Satisfaction and Turmoil in Medea and the Twenty-third Psalm
We are all familiar with the Bible and its contents in general, yet a few individuals know it better than others. The twenty-third Psalm in particular is one that some know by heart. Then, there are those of us that are fascinated with other ancient histories and literatures. Medea is one such literature that illustrates the classical Greek culture of the day. These two literary works come across as strikingly different, and their disparity can be attributed to the authors' different styles and the different ethical beliefs that lie behind the works. The twenty-third Psalm soothes the reader with gentle language whereas Euripides' play somewhat irritates the reader's emotions with its diction and flow of events.
The first line in the Psalm is "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." This clearly emphasizes a very important point: the fact that "I", being whoever reads this, will never have to concede to desire. The language is as plain as it can get; this point cannot be conveyed in any simpler form. However in Medea we see a nearly total opposite view. "What profit have I in life? I have no land, no home, no refuge from my pain" (782-3). Although this statement also uses "I" as its subject like the Psalm, its focus is clearly that life's purpose is to live for a profit and self-satisfaction. The Psalm uses the word "shepherd" to symbolize a feeling of security, while the line from Medea speaks of "no refuge from my pain." This shows us that the speaker does not know that such a "shepherd" even exists, as does the peaker in the Psalm. The diction in Medea from this line also paints a picture of frustration while the Psalm applies a mood of satisfaction. This is just one of many places where we sense frustration in Eurpides' play.
Medea makes the statement, "I weep to think of what a deed I have to do next after that; for I shall kill my own children" (775-6). This line is very powerful in that the speaker is telling the reader of her plans, which are utterly gruesome. It seems as though she has only a little remorse for what she plans to do, because she makes her plans sound so straightforward while only claiming that she will simply "weep" for her actions.
At the time the play was set there was no benefits system. So if you
The speech itself highlights women's subordinate status in ancient Greek society, especially in the public eye." When Medea points out that women, especially "foreign" women, "require some knowledge of magic and other covert arts to exert influence over their husbands in the bedroom," she argues for a kind of alternative power that women can enjoy. A power that remains invisible to men and unknown by society, yet sways each with unquestionable force. Medea also supplies a method for interpreting her own character towards the end of her speech (lines 251-257): we should read her history of exile as a metaphoric exaggeration of all women's alienation; in fact, her whole predicament, past and yet to come, can be read as an allegory of women's suffering and the heights of tragedy it may unleash if left unattended. Under this model of interpretation, Medea portrays the rebellion of women against their "wretchedness." Such a transparent social allegory may seem forced or clichéd in our own contemporary setting, but in Euripides' time it would have been revolutionary, as tragedy generally spoke to the sufferings of a generic (perhaps idealized) individual, rather than a group. It would be a mistake, however, to claim that Medea's speech elaborates a clearly progressive political message, as her concluding remarks appeal to women's natural talent for devious manipulation (line 414). While Euripides' play manifests many revolutionary political sentiments, its social criticisms remain sporadic, forming just a part of some of the many trains of thought he follows.
Criticism in An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley "An Inspector Calls" has been called a play of social criticism. What is being criticised. Explain some of the dramatic techniques which Priestley uses to achieve the play's effects. "An Inspector Calls" has been called a play of social criticism as Priestley condemned the many different injustices that existed in the society between the first and second world wars.
Iago’s public perception played a very key role in the play. Everyone thought of Iago as
Although some would argue that the portrayal of women as deceitful in both Medea and the Hebrew Bible is to demonstrate women’s lack of societal worth however, I will argue that the portal of women as the root of deception highlight the true moral fibers of the male characters in the stories.
The exchange that takes place between Medea and the Chorus serves several purposes in Euripides' tragedy, The Medea. It allows us to sympathize with Medea in spite of her tragic flaws. It also foreshadows the tragic events that will come to pass. Finally, it contrasts rationality against vengeance and excess. The Chorus offers the sane view of the world to the somewhat insane characters of Medea, Jason, and Creon. As the passage begins on page 176, the leader of the Chorus reveals that she has high regards for Medea despite the fact that she is "savage still." She acknowledges Medea as a foreigner and an outsider and yet is sympathetic towards her. This alliance is apparently based on female bonds rather than on any kind of national loyalty. Medea wastes no time before she begins lamenting and cursing those who "dared wrong me without cause." The Chorus tries to comfort Medea, hoping that this might "lessen her fierce rage / And her frenzy of spirit." They show real concern for her well-being, as well as for the well-being of her loved ones. This unselfish attitude is in stark contrast to the attitudes of the main characters in the tragedy, who all seem to be extremely self-serving. So in just a few short lines, it's already become apparent that while the chorus doesn't necessarily agree with the way that Medea is handling her situation, they are sticking by her and supporting her. This idea supports one of the important themes of the play: the battle of the sexes. Medea now has a chance to get a few things off her chest. She addresses the "Women of Corinth," reminding them that of "all things that live upon the earth and have intelligence we women are certainly the most wretched." She discusses the sad lot that women must deal with in marriage and again stresses the fact that she is an outsider, "alone, without / a city. Her speech is clever and compelling.
Medea is a tragedy written by acclaimed Greek playwright Euripides.fortunately, had the opportunity to view last night's performance. Euripides cleverly uncovers the reality of Ancient Greek society, shining a light on the treatment of women and the emotions and thoughts that provoked during their time in society. As they were voiceless, Euripides acted as a voice. The scene is set during a male- dominated society, Medea the protagonist challenges the views and chooses to ignore the normality of civilisation. Treated as an outsider her passion for revenge conquers the motherly instincts she possesses, provoking a deep hatred and sparking revenge towards her once loved family.
The European Renaissance forever changed the life of the contemporary individual. Explosive advancements in education, technology, and trade broadened geographic and mental horizons; however, in England these developments were paired with population crises of poverty and unemployment. In addition, the increased interaction with foreign cultures fomented by various commercial and diplomatic engagements gave rise to apprehension in English sensibility. Eventually, Christian England would attempt to reshape these ‘strangers’ in their image and modern racial tensions sprung forth. Recursion of the trope of race, under the guise of blackness, heathenry, or even femininity occurs extensively in literary tradition, and especially within Shakespeare’s oeuvre. “There exists in all literature an archetypal figure who escapes both poles of the classic definition – appearing sometimes as hero, sometimes as villain, sometimes as clown…[he] has been named variously the ‘shadow,’ the ‘other,’ the ‘alien,’ the ‘outsider,’ the ‘stranger.’” It is with this borderline figure, mired in ambiguity, that this investigation is concerned: primarily with the stranger as the Moor in Othello, the Welsh in Henry IV, Part 1, and the woman in both.
The Greek drama, “Medea,” by Euripides, portrays a wildly unhealthy marriage that seems beyond the point of saving. The relationship between Medea and Jason is falling apart due to manipulation and a major power imbalance. In essence, “Medea,” though thousands of years old, shows that if both parties do not respect and love each other, a relationship will not last.
*Although Medea is arguably the most intelligent character in Euripides’s piece, shown in her dialogue with Creon, she has become ridiculed, and viewed as barbarous and less desirable following her separation from Jason. She is no longer a wife to a Greek man. She is simply an outsider, and a burden on a prosperous
Despite this, the topics described above of love, sex, and morality are a solid foundation for guidance on how one lives their life. Out of these concepts and themes one sees right and wrong in the morality of the actions of the characters. Emotions stemming from love should be given thought, as in Sappho, but not allowed to overrule moral judgment, as in Medea’s case. The concept of purity and sex with connections to a woman’s worth and obligations to please the male and abide to patriarchy must be abolished. Sappho should not suffer due to her lost virginity, nor should Medea be concerned of her lost purity after Jason’s betrayal; men do not suffer the oppression of this culturally conceived concept as women do. Medea’s suffering from her lost love comes out of Jason’s neglect for his moral duties to love her back and be committed. The loss Jason suffers afterward because of Medea’s revenge justifies the betrayal she endured, and gives a clear example of how actions affect others and come back to haunt. Displaying a different moral duty, Sappho shows how her emotions from love and moral obligations guide and her society to a pleasant and virtuous life. Out of sex, we can see our flawed, society-constructed concepts of purity associated with virginity; and we can see their harmful and oppressive effects on women. From this, we can become aware of the injustice of
Refrigeration Refrigeration is defined as “The process of removing heat from an enclosed space, or from a substance, to lower its pressure.” (First website given in bibliography) In simpler terms, it is removing heat from states of matter in order to keep them cooler. The basic need for refrigeration is to cool food and beverages, as they often get spoilt if the temperature is high. Before actual refrigerators and other such mechanical systems were introduced, it was very common for people to cool their food with ice and snow.
The tragedy of Othello, written by William Shakespeare, presents the main character Othello, as a respectable, honorable, and dignified man, but because of his insecurities and good nature, he is easily taken advantage of and manipulated by his peers and alleged friends. The dynamic of Othello’s character significantly changes throughout the play. The contrast is most pronounced from the beginning of the play to its conclusion, switching from being calm and peaceful to acts of uncontrolled venomous rage. Othello’s motivation in the play appears to be his love and concern for his wife Desdemona, which ironically, ends up being his downfall in the end.
However, even when his life has been ruined by Medea Jason still fails to see the fault in his actions as he blames her and his marrying of her for the tragedies that have befallen him rather than acknowledging that the only reason Medea killed anyone in the first place was because he was unfaithful to her and abandoned her for the prospect of power. And thus at the end we are brought back to the main theme of the play, denial, and as such I have come to believe that Euripides’ main goal with this play was to exhibit the different ways in which men and women react to consequences of actions and also as a way of exposing the injustices committed upon women by men in power and by men who seek
Through this relationship between the Chorus and the audience, Euripedes is able to influence the audience to sympathise with Medea. In their first stasimon, a mutual suffering is shown between Medea and the Chorus: