Western Civ. 1-35: The Times and Fury of Medea

    In ancient Greece, drama was a significant cultural contribution and offered a unique lens into the values and attitudes of the time, as students of history it is important to understand these themes. Greek tragedy and comedy have greatly influenced Western civilization through our literature, sadly only a small number of plays have survived. Euripides was once of these few famous surviving writers. He was known for his criticism of the gods and social norms. His play "Medea" serves as a critique of the mistreatment of foreigners and women in Athens and a powerful commentary on current events. An analysis of this work takes into consideration the writer's writing style, the cultural context in which he lived, and his views on religion, politics, and social norms. Through the examination of works we can obtain a more nuanced understanding of ancient Greek attitudes towards foreigners, women, religion, and learn more about the time period. Armed with this information we will have a better appreciation for the role of drama in shaping our cultural heritage.

    Medea explores the themes of revenge, power, fate, and justice through the character of Medea, a foreign woman who is mistreated and oppressed by her husband, Jason. The play was written in 431 BC just as Athens was engaged in a devastating war with Sparta and its allies. The play's depiction of Medea's rage and terrible revenge against her wrongdoers reflected the anger and frustration of many Greeks in the terrible war they were fighting. As a foreign woman, Medea is an outsider subject to discrimination and mistreatment society, especially in a time when foreigners were considered enemies. This narrative clearly illustrates Euripides liberalism. During the play, Medea decides to take control of her own fate and seek justice for herself. At that time in history rhetoric like this was on the uptake, yet opposed by key conservative figures like Aristophanes in his "Lysistrata". The play wars about the dangers of mistreating, and conveys the importance of treating everyone with dignity and respect. In conclusion, Euripides' "Medea" was a extreme but popular critique of the attitudes towards foreigners, religion, and social norms in ancient Greece.

    Now we know that Greek attitudes towards foreigners and women are central to Euripides' "Medea." The play also portrays Medea as an actor who, despite her circumstances, takes control of her own fate by will by force. This depiction highlights the Greek ideas about foreigners, who were often viewed as a threat to the security of the state. This why Medea is oppressed as an outsider and a foreigner. In parallel with Lysistrata, the play also demonstrates the Greek sentiments towards women with power, suspicion and mistrust. This is expressed through her characterization as a dangerous and violent woman. At the same time Euripides seems to praise her for taking control of her own fate despite the societal sanctions placed on her as a woman and a foreigner. In conclusion, the Greek attitude towards foreigners and women was complex. They were treated with suspicion and mistrust, yet there was an increasing pus to include them in society. These attitudes provide insight into the cultural context of the late fifth century BC and the social and political issues of the time.