From One Extreme to the Other
We have discussed two very different "types" of women in Antigone and Medea. You may not agree that they are types but that they are, indeed, two distinct women. However, can you argue that the playwrights are writing types.? How influential is this stereotyping in creating ideas about women? Why does that matter? You can also look at the difference between the anti-feminine speech of Creon in Antigone and the blatant misogyny of Jason in Medea.
For those new to this, I tend to ask a series of questions in an attempt to make you think about how to answer the first question. I can't help myself.
For those new to this, I tend to ask a series of questions in an attempt to make you think about how to answer the first question. I can't help myself.
posted by Dr. Battles at 10:14 AM
7 Comments:
I feel that in Antigone, her charactor was mostly written as a "type" but in some aspects not entirely. Example being the references made by Creon about opressing females. Also, how Antigone stands for what she believes knowing that the consequences are death; Sophocles is definately making a point here. I gather that this play is social commentary for the times which solidifies my belief that she is a type. One aspect that leads me to believe otherwise is how the Thebans and Haemon strongly oppose her punishment by Creon and make it known. Wouldn't they go along with Creon no matter what they believed in if women had no say in anything to keep from rocking the boat? Also, it could be argued that Sophocles was trying to make a point about tyrant rulers; that may also be commentary about ancient Greece.
Now, for Media I think she is written in some ways as a type but mainly as a cautionary tale-"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorn." Her reasoning for killing her children because they would have had a miserable life because of what she's done seems like she's more unstable, rather than doing what's best for them in the long run. I think that she was unbearably outraged by what Jason did to her, and that killing the children would be the ultimate revenge to him. Her behavior also looks like an example of a type because for hundreds of years, and still somewhat today, people give the hasty diognosis that women are hysterical and crazy.
These stereotypes were and are influential because in ancient times storytelling and theatre were the only things that ancient people had to express veiws and learn about the times they lived in. Also, the plays were very entertaining, so it made lasting impressions on the people who watched them.
It seems to me that both Sophocles and Euripides portray stereotypical types of women in Antigone and Medea. Antigone is the virginal warrior fighting for her beliefs, much like Joan of Arc. On the other hand, Medea shows a vindictive woman, one who will stop at nothing, no matter how heinous, to gain her revenge.
Both of these character types fall outside the realm of the “typical” Greek woman and for their transgressions, they meet an unhappy end. Ironically, the one most justified in her actions, Antigone, suffers a worse fate because Medea lives despite the evil acts she commits.
Women were expected to be seen and not heard, or even better yet, not seen. By garnering attention to themselves, they sealed their own fates: one loses her family and the other her life. It seems to me that both plays show Greek women the futility of any action not sanctioned by a man, whether King or husband.
I feel that certain characteristics of both women were stereotyped. Some of the actions that I thought were stereotyped were when Medea over reacts to the situation with Jason and when Antigone shows devout love to her brother by proceeding to bury him even though it was forbidden. Of course Antigone’s pursuit of burying her brother was not stereotypical but her love for him was because women were suppose to be the ones to love and nurture and with Medea it was not what she was over reacting about just that she was over reacting and expressing her emotions. Women then were expected to be seen not heard just as they are today in some countries. Seeing as how both of the these women were definitely heard and because of their actions in both plays makes me think they are not stereotyped. I think that most kings would not have been afraid of what a woman could do and it seems that in both the plays Creon is afraid of them and the effects their actions would have on other women in their society. Murderer, manipulative, unemotional, brave, rebellious, and outspoken are not words usually used to describe women, especially in a time period where their role was to be a homemaker and that was about it. Antigone and Medea are both women whom to me seemed to be quite the opposite of the average stereotypical woman in their time. Look at Ismene for example, she was not willing to disobey Creon and help her sister. In Medea even the chorus of women don’t really believe that she will go through with her evil plan until it happens. Thus showing that they were not stereotypical women in my opinion.
Sophocles and Euripides show to very different type of women.
Antigone is a women who shows character and morals believing that her actions are the right ones. She stand up for what she believes in no matter the consequences and will take whatever punishment is handed down to her. Medea is a women who is conniving and just plain evil. She comes off as a person who acts according to societies belief a women should act until someone goes against her. She has no morals or values or even a care for human life. Medea is a manipulater who is not willingly to pay for her crimes and always gets away the murders.
THe stereotype of women has been greatly influenced by the actions of our ancestors. Antigone, in todays society, would be considered a hero for standing up for what she believed to be morally correct. Medea would be looked upon as just what kind a women she is but she wouldn't get away with the crimes she had committed. Medea gives women, in general, a bad rap. Antigone allows women to be looked at as nice and considerate.
Croen's speech shows his lack for listening to a women and thinking he is above them. They are for only a few uses and that's all. Jason is totally a jerk. He not onlyexpected Medea to deal with his actions but accept them. I feel for Medea based on what Jason did to her, but that's where it stops. It does not justify her killing her children. If that happened today, the woman would have cleaned him out of house, home and bank account, and rightfully so.
Monnica brings up a valid point. While discussing the women of the two plays, we seem to have forgotten about Ismene from Antigone. I agree with Monnica that Ismene shows the stereotypical Greek woman in that she follows all the rules and stays in her “place” in society.
But even then, Sophocles has Ismene break out of that box when she briefly stands up for Antigone by questioning her punishment: “Are you really going to kill your son’s fiancé?”
My big question is: can any of these women really be considered a “type” if they step out of the bounds of that “type”?
For example, Antigone falls slightly from martyr status when she admits that she wouldn’t have buried a husband or child, only her brother. So it seems that she doesn’t completely believe herself that all people should be buried and the consequences of their life are left up to the Gods.
I agree with with Britabeth in that Sophocles and euripides protray certain types of women. bith Medea and Antigone are poler opposites. Antigone fights for what she believes in and Medea is the vindictive one.
I also agree with the fact the Antigone, who fights for whats right is the one who suffers the most, meeting an unhappy ending. Where as Medea, the vindictive one, gets away with unjust behavior.
and lastly, I agree with the fact that if a Greek women's actions are not agreed with by any male figure and because of the way women are looked at as lesser individuals, her actions are seen as wrong and in some cases she is punished.
I believe that the authors are portraying different types of woman in these works. In Antigone she is brave, noble, pure, someone to definitly look up to. I loved Antigone when I read it. It was a page turner for me. But in Medea...man that woman was evil. That was a page turner for me too but in a way of thinking, 'how much more can this woman do?'. They are totally different women and sterotyped in the way of good and evil.
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