Okay, so I'm really enjoying Medea! There are lots of things to say about this play, but I'll try to be concise (ish).
We already discussed a bit what life was like for women according to Medea using the focus questions in class today; but I've found that not only is Medea aware of the misogyny present in Greek society, she actually, in a way, proceeds to use it to meet her own goals.
Not to bash on Jason too much, but honestly, he owes much of his success to Medea. If not for her, he would have been mostly just another dead Greek sailor, and people would have probably laughed at him for attempting these crazy missions he was sent on. Medea was the true brains behind the operations in securing the Golden Fleece, in my opinion, so not only does he betray his wife and mother of his children by deciding to marry King Kreon's daughter, he also betrays his comrade in arms and partner in success. Then he has the gall to claim that he's really doing this for her benefit (an argument which clearly Medea does not buy, whether or not Jason himself really believes it or not).
(Also, side note, Jason says some pretty rude stuff about women. Example: "It would have been better far for men / To have got their children in some other way, and women / Not to have existed. Then life would have been good" (lines 561-563). Gee, thanks!)
Anywayyyyy. Obviously Medea's not having it. She decides to trick Jason, Glauce, and King Kreon. Time and time again, her cleverness is brought up, but I think she is particularly subtly cunning when she says to Jason (while trying to curry his favor), "I should have helped you in these plans of yours, / Have joined in the wedding, stood by the marriage bed, / Have taken pleasure in attendance on your bride. / But we women are what we are,—perhaps a little / Worthless; and you men must not be like us in this" (lines 862-866).
She definitely plays on the sexism so prevalent in Greek society, and specifically on Jason's rather misogynistic views. Despite her pride, she doesn't seem greatly to mind saying somewhat degrading things about herself and other women in order to achieve her goals. Of course, Jason's all like, "You're so right, Medea!" and plays right into her plans.
He really should've known better.
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I think this is a really interesting point! When I first read through some of the passages in the play where Medea was talking about her worthlessness, or asking others to pity her, I was somewhat perplexed as to why she would do that. However, I realized that it wasn't a lapse in character but even another example of her cunning and cleverness.
Medea's manipulation using the typical views held by society also shows how aware she is (which is SOO crazy considering she is both a woman and a foreigner). Really, I think, this makes her a sort of revolutionary character. Despite being thrown into a male-dominated society that isn't exactly known for rolling out a welcoming mat to outsiders, she holds her own and maintains her wit. Moreover, she understands her place in society so much as to manipulate it to her advantage, instead of being crushed into a kind of conformity that most would expect of her.
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