Female Characters Of The Play Medea - 1377 Words

In Euripides’ play Medea, the audience is introduced to a uniquely female perspective often absent in Greek drama. Of course, this perspective, being written by a man, is not absent of the female mythological archetypes common throughout all of Greek literature. Most of the female characters hold archetypal roles to move the story forward. However, during the course of the play, Medea defies a simple archetypal prescription. She fits in between the lines of a â€Å"good† character and â€Å"bad† character, plays many different roles for her own ends, but still remains sympathetic. Medea takes on different female roles in order to accomplish her goals, however she as a character does not fit neatly into any one female archetype. This speaks to her greater role as a tragic hero, magnifying her manipulations and her reasons for doing so—her struggle as a powerful woman to find a place to belong. Before the events of the play began, Medea played the role of t he traditional helper maiden to Jason as he journeys with his crew on the Argo. She saves Jason from many threats, and is an integral initiator of action in the story, including tricking her own family and killing her brother for the sake of the mission. However, the play picks up just after Jason has denied Medea the role to continue helping him and wants to deprive her of her role as mother to their children as well. With this change, Medea turns from helper maiden to antagonist against Jason. One would think she would fit intoShow MoreRelated Gender Roles in Medea by Euripides Essay1285 Words   |  6 PagesCurrently, 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. In Greek society, the role of women was considered to be insignificant compared to the Greek men. The women had very few rights, no room to voice personal opinions, and a very bleak future with few options for a better life. According to Moses Hades, professor of Greek studies, women in ancient Greek plays are knownRead MoreMedea Vs Medea1233 Words   |  5 Pagesis Medea? Many famous pieces of literature end up being turned into some sort of movie or any other form of cinematography. Whether the story was written in 2016 or 431 B.C.E it does not matter as long as viewers end up being entertained. This is the case with director Jules Dassin, who made a movie based on the poet Euripides’s well-known tragedy Medea. Tragedies were a type of play that ancient Greeks would write/perform that involved mysteries and conflict based on a death of a character or aRead MoreEssay on Feminism and its Role in Medea1048 Words   |  5 PagesIn Medea, by Euripides, conflicts play a major role in the creation of the play. Some examples of these conflicts are with Medea and Jason, Medea and herself, and Medea and Creon. Medea is shown to be a strong, independent woman who does what she wants as well as doesn’t let anything stand in her way. She shares qualities of a traditional male at the time, and the qualities of a traditional female. Euripides makes this clear in the play by creating conflicts to prove women can be a powerful characterRead More Euripides was accused by his contempories of being a woman hater. Why1711 Words   |  7 Pagesdo you think the accusation was? In your answer you should consider not only how Euripides portrays his female characters, but also the sentiments expressed in the plays and the contempory view of women. Answer ------ Euripides definitely had an opinion on woman that was not shared by many other play writes. Whether it is hatred or not, women play a major role in a Euripian play. Their role in society of that time was a great contrast to that of the men. Compared to today, women were Read MoreComparing the Characters of Lysitrata, Penelope, and Medea Essay724 Words   |  3 PagesThe purpose of the paper is to compare and contrast the characters of Penelope in the epic, The Odyssey, Lysistrata in the comedy, Lysistrata, and Medea in the tragedy, Medea. The writer will first give a brief synopsis of each character, followed by a comparison and climaxing with the contrast. Penelope, a loyal, faithful and patient wife is faced with suitors pressuring her daily to remarry. She uses her wit and cleverness to hold them off. She assures the suitors that she will remarry as soonRead MoreCompare And Contrast Jason And Medea1148 Words   |  5 PagesSenecas Medea.† Quaderni Urbinati di Cultura Classica, vol. 62, no. 2, 1999, pp. 107–121. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/20546591. Accessed 12 Sept. 2017. This article explores the laws of marriage in Roman culture. While both Euripides and Seneca hold two of the most acclaimed versions, Laura Abrahamsen describes how Seneca’s version may be best suited in representing a Roman retelling of the legend and how the traditional social constructs may have added to a negative perception of Medea. Ackah,Read MoreA Formal Comparison of Euripides Medea and Senecas Medea Essay1589 Words   |  7 PagesEuripides’ Medea and Seneca’s Medea are the two surviving ancient tragedies of Medea. Both versions are drastically different and contrast in several aspects. Euripides portrays Medea as more human. She is the epitome of the oppressed housewife and only after her suffering is she capable of the crimes she committed. Seneca’s Medea is even more vengeful than Euripides’ and she is angry from the very beginning. Seneca’s version also portrays Medea as a vengeful sorceress whereas in Euripides’ versionRead MoreAs A Society, We Are Being Continuously Taught Not To Stray1506 Words   |  7 PagesThroughout Euripides’ Medea, the audience and readers are shown the consequences that said gender roles create. They are a part of history that may never be overcome, as developed in the play. Gender roles may never be overcome in society, neve rtheless it is important to remember that they do not define a person, let alone decide their fortune. Equality should not be perceived as an opinion, but as a right. By performing a feminist reading of Medea, it is evident that the main character does not followRead MoreMedeo is a Play Based on the Myth of Jason and Medea Written by Euripides1248 Words   |  5 PagesMedea is a play based on the myth of Jason and Medea written by Euripides. The play involves the love between two mythical characters: Jason and Medea. The play reaches its climax when Medea is betrayed by Jason when he choses another woman for her youthful beauty. Euripides is able to involve the audience by using dramatic scenery on how Medea choses to respond to this theatrical situation according to the patriarchal culture she lives in. Furthermore, the analysis focuses upon the system of masculinityRead MoreWomen In Ancient Greece Had Very Few Rights In Comparison1554 Words   |  7 Pagesthe home and her purpose in life was to rear children. Considering this limited role in society, we see a diverse cast of female characters in Greek mythology. We are presented with women tha t are powerful and warlike, or sexualized, submissive and emotionally unstable. In many myths, we encounter subversive behavior from women, suggesting, perhaps, the possibility of female empowerment. While produced in an ostensibly misogynistic and oppressive society, these myths consider the possibility for