The play “Medea” illustrates the differences and conflict between the genders. Discuss some differences between men and women and use one quote from the play to support your viewpoint.
I may be way off on this one, but it seems like Jason tried to solve his problems in the story with more logic, while Medea was more emotional. For example, Jason's way of trying to make the situation better for everyone involved was to petition the king to only banish her instead of having her killed. Medea's response was to kill her kids.
Euripides was fascinated by women and the contradictions of the Greek sex-gender system; He also recognizes that the position of women, and their subordination to men, is inextricable from the very core of social order in Greece. Athens, a city that prided itself as a place more free than the neighboring dictatorships, was nonetheless a city that depended on slave labor and the oppression of women. Euripides was aware of these hypocrisies, and he often pointed out the ways that Greek society attempted to excuse the injustices it perpetrated. In Medea, the difference between man and women was one of the major themes showed.The position of women. women were seen as a second class society and was treated as such. Women literally had no rights, they were not given the freedom of speech, education,they could not own any property... they were the ones that were owned by men in their lives. While men had everything in a sense. they could do as they please or see fit. They could sleep with whomever they choose, they got to attend school, participate in social events. they got married around their mid 30's while women as young as age 15.back then men ruled the land and woman just had to sit back and observe.
""At the same time, Medea is not exactly a feminist role model. Euripides shows the difficulties that befall women, but he does not give us tinny virgin heroines. He gives us real women, who have suffered and become twisted by their suffering. What we see is not a story of female liberation, but a war between the sexes in which all emerge"" (gradesaver)
Medea is mad that Jason wants to leave her for another woman so through out most of the play she acts out of anger while Jason tries to end things on a civil note and just wants her leave the palace
Men and women for years have had differences since the beginning of time because men and women are opposite genders that think differently about life. In Medea, Medea describes what men are in this quote,"O what an evil to men is passionate love". Medea's thoughts towards men is more of a love hate relationship. Also in Medea, Jason thinks of women are in this quote,"But you women have got into such a state of mind that if your life at night is good, you think you have everything, but if that quarter thing goes wrong, you lose sight of your best and true interest. Jason's thoughts towards women is that women set high intentions for themselves and if something goes wrong they will lose interest in that something.
Medea is written about a main character who is a women however it is written by a man. When the play was put on decades ago the actors were all men. Men played every role in theatre years ago, which tells us that they felt superior to women. "O what an evil to men is passionate love"
In the play "Madea" it seemed that men had more power over their wives.They were seen as the superior in the household and the women were there to take care of them and bare their children. In a scene where Madea poured out her feelings to the Chorus, she gave the audience an idea of just how unfair an unequally women were treated, quoted by Madea, "A wife arrives with little to prepare her for her new behavior.And if it works out all is well and carefully and the husband lives with us, life is good....A man goes out of the house and puts an end to his boredom,turns to a friend or companion,yet we are forced to keep our eyes on him alone." The inequality was very evident, has Jason left Madea for the Princess, just because he "grew tired of her bed." I am very sure that if it was the other way around Madea would have been banished or killed for her deed.
Men and women react differently to many situations in life. Getting over and dealing with conflict in a relationship is no different. Conflict does not have to be life changing but what does make it harder to deal with is if the two partner’s ways of dealing with conflict don’t mesh well. Women want a quick resolution to problems, men tend to hesitate in heading conflict head on. Women are more in tune with emotion and they love to talk about them, Men for the most part act. Women look to emotion and thus have trouble controlling them. Men who through the years have been hunters and protectors adapted through evolution and upbringing have learned to control emotion.“ And you, no doubt, would have understood, you who are incapable of controlling your bitter temper. Why master your emotions for your emotions for the children’s sake and calm yourself down” 8^ )
Men at that time believe they had absolute power over women. Thats why Madea's husband sought out to leave her for a woman he thought was better even though he already agreed to spend his life with her. Hes wrong in how he thinks he can just leave her alone like that for no serious reasons. Difference is most men think they should be on a pedastool and Madea proves that is not the case.
I may be way off on this one, but it seems like Jason tried to solve his problems in the story with more logic, while Medea was more emotional. For example, Jason's way of trying to make the situation better for everyone involved was to petition the king to only banish her instead of having her killed. Medea's response was to kill her kids.
ReplyDeleteEuripides was fascinated by women and the contradictions of the Greek sex-gender system; He also recognizes that the position of women, and their subordination to men, is inextricable from the very core of social order in Greece. Athens, a city that prided itself as a place more free than the neighboring dictatorships, was nonetheless a city that depended on slave labor and the oppression of women. Euripides was aware of these hypocrisies, and he often pointed out the ways that Greek society attempted to excuse the injustices it perpetrated.
ReplyDeleteIn Medea, the difference between man and women was one of the major themes showed.The position of women. women were seen as a second class society and was treated as such. Women literally had no rights, they were not given the freedom of speech, education,they could not own any property... they were the ones that were owned by men in their lives. While men had everything in a sense. they could do as they please or see fit. They could sleep with whomever they choose, they got to attend school, participate in social events. they got married around their mid 30's while women as young as age 15.back then men ruled the land and woman just had to sit back and observe.
""At the same time, Medea is not exactly a feminist role model. Euripides shows the difficulties that befall women, but he does not give us tinny virgin heroines. He gives us real women, who have suffered and become twisted by their suffering. What we see is not a story of female liberation, but a war between the sexes in which all emerge"" (gradesaver)
Medea is mad that Jason wants to leave her for another woman so through out most of the play she acts out of anger while Jason tries to end things on a civil note and just wants her leave the palace
ReplyDeleteMen and women for years have had differences since the beginning of time because men and women are opposite genders that think differently about life. In Medea, Medea describes what men are in this quote,"O what an evil to men is passionate love". Medea's thoughts towards men is more of a love hate relationship. Also in Medea, Jason thinks of women are in this quote,"But you women have got into such a state of mind that if your life at night is good, you think you have everything, but if that quarter thing goes wrong, you lose sight of your best and true interest. Jason's thoughts towards women is that women set high intentions for themselves and if something goes wrong they will lose interest in that something.
ReplyDeleteMedea is written about a main character who is a women however it is written by a man. When the play was put on decades ago the actors were all men. Men played every role in theatre years ago, which tells us that they felt superior to women. "O what an evil to men is passionate love"
ReplyDeleteIn the play "Madea" it seemed that men had more power over their wives.They were seen as the superior in the household and the women were there to take care of them and bare their children. In a scene where Madea poured out her feelings to the Chorus, she gave the audience an idea of just how unfair an unequally women were treated, quoted by Madea,
ReplyDelete"A wife arrives with little to prepare her for her new behavior.And if it works out all is well and carefully and the husband lives with us, life is good....A man goes out of the house and puts an end to his boredom,turns to a friend or companion,yet we are forced to keep our eyes on him alone."
The inequality was very evident, has Jason left Madea for the Princess, just because he "grew tired of her bed." I am very sure that if it was the other way around Madea would have been banished or killed for her deed.
Men and women react differently to many situations in life. Getting over and dealing with conflict in a relationship is no different. Conflict does not have to be life changing but what does make it harder to deal with is if the two partner’s ways of dealing with conflict don’t mesh well. Women want a quick resolution to problems, men tend to hesitate in heading conflict head on. Women are more in tune with emotion and they love to talk about them, Men for the most part act. Women look to emotion and thus have trouble controlling them. Men who through the years have been hunters and protectors adapted through evolution and upbringing have learned to control emotion.“ And you, no doubt, would have understood, you who are incapable of controlling your bitter temper. Why master your emotions for your emotions for the children’s sake and calm yourself down”
ReplyDelete8^ )
Men at that time believe they had absolute power over women. Thats why Madea's husband sought out to leave her for a woman he thought was better even though he already agreed to spend his life with her. Hes wrong in how he thinks he can just leave her alone like that for no serious reasons. Difference is most men think they should be on a pedastool and Madea proves that is not the case.
ReplyDelete