Change is a universal theme: one that every nation, city, state, or person consistently does in order to better themselves. However, change can be seemingly unattainable to those who are suppressed by the laws and standards of society. People like women have experienced these hardships for hundreds of years and have only just begun to gain a right in society in last century so that they may have an opportunity to experience change. However, throughout history and literature there have been some examples of women who stand up against society in order to make a change. Two literary works that express these women are Greek writer Sophocles’ Antigone and the Arabian masterpiece The Thousand and One Nights. In Sophocles play, the heroine, a
However, women are usually considered the ones who needs saving or are weak. Yet, in these tales Antigone and Shahrazad have bravery that many men in the stories lack when being faced against the ruler of their domain. No one dares to speak back to the king or ruler in fear of the harsh retribution or punishment that would be sure to strike them. If men could not even stand up against a ruler, then what option would be left for women, who were to be subservient and docile to everyone of higher authority—which included every man they came in contact with. Shahrazad and Antigone were supposed to be in the background, being dutiful to their superiors. However, with bravery, they managed to stand up for a cause that they believed needed to be changed. The Thousand and One Nights is an Arabic literary work and in general it has been found in Arabian societies “that women were virtually the property first of their fathers or older brothers and then of their husbands … were not able to manage or control any of they own property and … denied their inheritance” (Hambly 3). Yet, even though Shahrazad lived in a society where she was labeled as property, she used her bravery to do the impossible and stand up against the most powerful man in her city—King Shahrayar. Even he father who was a royal vizier and held a high place in the kingdom dared not to interfere with the tyrannous acts of Shahrayar and told his daughter Shahrazad, “If I give you to him, he will sleep with you for one night and will ask me to put you to death the next morning, and I shall have to do it, since I cannot disobey him” (“Thousand and One Nights” 414). Even Shahrazad’s own father refused to save her because he lived in fear of the punishments he may receive from Shahrayar. But, even though she was warned and had the choice to not be given to the king,
Women had no choice but to follow whatever society told them to because there was no other option for them. Change was very hard for these women due to unexpected demands required from them. They held back every time change came their way, they had to put up with their oppressors because they didn’t have a mind of their own. Both authors described how their society affected them during this historical period.
Throughout history, women were not always well regarded by men. Because of this, most societies treated their women as second class citizens. The stories from, Tales from the Thousand and One Nights, illustrate how the portrayal of women affected Muslim society in the Ninth century. Sometimes women were seen as mischievous, unfaithful temptresses. Other times they were depicted as obedient, simple minded slaves looking to please their master. With the use of charm, sex and trickery, they used the labels that they were put in, to their advantage; demonstrating that women during this century were clever, smart, and sly.
One of the conflicts in Antigone, is the struggle between men and women. Ismene tells Antigone that since birth, women “were not born to contend with men,” (75) displaying women’s obedience and passivity. In the same passage, Ismene says: “we’re underlings, ruled by stronger hands,” (76) a representation of men’s aggressive and “stronger hands” that dominate women and treats them as second-class citizens. The only woman in Thebes who desires to break free from these chains is Antigone, who stands up against Ismene’s passivity urging her to “submit to this,” (77) and defy Creon by burying Polynices. By breaking Creon’s edict, Antigone challenges the traditional gender roles women and men play. In what ways does the theme of gender in Antigone, demonstrate the passion and choices behind Antigone and Ismene’s decisions?
Do women participate more in more often in today 's workforce rather than they did in earlier times? How do the dynamics of the participation, in respect to the times, compare or contrast? In Sophocles ' Antigone and Dreiser’s Sister Carrie, the women must both overcome gender barriers throughout their struggles. Throughout their lives they each displayed strong and pioneering actions. Even when they were looked down upon by men, they persevered. While the number of women who participate in the workforce has increased dramatically since the 1930’s, to what extent they are participating, and the aspects of their participation, still faces gender bias.
This essay explores the role of women in Homer's Odyssey, James Joyce's Ulysses (1922) and Derrick Walcott's Omeros (1990), epics written in very different historical periods. Common to all three epics are women as the transforming figure in a man's life, both in the capacity of a harlot and as wife.
The plays Medea, by Euripides, and Antigone, by Sophocles, are often analyzed as being supportive of feminist ideas. Yet, one wonders whether Euripides and Sophocles really could have been behind what would have been a very radical idea in their misogynistic society. A feminist is defined as “a person who supports the advocacy of women’s rights on the basis of social, political, and economic equality to men.” Key word: advocacy. Euripides and Sophocles portrayed ideas we now recognize as feminist, however, I do not believe they themselves supported or could even conceive of equal rights for women.
Greek tragedy incorporates female characters that symbolize women in Ancient Greece. Through the portrayal of Antigone in the playwright, Antigone in Antigone by Sophocles and Penelope in the epic poem, The Odyssey by Homer, these two women play opposing roles depicting how they appear to society through their actions. In both of these stories, they embody the ideals of passionate women who are very loyal and brave. Through other female characters in each story such as Penelope and Ismene, we can construct a better view of traits illustrated by Antigone and Penelope.
In the novel She and in the stories of The Arabian Nights, both Haggard and Haddawy explore the expanding gender roles of women within the nineteenth century. At a time that focused on the New Woman Question, traditional gender roles were shifted to produce greater rights and responsibilities for women. Both Ayesha, from Haggard’s novel She, and Shahrazad, from Haddawy’s translation of The Arabian Nights, transgress the traditional roles of women as they are being portrayed as strong and educated females, unwilling to yield to men’s commands. While She (Ayesha) takes her power to the extreme (i.e. embodying the femme fatale), Shahrazad offers a counterpart to She (i.e. she is strong yet selfless and concerned with the welfare of others). Thus, from the two characters emerge the idea of a woman who does not abide by the constraints of nineteenth century gender roles and, instead, symbolizes the New Woman.
...present powerful characters, while females represent unimportant characters. Unaware of the influence of society’s perception of the importance of sexes, literature and culture go unchanged. Although fairytales such as Sleeping Beauty produce charming entertainment for children, their remains a didactic message that lays hidden beneath the surface; teaching future generations to be submissive to the inequalities of their gender. Feminist critic the works of former literature, highlighting sexual discriminations, and broadcasting their own versions of former works, that paints a composite image of women’s oppression (Feminist Theory and Criticism). Women of the twenty-first century serge forward investigating, and highlighting the inequalities of their race in effort to organize a better social life for women of the future (Feminist Theory and Criticism).
... subjects such as literature, medicine, and philosophy. By knowing all this, Shahrazad is able to come up with a brilliant plan and uses it in a cunning way so that she is able to convince the king to cease killing the women. By use of sexual advancements, sly stories, and the help of her sister, Dinarzad, she is able to successfully follow through with her plan. A main factor driving her is her compassion and drive to help other people in need. The Thousand and One Nights is an intriguing story that will keep readers on their toes, and like King Shahrayar, keep coming back for the rest of the story.
The women in The Odyssey are a fair representation of women in ancient Greek culture. In his work, Homer brings forth women of different prestige. First there are the goddesses, then Penelope, and lastly the servant girls. Each of the three factions forms an important part of The Odyssey and helps us look into what women were like in ancient Greece.
Due to traditional stereotypes of women, literature around the world is heavily male-dominant, with few female characters outside of cliché tropes. Whenever a female character is introduced, however, the assumption is that she will be a strong lead that challenges the patriarchal values. The authors of The Thousand and One Nights and Medea use their female centered stories to prove their contrasting beliefs on the role of women not only in literature, but also in society. A story with a female main character can be seen as empowering, but this is not always the case, as seen when comparing and contrasting Medea and The Thousand and One Nights.
Since the beginning of time, women have strived to achieve an equal status in society. The vast majority of women have rebelled against the norm for equal status. As if washing the dirt off one’s hands, women are forgotten for all of their achievements. The identity of women in the Western world has evolved from domesticity and servility, and moved toward their valuation as individuals of intellect, talent, and independence. The culture about women’s empowerment has been reflected in literature and history throughout many ages.
Although ancient Greece was a male-dominate society, Sophocles' work Antigone, portrays women as being strong and capable of making wise decisions. In this famous tragedy, Sophocles uses the characters Ismene and Antigone to show the different characteristics and roles that woman are typical of interpreting. Traditionally women are characterized as weak and subordinate and Ismene is portrayed in this way. Through the character of Antigone, women finally get to present realistic viewpoints about their character.
For centuries women have fought to obtain basic civil rights and today, they are still fighting to obtain equal rights. From the right to vote to their right to birth control, women have always been trying to assert their own independence in order to expand their freedom. While much progress has been made, there is still room for improvement. However, the evolution of women’s rights and the role of women is mirrored in literature and can be used to illustrate the progression throughout history. Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex is no different. Through the character Jocasta, Sophocles creates a counterpart to Oedipus and uses her to reveal the oppression of women by contrasting her and Oedipus’ relationships and reactions to the prophecy. Throughout the play Oedipus Rex, Sophocles illustrates Jocasta’s vulnerability and supportive nature in order to women as fragile, doting, and obedient wives and mothers to facilitate the necessity of self-assertion.