Madea Possibly the Litarary Worlds First Feminist essays

Madea Possibly the Litarary Worlds First Feminist essays Medea: Possibly the Literary Worlds First Feminist Ancient Greece was an extremely misogynistic culture, and believed that women were a lesser breed. Because of these beliefs women were portrayed as weak, irrational, and vain creatures, and men bore the responsibility of taking care of them. Euripides created Medea, a women who is betrayed by her husband, and exiled by the king. It is only after King Kreon exiles Medea, and her children that she gets angry. Medea uses these assumptions about women to manipulate these characters in order to get her revenge. Medea is a very intelligent woman, and she uses her intelligence to plan her revenge. Men considered women weak, and because of this presumption it makes it easy for Madea to influence them. After she is exiled she must seek refuge, and she finds it in Athens with King Aigeus. In exchange for a place in his kingdom she promises to use her powers as a witch to bring him and his wife children. She makes him promise before all the Gods That you yourself will never cast me from your land, Nor, if any of my enemies should demand me, Will you, in your life, willingly hand me over (733-735) He has no idea of her intentions, but because he swore before the gods he must now honor is oath. Even though she will have murdered her children he must protect her, and give her a haven within his kingdom. Now that she has security she can carry out her plan. Her next step is to trick Jason, and does so by making peace with him. He treats her as if she were just an irrational woman who finally comes to her senses. She uses this as an excuse for her behavior and to make him believe that he is right. But we women are what we are,-perhaps a little Worthless; and you men must not be like us in this, Nor be foolish in return when we are foolish. Now I give in, and admit that then I was wrong (865-868). ...