Subjects:
Euripides’ Medea and Morrison’s Beloved are related to two mothers one of whom murdered their children (Medea) and another one who was responsible for their deaths (Sethe). In these two works there are lots of differences regarding the life conditions, the position and role of the two women at both periods of time and the character of each one in the plot.
Euripides’ Medea takes place in Corinth and expresses the inflexibility of the society with regards to gender roles. Medea challenges the general position of women; she represents a model of revolutionary woman who doesn’t comply with the expected norms of the society. According to the laws of Athenian society, women considered to be subordinate.
Medea was considered to be a barbarian, because of her actions. She was an abandoned wife who killed her two children in order to take revenge on her husband. According to Hall, her portrayal includes a “negative, vindictive and murderous female” (Hall 121). Her character seems to have an unusual strength and courage. She appea
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Furthermore, Medea’s and Sethe’s characters and motives to their actions differ. However, the periods of time in which they lived are totally different. Moreover she is much more devoted to her children and does not appear to be evil or cruel.
On the other hand, Beloved begins in 1873 in Cincinnati where Sethe, a former slave, has been living with her children. Medea is characterized as an evil, barbaric, selfish woman and witch because of her revengeful behavior; though Sethe seems to be “excused” in a way for her actions because she has lived traumatic experiences. According to the sparknotes, “the most dangerous of slavery's effects is its negative impact on the former slaves' senses of self, and the novel contains multiple examples of self-alienation” (literature). When Paul D appears, a man she knew and worked with in the past, her memories become alive again. rs to be brave, skillful and acquainted with some aspects of men’s life and military. Sethe seems to be devoted to her children and not too proud to accept support from others. Medea appears to be more dynamic and determined about her plans because her motives are associated with revengeful and vindictive feelings. Sethe was led in such actions by her extraordinary love she felt for her children and her strong willing to protect them. Her memories of this cruel act and of the conditions in which she lived and suffered as a slave infuse her everyday life.
On the contrary, Euripides’ Medea presents a character which questions the widely-held perceptions regarding the role of respectable women and expresses a female image that caused huge upheaval and complete downfall of established values.
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Medea and Sethe are both the protagonists in the two works as well as two mothers that murdered their children, each one for her own reasons.
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