An Analysis of Women in Ancient Greek Literature
From the role of the cunning seductress, to the obedient housewife, to the raging feminist, women were a focal point of Ancient Greek society. Although they were denied citizenship and held no political voice, the roles they played in their culture were undeniably important. They functioned as the givers of life, maintained the family, which was held as the center of Greek life, and managed the home. Women may have been thought to have far less worth than a man, however, their unquestionable power and influence in Greek society cannot go unnoticed. The weighty position they held is verified in numerous texts of the era, including the works of Aristophanes, Homer, Sophocles and Aeschylus.The family was held as the center of ancient Greek life and was dependant upon the duties of the woman. She was the pillar on which the family stood, and her role was regarded with great respect. Penelope, the wife of Odysseus in Homer's epic Odyssey, is representative of the dutiful spouse and mother. Faced with many adversaries, Penelope remains faithful in her husband's absence and continues to maintain her family, never allowing her numerous suitors to sway her loyalty. Penelope is a character of enduring strength and dedication. While she ha
Throughout his Oedipus Cycle, Sophocles develops Antigone as a bold woman of intense loyalty to her family and the will of the gods. we should not be allowed to make the least little suggestion to you, no matter how much you mismanage the City's affairs?" Again, Aristophanes illustrates the rights that are denied to women, even though they are capable of using them responsibly and effectively. Sophocles displays a battle between two conflicting ideas of who is entitled to more power. When Creon forbids that the body of Polyneices be given a proper burial, Antigone refuses to adhere to his decree. "It was not Zeus that made the proclamation nor did justice. "As fishermen cast their huge circling nets, I spread deadly abundance of rich robes, and caught him fast. Ismene's weaker disposition is reflected in her passive response to Creon's unjust decree. On the contrary, women held power and influence in their culture that is often overlooked. " Thus, through her supreme intellect, Penelope is able to unmistakably identify her husband. It is Penelope's strength and wit that enables her to hold the family together even with such odds working against them. This reveals that Ismene's weak character is of little importance to the story's conclusion. Sophocles maintains that women are more in tune with elements outside of human nature, and they relate more readily and more easily to things of a moral nature. Aeschylus employs the repetitive motif of entanglement throughout his Oresteia; this idea of becoming ensnared is manifested in numerous instances, none more obvious than when Clytaemestra entangles Agamemnon in a robe to strike him down.
Common topics in this essay:
Antigone Lysistrata,
Ismene Creon,
Odysseus Penelope,
Clytaemestra Clytaemestra's,
Nonetheless Antigone,
Antigone Creon's,
Odysseus Homer's,
According Sophocles,
Ancient Greek,
King Oedipus,
greek life,
family held center,
husband odysseus,
power influence,
political voice,
power ismene,
laws creon,
held center,
sophocles able,
maintained family,
family held,
|
Acceptance Essays
