Comparison of Medea in Euripides and In Imagining Medea
Role of Women in Ancient and Modern Society
There has been a significant difference between the roles played by the women in both the ancient and the modern society. This has been enormously been influenced by the virtue that the time has changed and the introduction of technology. The roles that were initially were only subjected to the male in the community are nowadays performed by even the women. This has been seriously been influenced by civilization. Although the process has been gradual, in some communities women are still not allowed to perform some other duties. The difference in the duties and roles played by the women and men is influenced by gender discrimination. This paper will mainly focus on the diversity of the role of women in the ancient and modern society.
I.
The ancient women were not allowed to divorce even if the man was unfaithful in the marriage. This is evident according to the play, line 236, “divorce is unsavory for a woman, and it is not possible to say no to one’s husband (Warner, 1993, p. 15).” While women in the modern society are allowed to divorce their husbands incase of any unfaithful in their marriage.
II. Women in the ancient world would sacrifice their life even when the men were guilty to show love. This is vivid when Medea agrees with Jason, so she can come up with a plan to enable him escape. This is totally contrary compared to the modern women who are extremely conscious with the decisions they make. For instance, Jones states that women should avoid making decisions that might land then into jail (Fraden, 2001, p. 122).
III. Women in their reasoning, they show some passion hence making fair judgments as compared to men. This was mostly in the ancient time when women would consult others before making any judgment. Women would seek permission and ask for others idea before making their own conclusion. This is totally different from the current women who make their judgment according to their own choice.
IV. Women in the past were not allowed to kill their own kids even though they didi not intent. In some communities, such as the Greek, the women were given the choice to save male or the female child if twins were born (Warner, 1993, p. 23). The women were not allowed to keep both the children since it was not part of the community norms. In the current society, women are allowed to make their own choice especially concerning their children (Fraden, 2001, p. 107).
V. Although, the current society has been of immense importance to the various changes to women it has also caused some harm. This is vivid to the aspect that some women are used as sex objects. Most of women in the society have no employment. For this reason, most of the men have taken advantage of the women thus use them as sex objects. This is one key disadvantage of the roles of women in the modern society.
Conclusion
The role of women in the current society is extremely diverse as compared to that of the ancient women. This is for the key reason that women have been allowed to perform some extra duties that were only subjected to the men. Women in the current society are allowed to make their own decisions. This is indicated by the virtue that Jones denies the idea about killing of the kids in the book, “Imagining Medea” by Fraden.
References
Fraden, R. (2001). Imagining Medea: Rhodessa Jones & theater for incarcerated women,
California: University of North Carolina Press
Warner, R. (1993). Medea, New York: Dover Publications
