Greek society by mark cartwright answers

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Hello class,

For this discussion, I have chosen to discuss how the gender roles and expectations the surrounding women in ancient Greece drove Medea to commit such hideous acts.

Medea's plans came to be when her husband Jason married a princess without her knowing. Right off the bat, she knows "divorce is not honourable to women," The Internet Classics Archive, Medea, 2020). and that she is expected to sit around and accept his infidelity. Although throughout their dialogue he claims it was only to provide for his family and avoid poverty, he also admits to doing it so his new wife could give him royal children. Medea feels betrayed and reminds him of how she saved his life, made enemies for him, abandoned her land, and had children all out of love for him. "Dost think I would ever have fawned on yonder man, unless to gain some end or form some scheme? Nay, would not so much as have spoken to him or touched him with my hand. But he has in folly so far stepped in that," (The Internet Classics Archive, Medea, 2020). Her affliction steeped deeper in her knowing that she would never even think of speaking to another man, much less marry one. Jason proved to be ungrateful by thanking the Gods for his safety and telling her that these were the repercussions of her actions, when all she wanted was to point out everything she'd sacrificed for him. As a result of all this, Medea expresses her anger and her desire to hurt Jason's new bride and ultimately ends up exiled. Once she accepts her banishment, she begins to plan her revenge. She's distraught and inconsolable, and decides killing his new bride, her father the king, and her two children would cause Jason pain and suffering like he's caused her. The gender roles and expectations led her to commit such horrible acts, and to accomplish them, she used these exact gender roles to her advantage. She put on this act saying she was sorry, and that women are impulsive and emotional, and that she was happy for the newly weds. "Lady, I praise this conduct, not that I blame what is past; for it is but natural to the female sex to vent their spleen against a husband when he trafficks in other marriages besides his own," (The Internet Classics Archive, Medea, 2020). Jason plays right into her plan and Medea is successful in murdering his bride, the king, and her children.

I wouldn't go as far as saying the conflict was resolved. Medea basically got "even" by causing Jason unbearable pain and loss. This was her form of justice for his betrayal. Her solution was revenge, no matter what length she had to go to to achieve it. Would equality in marriage/society have resulted in a different outcome? I don't think so. People always think they're able to get away with certain things, and I don't think men would've ever been okay with women doing what they did at a time like this. This double standard still stands true today. I'm not saying we as woman want to recieve the same praise men do for things we'd be bashed for, but holding both genders accountable and to the same standard wouldn't hurt.

I really enjoyed reading these tragedies and hope to get some more input and perspective from you guys!

References:

The Internet Classics Archive | Medea by Euripides. Classics.mit.edu. (2020). Retrieved 25 November 2020, from http://classics.mit.edu/Euripides/medea.html (Links to an external site.).

Women in Ancient Greece by Mark Cartwright retrieved from https://www.ancient.eu/article/927/women-in-ancient-greece/

Austin Ecker

8:1126 Nov at 8:11

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Hello class,

I chose to discuss the conflicts from prescribed gender roles in the ancient Greek tragedy “Medea”. If there were any conflicts that were resolved and if equality in marriage and society would have resulted in a different outcome.

Medea starts out already in a blind rage that her husband Jason, has chosen another woman to be with. Medea feels like such a betrayed fool. She left her country and even killed her own brother, provided Jason with two boys and is living up to her role at the time. I didn’t see any other excuse from Jason other than he wanted to marry a royal princess. How infuriating that must have mede Medea feel. I think Medea felt she was doing everything right. She was by her husband’s side and gave him two sons. Back then boys were seen as more special and able to carry on the family name. Not only was she angry, I think she was depressed.

“Oh, oh! Would that Heaven's levin bolt would cleave this head in twain! What gain is life to me? Woe, woe is me! O, to die and win release, quitting this loathed existence!”

“Ah, me! now is utter destruction come upon me, unhappy that I am! For my enemies are bearing down on me full sail, nor have I any landing-place to come at in my trouble. Yet for all my wretched plight I will ask thee, Creon, wherefore dost thou drive me from the land” (The Internet Classics Archive, Medea, 2020)

These are just a couple examples of her anger and depression. I think that traditionally women were expected to just deal with whatever happened to them. They weren’t expected to be heard or even seek revenge. In this case Medea knew that Jason would want to hear her apologize so she played her traditional role as a woman in order to get her revenge. I think Euripides really made the audience think about gender equality at the time. Medea had these horrible things happen to her at no fault of her own and she wasn’t just going to sit by and let him get away with it. I think at the time it was more popular for the woman to either leave or commit suicide rather than revenge. Though I think the revenge was taken a little too far by Medea killing her own children, Euripides really wanted the audience to see how hurt Medea was and what a woman was capable of doing.

The conflict was resolved, but only for Medea because she got the revenge she was after. She lost her children, but she ultimately completed her plan of revenge. I’m sure the audience wondered if women could be capable of such acts at the time. Would equality in marriage and society have resulted in a different outcome? It’s hard to say for certain. I imagine things would be different. Men were seen as superior back then, even women of royalty were treated badly, but if men and women were seen as the same and treated each other the same then both genders might think twice before making such decisions. If Medea and Jason were truly “one” then Jason would not be searching or tempted by anyone, regardless of royalty. If Medea had the same respect and power as Jason, would he have still made that decision?

Reference

http://classics.mit.edu/Aeschylus/agamemnon.html (Links to an external site.)

Ahsan Shah

7:3526 Nov at 7:35

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Hello class,

I would really like to highlight Clytemnestra as I think she is more intriguing in my opinion. She is a character that appears the most and I think the character with the most emotions and strength. Clytemnestra is the wife of Agamemnon, who is a king and leader of men who have been gone for 10 years fighting the war. During this time, she has been in charge and taking on his duties as ruler. Very early in the play, the chorus explains that Agamemnon had to sacrifice their daughter, and they also explain how Clytemnestra reacts in the line below.

“To stain with virgin blood a father's hands, and slay

My daughter, by the altar's side!

'Twixt woe and woe I dwell”

As Clytemnestra is proud, confident, and strong, this is what created the big conflict in the play. Her daughter was sacrificed just so her husband can win the war. Overall, the big conflict in this play was the conflict between Clytemnestra and her husband. How was this conflict solved? I think her killing her husband was the resolution. Was it the right one? In today’s standards no however things were way different back then.

Would equality in marriage and society have resulted in a different outcome? I personally don’t think that there would have been a different outcome. The only way I can think that might have been different is Agamemnon might have took in consideration every little thing and considered Clytemnestra thoughts and feelings of the sacrifice of their own. Her word would have weighed a lot more if there was equality in society and marriage. At the end of the day, she sought revenge for her child and that’s a human instinct that doesn’t have to do with equality or society. I feel she would have killed him regardless.

This was a very difficult play to follow and understand, so if there’s anything I’m missing, feel free to add on and educate me.

References:

The Internet Classics Archive | Medea by Euripides. Classics.mit.edu. (2020). Retrieved 25 November 2020, from http://classics.mit.edu/Euripides/medea.html (Links to an external site.).