Medea
In both the books Medea by Euripides and Beloved by Toni Morrison a mother commits what could be seen as justified infanticide. In both books we see these crimes denounced by the communities surrounding these women and we are also given however, arguments that could justify these actions in a sense. In fact, although it can be said that Sethe feels guilt over her actions neither woman truly consider what they did to be a crime. They both make arguments to themselves and to other people that essentially absolve themselves from any punishment for that crime because they were both in situations where they felt they were almost forced to
The fact that she is a woman who has survived slavery gives the readers something to admire about her. In comparing both books, however, I hope to find evidence no matter how subtle that points to some difference between how Euripides wants us to see Medea and how Toni Morrison wants us to see Sethe. One thing we are never actually told directly in either novel is the author's views towards the crime of infanticide in situations such as these women find themselves in. From her background we know that she has killed members of her own family. She is the daughter of a king already born of privilege. So far, this gives the reader no reason at all to adopt her as the hero of the play. Her love for her children really doesn't come into question at all throughout the novel. She is if anything a haunted character and readers more easily identify with her then we identify with medea. So considering her character before she got wronged by Jason the readers have no reason to sympathize with her. In Medea we have a character who first of all is used to murder. In this sense then, Euripides cannot truly expect us to be surprised that her as a woman and mother would have the capacity to kill her own children. Sethe on the other hand before we know of her "crime" is initially portrayed as a noble and proud woman. If there is one aspect of her character that is overly emphasized it would be her cleverness. So from the beginning the audience already knows her capacity for cold blooded murder.
Common topics in this essay:
Sethe Medea,
Toni Morrison,
toni morrison,
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Acceptance Essays
