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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 5 page essay that contrasts how Clytemnestra and Medea are portrayed in plays by Aeschylus and Euripides, respectively. Each woman enacts a terrible vengeance on her husband, showing that she is capable of murder in order to feel that her honor as been upheld. However, a close examination of these plays demonstrates that the playwrights show these similar women in very dissimilar light. Clytemnestra is treated by Aeschylus as a threat to the fabric of Greek society. Medea, on the other hand, is shown in a much more sympathetic light by Euripides, who lays considerable blame for her actions on the societal role of women at that time, and on the dishonorable actions of her husband Jason. No additional sources cited.
Page Count:
5 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_khstrwom.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
the character of Clytemnestra who appears in the first two plays. Euripides Medea likewise, features a strong woman, as this play focuses on the character from which it draws its
name. Each woman enacts a terrible vengeance on her husband, showing that she is capable of murder in order to feel that her honor as been upheld. However, a close
examination of these plays demonstrates that the playwrights show these similar women in very dissimilar light. Clytemnestra is treated by Aeschylus as a threat to the fabric of Greek society.
Medea, on the other hand, is shown in a much more sympathetic light by Euripides, who lays considerable blame for her actions on the societal role of women at that
time, and on the disreputable actions of her husband Jason. Medea begins with Medeas nurse recounting to the audience how her mistress and Jason met, which was while he
was on a quest for the Golden Fleece. The nurse relates how Medea gave up everything she had ever known, all that she loved, to aid Jason in his quest
and by becoming his wife. The nurse relates that, in return for this sacrifice, Jason has "betrayed his own children and my mistress dear" by taking a new bride (Euripides).
In reaction, the nurse relates that Medea, "the hapless wife, thus scorned...lies fasting, yielding her body to her grief, wasting away in tear ever since she learnt that she was
wronged by her husband" (Euripides). Throughout this speech, Euripides has the nurse use words that are designed to elicit Athenian sympathy for Medea. He emphasizes "honor," and how Jason has
"betrayed" his "pledge" to Medea and ignored the huge sacrifices that she took on in order to aid him. Medea used her magic to help Jason obtain the Golden Fleece
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