![]() ![]() ![]() Medea then goes on to say that the burden of being a woman is not just difficult but also unequal to that of being a man. ![]() Still in anguish over Jason’s betrayal of her, Medea cries out, “We women are the most beset by trials of any species that has breath and power of thought.” 1 She publicly states to all of the women in the city that the condition of being a woman is difficult and full of struggles. Medea’s monologue to the women of Corinth in the beginning parts of the play is a powerful proclamation of the unjust marginalization of women in society. Careful analysis reveals that Medea is not a stereotypical woman but a woman who understands that there is an imbalance of power between a man and a woman and resists this injustice. However, many parts of the play suggest that Medea is a feminist figure who challenges the gender and social norms of her time, and many aspects of the tragedy revolve around issues of women’s rights and the marginalization of women in society. ![]() Both of the main characters, Medea and Jason, possess qualities that conform to the gender expectations of ancient Greece, and it would be unsurprising if audiences of this play in ancient times viewed the two characters as traditional portrayals of a woman and a man. One of the main themes presented in Medea is the role and condition of women in ancient Greek society. Like many Greek tragedies, Euripides’s Medea explores themes about society and human nature. ![]()
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