ipl-logo

Medea And Lysistrata Comparison Essay

990 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The representation of women character in Medea

Audra Dobson
ENG 2423-06B
Mrs. Mitchell
4/8/2023

Medea by Euripides and Lysistrata by Aristophanes
Medea and Lysistrata similarities and differences
The Greek plays Medea, and Lysistrata shows how women are inspired to gain authority to fight sexism. In the play The Medea, the title character is at odds with her hated husband, Jason. In contrast, Aristophanes' Lysistrata focuses on the main protagonist, Lysistrata, who plans to rally the ladies against the men's stubbornness. Lysistrata by Aristophanes features a character who stands in sharp opposition to Euripedes. While Lysistrata's actions were also spurred by a desire to challenge gender norms, they depicted a different, more powerful heroine than Medea. Lysistrata and Medea are insane, but their methods of acquiring and using power couldn't be more different. Medea derived her strength from her boys because she knew they were the powers that could weaken her husband (Euripides, P72). Lysistrata, however, was the driving force behind the women's dominance because she inspired and led the group to work together against the men. The …show more content…

Medea's husband Jason leaves her for another woman, and she is short to be cast out of her home (Euripides, P45). Women in authoritarian societies regularly face hostility and isolation. Like the world of ancient Greece, where Medea lived, most American families are headed by a man. Consequently, wives often find themselves subservient to their male partners rather than equals. Because sexism is embedded in the system in which we exist, it is extremely difficult for a woman to escape this world once she has entered it. Medea is a story set thousands of years ago, but its themes are as relevant today. Medea's behavior exemplifies how people with psychological scarring due to sexism and isolation may resort to harmful measures they believe are justified to atone for the suffering they have caused

Show More
Related
721 Words | 3 Pages

The U.S. Supreme Court Case Regents of the University of California v. Allan Bakke was officially decided June 28, 1978. The case addressed the issue of use of affirmative action in university admissions processes. Affirmative action, also referred to as positive discrimination, was a result of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, and was intended to ensure equal entry to educational institutions or employment entities to certain groups that “have historically suffered invidious discrimination” (Janda et al., 477). However, sometimes this method causes discrimination of other groups, through establishment of racial quotas. University of California employed the process of affirmative action and instituted racial quotas in its admissions

Read More
1005 Words | 5 Pages

Aristophanes Lysistrata and Homer’s Odyssey both show how women can thrive in their society and fight for what they believe in, even if that goes against the gender roles portrayed in Greek Civilization. In Aristophanes Lysistrata, the author portrays how one woman can fight for what she believes in and make a difference in society. Lysistrata ultimately wanted to end the Peloponnesian War, she knew the only way to do so was to take advantage of the Men. Men were dying day after day because of this war and Lysistrata had enough, she wanted to end it. Lysistrata decided to take a stand; she voiced her plan to

Read More
1118 Words | 5 Pages

In Euripides’ text The Medea, Medea can easily be painted as the villian. She is a woman who killed her own children in an attempt to spite her husband. But, by examining the text, we can see that she deserves some sympathy. She has little to no control over her own life and has to rely on the will of men. And as a foreigner in Corinth abandoned by her husband, she faces even more challenges than the native women of Corinth did.

Read More
711 Words | 3 Pages

In Euripides’ Medea women are treated better than they are in other Greek stories. Women in mythology are commonly portrayed as devious, manipulative, deceitful, and

Read More
1213 Words | 5 Pages

Euripides forwards Medea’s revenge through her use of Rhetoric in her dialogue. Rhetoric is language used intended to persuade or influence another person’s decisions or ideology. Medea’s use of Rhetoric conveys her cunning and deceitful nature in the play: she appeals to the ethical standpoint of the all-female Chorus, she appeals to the emotion of Creon to persuade him and Aegeus for her own advantage. Jason’s use of Rhetoric against Medea is exposed by her argument on the ethics of marriage that he has tarnished. Medea uses Ethos, the persuasion through ethical arguments, to appeal to the female Chorus who live in a patriarchal land.

Read More
978 Words | 4 Pages

In Lysistrata, men and women were entangled in an unhealthy relationship; it was based on the objectification of human beings. They didn’t care about anything but sexual pleasure. Women didn’t give much thought about how men are using them as a sex object and men didn’t concern themselves about their wives, families or even household responsibilities. One of the most compelling examples in the play, that supports

Read More
2754 Words | 12 Pages

Keera Woo Ms. Estrada English 2H February 22, 2023 Medea Synthesis Debate Essay The novel Medea, written by Euripides, is a controversial and argumentative story about a woman exacting revenge on her former lover. The main character, Medea, has recently been cheated on by her former ex-husband, Jason. He pledges to marry the Princess from the nation that they live in, Corinth, without Medea’s knowledge.

Read More
467 Words | 2 Pages

Of all things that live and have intelligence, we women are the most wretched creatures” (Euripides, 21). This relates to the historical background, because, as demonstrated by Medea, women have no equality in their male-dominated

Read More
964 Words | 4 Pages

In the early 400s B.C., two works, the first Medea by Euripides and the second, Antigone by Sophocles, entered Greek culture, exposing its anxieties through the roles of women. Both authors presented the lives of women in light of a prestigious society in order to make a point concerning the way others falsely viewed women. Specifically, in the narratives, Medea and Antigone respond to conflict in an assertive fashion, rather than submissively. This characteristic which, according to societal standards, ought not to be known to women, causes others to view them as foolish, impulsive women; regardless of the societal pressures and judgements, they relentlessly pursued their goals.

Read More
1655 Words | 7 Pages

Paul Vu Dr. Elizabeth C. Ramírez THTR 475A.03 2 May 2017 Macbeth and Medea: Breaking Expectations Macbeth by William Shakespeare and Medea by Euripides are known for their powerful critiques on the social expectations of women. Women during the time of Elizabethan and Greek theatre were often stereotyped and considered the weaker sex. Men were depicted as strong individuals who supported and protected women. However, both Shakespeare and Euripides broke expectations by portraying strong and iconic female characters in their respective plays. The idea of a strong female character was often unheard of during the time of Elizabethan and Greek Theatre.

Read More
1010 Words | 5 Pages

Euripides created a modern day woman who seeks justice and revenge with her cleverness and power. Medea acted as a feminine heroine who established that women can also be as strong as men. The feeling of being left by someone you love is truly painful hence, Medea expressed her emotions as much as she can and mourned for her lost. It is true that women can be sensitive and emotional so there was Medea portraying a usual woman in an unusual manner.

Read More
1568 Words | 7 Pages

Lysistrata, a middle-class woman and wife of one of the Athenians soldiers, decides to hold a meeting with all the women within the Greek territory and discuss a way to end the terrible war afflicting

Read More
727 Words | 3 Pages

Medea was treated unfairly in the patriarchal society that she lived in and due to the circumstances she was forced to abide by, she sought to achieve her own form of justice. Women were mistreated and regarded as inferior to men. In fact, Medea mentioned how women were like foreigners forced to abide by their husband’s laws and remain subservient. Essentially, women were treated as outsiders and were thought to need constant protection from male figures. So, when the King of Corinth kicked her and her children out of Corinth and Jason left them, she wanted revenge since she felt she had been wronged.

Read More
1434 Words | 6 Pages

She describes the world to be unjust, especially to women. Medea believes that women are looked as inferior to men, and even so, men are quick to display their unlikely maltreatment. To her, women have little to no say in their marriage, their bodies, and general society. Medea’s outlook of women is first conveyed through this quote, bringing upon the theme of the state of women within Greece. This quote reveals the state of women within Greece, a leading theme of the story.

Read More
1135 Words | 5 Pages

MEDEA, Euripides In the ancient era was the theater plays and a very central part of the future society. Usually written the dramas and love stories. A classic piece of antiquity is Medea, written by Euripides. The play 's fable is that a woman who learns that her husband has been cheating on her.

Read More

More about Medea And Lysistrata Comparison Essay

Related Topics

Open Document