Four Views on Women in Greek Tragedy
In the characters of Clytemnestra, Jocasta, Antigone >and Medea, the ancient Greek playwrights Aeschylus, >Sophocles, and Euripides offer four distinctly different >views of the roles which women played in Greek society. >While women definitely played a role which was subservient >to the one played by men, it is obvious from these >characters that women were seen by the ancient Greeks as >capable of being strong, intelligent, resourceful, loyal, >and heroic. These characters also show the modern reader >that women represented something powerful to this society >which was to be feared and, hopefully, kept under control. > Clytemnestra and Medea personify all of the negative >qualities attributed to women by the ancient Greeks. >Medea, despite her despicable crime, is actually presented >in a more favorable light then Clytemnestra; however, both >women are presented as victims of their pride which seems >to be the worst sin as far as the Greeks were concerned. > Jocasta and Antigone represent the positive virtues >of loyalty and devotion to the gods. Jocasta is the weaker >of the two, and, frankly, Antigone is almost too good to >be true in her example of heroic virtue and devotion to
When she realizes the >truth of her relationship to Oedipus, she asks him to >abandon his search for his parents and his true identity. > This is the same Jason who captured the Golden Fleece >in another famous Greek myth. > This speech is what truly confirms on Antigone a >heroic stature because she makes it clear that she loves >life and releasing it as a young woman who hasnit had a >chance to marry and know love is extremely painful for >her. >Medea > On the surface, Clytemnestra and Medea have a great >deal in common as they are both women who have >contemplated the murder of their husbands due to betray; >however, of the two, Medea is the more sympathetic in that >Medea is truly crushed by the loss of Jason. She is a famous >sorcerous and possesses magical powers which can kill at a >distance. >Antigone > In the character of Antigone, Sophocles demonstrates >that women are just as capable of heroic action as are >men. Greek audiences have seen Antigone in >previous plays being a help and guide to her father. The goddess >Artemis had left the fleet organized by Agamemnon without >wind, stranded, and unable to proceed against Troy unless >Agamemnonis daughter Iphigenia was sacrificed to her. > Clytemnestra triumphs at the end of this play, >although Aeschylus hints at her eventual justified fate. Her speeches with the >chorus show her to be educated and articulate. > Jocasta seems very undeserving of her faith as she is >portrayed as a good wife and mother. There seems to me to be an >implied warning here that women should be treated with >respect. > In Clytemnestra, Aeschylus created a character who is >an opponent worthy of Agamemnon.
Common topics in this essay:
Jocasta Antigone,
Golden Fleece,
Creon Jocasta,
Antigone Sophocles,
Trojan War,
Unlike Jocasta,
Clytemnestra Medea,
Medea Clytemnestra,
Agamemnon Aeschylus,
Clytemnestra Aeschylus,
> jocasta,
> clytemnestra,
own life,
women played greek,
greek society,
women treated,
played greek,
killing own,
>painful reality,
clytemnestra medea,
medea clytemnestra,
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Acceptance Essays
