Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Euripides
Euripides was very brave in writing Medea. The play focuses on the bad treatment women in ancient times. They had no rights, were not citizens, and were force to stay home. No woman could speak out against their treatment, and no man was going to stick up for them. Men liked the way society worked because they were in charge. Euripides was really the first person (that I've learned about) to draw attention to the gender inequalities.
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Euripides was in fact brave for writing the controversial piece that is Medea. In his time, this would be seen as controversial not only because of the prevalence of gender inequalities, but also the increased violence of the oppressed and their feelings. Euripides himself was not extremely successful during his time, and we now consider him ahead of his time period because of his ideas. Therefore, he expresses his own ideas of the outsider through the character of Medea. On the other hand, Euripides seems to conclude the play by following the gender stereotypes of that time by painting Medea as a ruthless, insane killer of her own children. This could demonstrate how the outsider and weak will always come out last during a time period where they are oppressed, no matter how much they try to gain power over themselves and stand up for themselves. Euripides obviously draws on his own life in writing this play.
I think that Euripides's plays depict the reality of gender inequalities, like Savannah said, very explicitly for the audience. I think that Euripides's writings would have allowed for men and women alike to be awakened to some of the societal constraints that might not have been as apparent before. Although oppressed at the time, I think women would recognize that this play's theme ultimately represents the cultural and social standings in Athens.
I agree completely on the statements of Eurpides's bravery. In Athens, during the time of Ancient Greece, women were misrepresented and not shown equal rights. Many viewed women as only being useful for reproducing. Eurpidies, very bravely, challenged these ideas and spoke out against the views of Athenian men. It is even impressive that Euripides was even able to find male actors to perform the play, and was allowed to show the play to an audience. Euripides portrays the unjust view of women and provides a warning of what can come. Many considered Euripides as progressive and ahead of his time and he was not considered to be very good. However, he opened up the ideas of rights for women and progressed democracy in the right direction.
Throughout history, we have always needed brave men such as Euripides to effect change. Often, these figures would not be recognized until after their death, and we can see this with Euripides. Even though Euripides tried to convey the message of gender equality over 2000 years ago, this is an issue that we still face today.
I commend Euripides for audacity in creating such a story. What I wonder is how he could so easily get into the mind of an Athenian woman unless he had someone to help him write it. Or maybe, he visualized himself in the position of a woman an wrote from that perspective. Regardless, he created a masterpiece an should be commended for it. It's sad that he didn't get to revel in the praise of his amazing work since it wasn't appreciated at the time.
Euripides was not brave. He did not challenge the norms. Originally in the play, we are able to empathize with Medea and see that she is struggling, however, by the end of the play, Medea is portrayed as evil and barbaric. Her actions go too far, and the audience instead pitied Jason, who suffered at the hands of someone's who's behavior was irrational at best. Instead of challenging gender stereotypes, he enforced them by showing women as creatures who are slaves to their emotions.
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