Medea's Monologue Of Ancient Greek Women

A person once said,“The best protection any women can have...is courage,”. According to the play, women in ancient Greece didn't really have a say in what really goes on. In one of Medea’s monologue she talks about the complex roles and the conflicts that come with being a wife in marriage, daughter, mother , foreigner , and a woman in general. Based on reading the play Medea by Euripides, the play is really about the hardship roles of ancient Greek women had in their society because Medea herself had her own conflicts with each of these roles. Medea talks about women in general and what happens when they get married, women were fully controlled and protected by their father, husband, or any other male relative. She starts of by saying “Women

In Medea’s first monologue she talks about why its hard being a foreigner, saying people look at you differently based on your looks and reputation that is given to you . Medea first say this “Whether you go out in public, or retire in private you get a reputation either way. There is no justice in the eyes of men they judge by what they see not what they know, ”(Page 15-16 , line 218-221). Medea saying no matter what you do people will always sense a certain character on you just by judging you based on how they see you act or look without getting to even know you. In the monologue Medea also continues to say “It is hardest for foreigners like me to be accepted-always working, always trying to fit in ,” (Page 16 , lines 222-223). Medea is implying that its hard to be accepted in a new setting with new people who look at you completely different than how they look at other people. In a conversation between Medea and Jason , Jason says to Medea ¨You are with Greeks now, not gypsies-in a land of culture and justice , not some tribal swamp,” (Page 30 , line 534-535). Jason point of view based on looking at Medea as a foreigner is that she has to basically learn how to fit accept that the Greeks does things different than the ways she does at her old country and that's why people look at her differently. At a point in the

Medea was in complete heart break when Jason dishonored her by going to marry another women and she then decided to go seek Justice. In the start of the play it says “Some plan is already forming in her mind she has a temper on her that is vile , and violent , and she will never rest ,” (Page 7 , line 35-36). This show that the character Medea is Seeking Justice because where it says “Some plan is already forming in her mind” its basically saying she thinking of ways to get revenge on those who caused her temper of pain and fury. Another line in the play to show Medea is seeking Justice is where it says “There are still dangers for this bride and groom and for the happy father do you think I would have fawned at his knees without some hope of gain with out a scheme?,” (Page 23 , line 366-369). Here this line also explains that Medea is out to seek Justice because after she finished begging King Creon to stay one more day before she is goes into exile she say basically says that she would have not begged to King Creon like that is she didn't have plan to get back at him , his daughter , and her husband Jason. When Jason didn't get his rightful throne in his country Iolcus from his uncle King Pelias it basically