Medea as a Feminist Work of Literature
The play Medea by Euripides is an ancient work of literature that is still performed, discussed, and interpreted in present day. It is known for iconoclastic themes and ideals due to Euripides controversial portrayal of a variety of different characters. He challenged the traditional view of Greek societies by making heroic men seem weak, giving women power, and portraying the gods as violent and deceiving. In this way, we can argue that Medea is one of the oldest examples of written feminist beliefs. Euripides takes a myth typically viewed as a powerful story of a hero named Jason, and shines the spotlight on his female companion, Medea. He gives her strength and courage, and perhaps even a little male violence, and creates a new …show more content…
This idea was not only discouraged, but against all social standards during Euripides’ lifetime. Women were meant to be seen and not heard, much less putting up a fight against their own husbands. In this play, Medea rips these boundaries between men and women by lying to her husband and bringing him to his defeat. Not only does she murder his new wife and children, she also confronts him before fleeing the country. This last scene is one of the strongest arguments for feminism in the whole narrative, as she taunts and degrades her husband. In this mighty speech, Medea calls to her husband, saying “and you, an evil man, as you deserve, will die an evil death” (pg. 564 lines 137-138). This shows her pure power over him and his situation, something that women in ancient Greece would never have experienced. This idea of complete domination of a female figure over a male shows how Euripides upset the traditional roles in his different plays throughout his lifetime. He took these stereotypes, such as women as caring, nurturing mothers, and twisted them to bring new light to human
The play Medea by Euripides is an ancient work of literature that is still performed, discussed, and interpreted in present day. It is known for iconoclastic themes and ideals due to Euripides controversial portrayal of a variety of different characters. He challenged the traditional view of Greek societies by making heroic men seem weak, giving women power, and portraying the gods as violent and deceiving. In this way, we can argue that Medea is one of the oldest examples of written feminist beliefs. Euripides takes a myth typically viewed as a powerful story of a hero named Jason, and shines the spotlight on his female companion, Medea. He gives her strength and courage, and perhaps even a little male violence, and creates a new …show more content…
This idea was not only discouraged, but against all social standards during Euripides’ lifetime. Women were meant to be seen and not heard, much less putting up a fight against their own husbands. In this play, Medea rips these boundaries between men and women by lying to her husband and bringing him to his defeat. Not only does she murder his new wife and children, she also confronts him before fleeing the country. This last scene is one of the strongest arguments for feminism in the whole narrative, as she taunts and degrades her husband. In this mighty speech, Medea calls to her husband, saying “and you, an evil man, as you deserve, will die an evil death” (pg. 564 lines 137-138). This shows her pure power over him and his situation, something that women in ancient Greece would never have experienced. This idea of complete domination of a female figure over a male shows how Euripides upset the traditional roles in his different plays throughout his lifetime. He took these stereotypes, such as women as caring, nurturing mothers, and twisted them to bring new light to human