Medea Gender Roles

1724 Words4 Pages

Alexandra McAllister
Great Books of the Western World
Term Paper
Fall 2014

Medea and Gender Roles

Medea is a play from Classical Greek Mythology that was written as a play by Euripides in 4th century BC. The story has been derived from a collection of many of the takes that were being passed on through oral tradition. The audience that was coming to see the play were already familiar with the story and its characters. The play begins with Jason having already abandoned Medea, his wife, as well as their two children. Jason has left Medea with the intention of marrying Glauce, the daughter of Creon, the king of Corinth, which would ultimately advance Jason's social and political position. We learn from a nurse some of the events that have …show more content…

She originally plans to kill Creon, Glaunce and Jason. Jason visits Medea and tells her that she is endangering the lives of their children by being so outspoken.It is at …show more content…

The Chorus of Corinthian women hear Medea's distress and say "I heard that unhappy woman from Colchis still crying, not calm yet" (lines 30-32), which also makes me believe that they sympathize with her, but then they are surprised that Jason's betray is upsetting her so much. In Ancient Greek culture it is normal for men to be unfaithful and much more accepted. "If your husband is won to a new love, the thing is common; why let it anger you?" (lines 55-56). As if the loss of love is no big deal and Medea should just be ok with it.

Once Medea regains her composure and leaves the house, she explains to the Corinthians how Jason's actions have made her feel. She explains the demands placed on a woman once they are married "we must..accept him as possessor of our body, will the man be bad or good. For women, divorce is not respectable; to repel the man, not possible" (lines 229-237). She goes on to say how unfair it is that men can look elsewhere for sexual relations when they tire of their wives, but women are expected to be faithful, " if a man grows tired of the company at home, he can go out, and find a cure for tediousness. We wives are forced to look

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