Antigone and Medea are often considered amongst the first feminists' in literature. A feminist is one who protests discrimination against women. Both Antigone and Medea live in sexist societies in which they are treated as inferiors because of their gender. Both rebel against powerful men who impose an injustice on them "Antigone defies Creon's law, Medea gets revenge on Jason. But their motives for rebellion are quite different. Medea's primary motive is revenge, but she also protests against women's discrimination. This makes her a feminist. Antigone is motivated by the desire to bury her brother. At the same time she protests against unjust and tyrannical governments. However, nowhere does she make reference to a desire for more equality amongst the sexes, let alone a demonstration of those values that would make her a feminist. .
Antigone lives in a sexist society in which woman are second class citizens who are expected to mind their own business and do what they are told. When Creon learns of Antigone's defiance of his decree his anger seems to stem not merely from the burial, but also from the insolence of a woman: .
"I am not the man, not now; she is the man.
if this victory goes to her and she goes free."" (545-546).
His contempt for women recurs several lines later:.
"When I'm alive.
no woman is going to lord it over me."" (593-594).
Later in the play he uses "woman's accomplice- (837) and "woman's slave- (848) as insults when arguing with Haemon. Even Ismene seems to buy into the superiority of men. Trying to convince Antigone not to bury Polynices, she cautions her that:.
" we are women.
we're not born to contend with men."" (74-75).
Medea lives under the same prejudices as Antigone. Again, in her city, women are considered discriminated against. Jason states his beliefs quite directly:.
"If only children could be got some other way,.
Without the female sex! If women didn't exist,.
Human life would be rid of all its miseries.
Medea and Antigone In the plays Medea, and Antigone, by Euripides and Sophocles, two women are portrayed as independent, stubborn individuals. ... There was one distinct difference between Medea and Antigone. Antigone was definitely more courageous than Medea. ... Medea and Antigone both stood against the men of their city. ... Both Antigone and Medea stood up against this ridiculous trend. ...
Antigone As a Feminist Women in Greek drama were often portrayed as sympathetic and forgiving, because they were not to be faced with the burdens of politics, religion, or war. ... Instead she should be praised as a well-educated woman who led an active role in politics and religions; thus, qualifying her as a modern day feminist. ... Ismene insists that she die alongside Antigone to show support for her cause, thus showing how influential Antigone is. ... Antigone's role in the play could be described as powerful. ... Her selfless act not only provided a proper burial for her brothe...
Though similar in definition, it has been argued that in Sophocles' story, "Antigone", he portrays Antigone as either one of the first known feminists, or an activist, who stood against outlandish governmental laws. If feminists are simply a type of activist, then why not expose Antigone for who she is; an activist who believes in the laws of the gods rather than the laws of man. ... This quote is one of many that give us hints of Antigone's feminist point of view. If exploring the idea that Antigone's purpose in the story was to stand up for women's rights in a male do...
In the play Medea, by Euripides, many techniques are incorporated to augment the compelling persona of the protagonist, Medea. ... It is delivered early on in the play and has the potential to stun the audience with the passion contained within the words. ... Medea appears to be the leader of a "feminist movement" with the chorus and audience as followers, thus placing her on a pedestal, higher than a normal human being. ... The image of Jason and Creon in juxtaposition to Medea is essential in constructing Medea as a powerful character. ... At the end of Medea this is precisely what happens, ...
Sophocles demonstrates an affinity for feminist values in his play Antigone, which portrays its female characters as more motivated, morally upright, and braver than their male counterparts. ... Antigone states, "I know I please the souls I seek to please" (Sophocles Antigone 103). ... Therefore, Sophocles allows his audience to see that women will always not conform to laws that do not make any moral sense in this way we can see his feminist beliefs. Finally, Antigone's bravery is yet another clue into Sophocles feminist views. ... Thus, this play varies from others of its...
Medea "Medea illustrates the gap between male and female perceptions of the world." ... Euripides" has also been described as a feminist and a misogynist. ... Medea is the main character of the play. ... In Medea the Chorus is a group or Corinthian women whose main objective is to sympathise with Medea. ... The Nurse is Medea's closest confidant. ...
Sophocles" Antigone takes place in ancient Thebes at a time when men were warriors and women were delicate. The feminist movement has not yet come to pass, and yet one young woman, Antigone, stands out, defying the decree made by her uncle, her king. ... Although Antigone does not explicitly stress her gender, Creon does. ... Sophocles also portrays Antigone as having a morbid fascination with death. ... The character of Antigone is further developed through her regard for love and her family. ...
Though one of his plays, Medea, was rather unpopular because of its feminist ideas at the time, it is now one of the most studied and famous plays among scholars and readers alike. ... Medea's internal conflicts are also a vital part to the development of the plot. ... Here, Medea is miserable and confused about her life. ... Although the royal family is not directly related to Medea, Medea and Jason's children are the links that make them all part of one family. ... All the play's tragedies occur within Medea's family, a final criterion determining that Medea is a trag...
The tragedies of Medea, Antigone, Electra, and even Agamemnon, show women are strong and free willed and are capable of doing things on their own. In Euripides" Medea, Medea is constantly talking about the conditions that women face in her time. ... In Medea, as well as other plays, there is a sense of role reversals. Medea is shown to be tough, and is warrior like in her speeches to the chorus. ... Like Medea she is also driven by revenge. ...
