Medea - A Feminist Perspective

15 Pages 3814 Words

their male relations. All their aspirations, choices and actions revolve around their respective male kith and kin. One is compelled to recall in this context that the status of women in the Greek society was equivalent to slaves. At best these women rouse our sympathy for being the victims of the patriarchal cruelties. Medea on the other hand sends shivers down the spines of those who advocate the patriarchal model. She is out to rub shoulders with men because she can beat them at their game. She can snatch away from them what they have denied her. However, I postpone an in depth analysis of her character and situation to be done in the following pages.

I shall now examine both the textual as well as mythological references to ascertain how Euripides portrayed Medea and how his portrayal was different from the traditional mythology. A minute study of the text in the context of the Medea-Jason myth helps us to determine the reasons why Medea has to resort to an act, which is quite unexpected of a mother to perform. Several instructive ref...