on to their children (Bonfante xx-xx).” Etruscan women enjoyed the same equalities as men such as hereditary possession and having their own identity not solely confined to traditional roles of women in surrounding areas. Etruscan women could afford to provide financially for any children born to them, due to the Etruscan cultural setup. The independence that Etruscan women relished did not take away their nurturing nature as many other societies including the Romans believed.
Also, that a Roman wife was expected to achieve their duties and be able to do anything for the good of the husband and family. The list of qualities Turia’s husband tells us that men’s still judged on the women obedience and virtues as wives. He let us know the qualities necessary for a happy and enduring marriage. The importance of being a good wife and having good qualities is proven to be very valuable not only in the Eulogy for a Roman wife, but also in today’s society. Marriage has become politicized, more common to divorce and
...c. 4). This is an example of one of the seven unequal relationships in Confucianism. Much of the social structure of classical China was based on Confucian ideals (Doc. 3). In Greece the relationship between a husband and wife also very unequal due to her young age and lack of education. Alone a woman had no political rights and limited legal powers therefore is was necessary for a husband to provide for his wife much like a father would (Doc. 6) A woman would learn house hold management and eventually produce heirs. These two similar systems of social roles was not a benevolent system. It did not take into account the welfare of individuals, particularly woman who had little power to leave in a bad marital situation. However by insuring that people know their place, which kept them in line, classical societies were more prosperous and able to run more smoothly.
" While this view may have been extreme even for the Greeks, they were convinced of the physical and intellectual inferiority of women. Thus, they believed that it was better for all--the woman included--that a wife should stay in the home far removed from the complicated business of the "man's world."... ... middle of paper ... ...
The first chapter begins with an exploration of love and marriage in many ancient and current cultures. Surprisingly many cultures either avoid the discussion of love in marriage or spit on the idea completely. China and other societies believed that love was simply a product of marriage and shouldn’t get too out of hand, while a few Greek and Roman philosophers shunned excessive
The Walt Disney Company is a multi-billion dollar enterprise that controls and maintains vast interests in various multimedia companies in the United States and around the world. What started as a simple love for children’s entertainment of a sample cartoonist soon became a revolutionary icon in the world of entertainment and business.
Disney is an iconic brand that is recognized internationally. The company is not only loved by children, but by people of all ages, races, and backgrounds. What makes Disney such a beloved brand? Although it is nearly impossible to pinpoint just one reason for their success, Disney’s core values is what makes this company stand apart from the rest. The founder and creator of Disney, Walt Disney, had a vision for the future that integrated imagination, creativity, freedom of expression, and a touch of magic. With all these values melted into one company, the possibilities for success became a reality to the Disney family. When Disney began to expand, so did the company’s philosophies. Keeping these core values rooted within the brand,
In the Symposium, a most interesting view on love and soul mates are provided by one of the characters, Aristophanes. In the speech of Aristophanes, he says that there is basically a type of love that connects people. Aristophanes begins his description of love by telling the tale of how love began. He presents the tale of three sexes: male, female, and a combination of both. These three distinct sexes represented one’s soul. These souls split in half, creating a mirror image of each one of them. Aristophanes describes love as the search for the other half of your soul in this quote: “When a man’s natural form was split in two, each half went round looking for its other half. They put their arms around one another, and embraced each other, in their desire to grow together again. Aristophanes theme is the power of Eros and how not to abuse it.
Smallpox is a serious and sometimes fatal disease that is cause by a Variola virus, a member of the orthopox virus family, the variola virus also known as the variola major is the most common severe clinical form of smallpox that is known to give an extensive rash and high fever. The forms of this disease consist of 30 % fatality rate (CDC, 2003: smallpox). There are known to be four types of variola major of small pox, from the very common one to the fatal. These four types are ordinary, which is the very common one and create a discrete rash, modified (mild) and sometimes can be confused with chickenpox, Flat and Hemorrhagic which is rare and very severe to the human population which cause internal bleeding in the skin, unlike the other types of variola major, this type tend to make people have a smooth skin and mainly happens to adult. Another clinical form of smallpox is variola minor, less common and less severe with only 1% of historical death (CDC, 2003: smallpox). The word pox in smallpox...
The Walt Disney Company is a highly diversified media and entertainment company that has been growing by leaps and bounds since its inception in the late 1920’s. In the past few decades, The Walt Disney Company has expanded into numerous markets and diversified its business greatly. The company states that their corporate strategy is targeted at creating high-quality family content, exploiting technological innovations to make entertainment experiences more memorable, and expanding internationally. Upon studying the happenings of the company throughout the years, it is easy to see that the company is executing this strategy well through numerous strategic moves in the industry.
The Walt Disney Company is a worldwide mass media and entertainment company. The company owns many other companies including Pixar Animation Studios, Lucasfilm Ltd., and Marvel Studios. It also owns and operates many Disney theme parks all over the world. There are operations in over 40 countries. The Walt Disney Company employs over 195,000 people. Its headquarters is located in Burbank, California. When the company was just starting out it was very conservative because its founder, Walt Disney, was very conservative. Now the company is a secular progressive which means that it does not have religious affiliations and promotes liberal change. The company is very eco-friendly. Their “long-term goal is to minimize [their]
Love, in classical Greek literature, is commonly considered a prominent theme. Love, in present days, always appears in the categories of books, movies, music, etc. Interpreted differently by different people, Love turns into a multi-faceted being. In Plato’s work Symposium, Phaedrus, Pausania, Eryximachus, Aristophane and Agathon, each of them presents a speech to either praise or definite Love. Phaedrus first points out that Love is the primordial god; Pausanias brings the theme of “virtue” into the discussion and categorizes Love into “good” one or “bad” one; Eryximachus introduces the thought of “moderation’ and thinks that Love governs such fields as medicine and music; Aristophanes draws attention to the origin and purposes of Love; Agathon enunciates that the correct way to present an eulogy is first to praise its nature and gifts.
Friendship is the relationship that helps humans get through everyday life. Without friends people would not have a strong support system or someone to have their backs through difficult situations. Friendship has been seen to be a key component in the development of characters. Directors and authors portray friends as positive influences on characters. Friends are especially important in The Hobbit and The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Bilbo Baggins and Sherlock Holmes experience the benefits of a strong friendships. Through the friendships experienced by both Bilbo and Sherlock new characteristics arise such as the development of emotions and courage.
Gill, N.S. "Lysistrata by Aristophanes - Make Love, Not War." Ancient / Classical History - Ancient Greece & Rome & Classics Research Guide. Web. 24 Mar. 2011. .
Walcot, P. “Greek Attitudes towards Women: The Mythological Evidence.” Greece & Rome 2nd ser. 31.1 (Apr., 1984): 37-47. Cambridge University Press on Behalf of The Classical Association Article Stable. Web.