Women in Medea Essay

Throughout the many required forms of literature we have read thus far in the curriculum, there have been many significant differences between todays American culture and the culture of the ancient Greeks. The most profound and significant differences in my opinion being the oppression of women in ancient Greece, specifically in the tragedy Medea, written by Euripides. In this play it is depicted how poorly woman were actually treated through the story told by Medea. I hope to portray the major differences between these conflicting cultures through the underlying assumptions given by the text and prove that our society as a whole has come a far way.

As you know, women have not always been seen as equals to men. Through the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the 19th amendment women progressed into gaining the equality they deserved as Americans and human beings. Now, women have all the same rights as men, are allowed to vote, and can hold jobs, that women from 50 years ago never would have thought would have been possible. In 2008 women are seen as equals to men and have every opportunity available to men, but in reality some sexists still do hold on to the philosophy of male dominance over females.

In ancient Greece during the time the story of Medea takes place, women were seen as mere possessions that had no power or credibility in concordance to men. But I am deserted, a refugee, thought nothing of by my husband, -- something he won in a foreign land (Medea, pg. 696 line 253-254). And it is for this very reason why it was seen as acceptable for Medeas husband Jason, to abandon her and their two children; in hopes of marrying his new wife, the daughter of the king of Corinth Creon, Glauce. At this moment of abandonment Medea realizes that her rights as a woman are limited and it is unfair to be treated like this. In response to her heart being broken by the one she loves she devises a plan to kill all the people her ex-husband loved.

Now obviously in todays society leaving the woman you love and produced offspring with for another woman for the reasons of wealth and prosperity would be looked down upon, but because of the way women were treated in ancient Greece this was quite normal. Wives were people who produced and cared for children and heirs. They seem to have had little other use in the eyes of Athenian men (Thompson, Women in Athens). In the Greek culture it was very common for men to have many women in their life. Often times warriors would receive women after winning wars and battles as prizes to keep for their pleasure. It also wasnt very uncommon for men to have their wife and a mistress or two on the side. This leads to women being seen as disposable. A man, when hes tired of the company in his home, goes out of the house and puts an end to his boredom and turns to a friend or companion (Medea, pg. 695 line 242-244). One main reason why woman were treated like this was because they were seen predominantly for sex this being the only reason why they were around. Of all things which are living and can form judgment we women are the most unfortunate creatures. Firstly with excess of wealth it is required For us to buy a husband and take for our bodies a master (Medea, pg. 695 line 228-232).

In this time period woman were treated almost like slaves, a wife's duty was to bear legitimate children (i.e., heirs) and to manage the household (Thompson, Women in Athens). When the women werent needed they were often sent off to their quarters. This also occurred when the husbands guests were over. The wife was basically there to come and go as the husband pleases.

Woman also werent trusted. Every woman in Athens had a kyrios (guardian) who was either her closest male birth-relative or her husband. Although she could own her clothing, jewelry, and personal slave and purchase inexpensive items, she was otherwise unable to buy anything, own property or enter into any contract. Her kyrios controlled everything about her life (Thompson, Women in Athens). It was thought that women were only driven by sex. If a woman was seen alone outside of her house it was thought that she was out and about cheating on her husband. It was common Greek knowledge that they had to be protected from themselves and they had to be prevented from doing damage to others. Guardianship was the system developed to deal with this perceived quality in women (Thompson, Women in Athens).

There is a clear cut difference between the ways women are treated now in the United States compared to how they were treated in ancient Greece. The reason why it was accepted for men to treat woman as inferior in ancient Greece was because of the way they were depicted. Women were put out to be sex driven, untrustworthy slaves whose only purpose was to produce babies so that men could carry out his legacy through his offspring. And it is for this reason why not many people thought it was wrong for Jason to leave Medea for Glauce in the tragedy Medea.