Alcestis Gender Roles Essay

Gender roles and the use of gender show up very differently in Greek culture and literature. In Euripdies' Alcestis, Alcestis makes the ultimate sacrifice of death in order to spare her husband's life. Her role as a mother and queen is supposed to live on after her death by with the temptations of merrymaking, her place is put into question by the actions of her husband Admetus. Stereotypical gender roles for Greek society are put into question within this play by the role of wife overpowering the husband.
In Greek culture during the time of the gods, it was a very male dominated society. Although there were very powerful Greek goddess', the lives of mortal Greek citizens were run by man. This role of man being "top dog," is put into question in Euripides' play Alcestis. Admetus is destined to be put to death unless he is able to find another person to take his place. After getting rejected by both his mother and father, he then turns to his wife. It could be seen as a sign of weakness that Admetus had to have his wife die …show more content…
Thanatos, otherwise known as Death, even goes to say, "...for Pelias' daughter, who swore on her honor to die for her husband, let him off the hook" (Euripides. Alcestis lines 40-41). The tone of Death's words seems as if he his scolding Alcestis for taking the place of Admetus in death. That Admetus should be the one to die because it was his death that was destined in the first place. Segal describes this change of gender recognition by saying, "The bardic commemoration of the noble wife who has sacrificed herself for her husband is also an unfaltering reflection on Admetus" (Segal, page 15). Although, Admetus was very thankful to be able to live and his wife was the one to take his place, this is seen as weakness. Alcestis is seen as the strong and brave one of the