Question

In Euripides Medea, which moments, scenes, and ideas contributed to your understanding of your own culture and the values of your society? In what ways? Be specific

Answer 1

In the play, Medea is portrayed as an oppressed woman who is put through an ordeal that caused her immense pain, so much so that she was driven mad with passion. In doing so, she develops her character and grows to be strong and independent. She, thus, not accepting at all the proceedings in her life with helplessness, she decided to do something about it.

Our culture has dictated and portrayed women as something frail and weak, as something that needs protection. From the past decades and our rich history it can be noted that women have not been of equal importance as men since long. This has led to lesser rights for women and oppression of their desires and will. Women did not even have a right to vote. This play thus, serves as a note to ourselves, as to what a woman can do if her limits are questioned. Medea went as far as killing her own children, because to her they symbolised the pain and hurt that was lashed onto her by Jason. She became so vengeful, she was driven mad. She successfully ended up taking Glauce's life and subjecting herself through even more pain when she decided to kill her own children, with a steel resolve. She then went on to create a new life for herself, which she did deserve as every woman on the planet does. In present day and age women have been given equal importance and are not considered the lesser gender. Stereotyping is still prevalent in some parts of the world but that doesn't say anything about the entire world. Equal opportunities and benefits have been given to women along with the right to education and to vote. We have far progressed from our old repressed ways and thoughts. Society in general progresses, as do the people in them. The thoughts and perceptions of people build the world.