Women In Medea

Women like Medea had no freedom or rights in the patriarchal society they lived in, especially in terms of their marriages. Medea even said, “For separations bring disgrace on the woman and it is not possible to renounce one 's husband” (Euripides 42). Evidently, while separation was an easy and swift procedure for men, it was extremely difficult for women to accomplish separation successfully from their husband due to the disgrace and stigma associated with it. Essentially, women were powerless and did not have a say in their well being and their marriages; they were completely controlled by their husbands. In addition, in ancient Greek society, it was also not uncommon for women to be abandoned by their husband for another woman. In the

Essentially, women had no one but their husband. If a man was no longer satisfied in their marriage, they could engage in adultery without reparations because it was believed to be the women’s job to entertain and satisfy their husband. In addition, the blame would also be automatically shifted onto them because in the patriarchal society that they lived in, men could do no wrong since they were more superior. Essentially, separation was an easy and swift procedure for men, while it was extremely difficult for women to accomplish due to the disgrace and stigma with it. Women only had their husband to depend on, whereas men could easily find a mistress. Evidently, in the patriarchal society women lived in, marriage was simply a way for property to be protected and for the bloodline to continue in which women essentially served as bartering chips. Those were the circumstances women had to abide by. Essentially, women like Medea did not have any sense of freedom or independence in their marriages. This was not a right provided to them considering they did not have any real control or standing in society. Medea described the situation and dynamics of women by saying, “In the first place, we must pay a great dowry to a husband who