Subjects:
>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
. . .
>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 hasnít 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
>Agamemnonís 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.
Essay's Topics
All research is for reference purposes only.