Female Figures in Classical Literature: Responses to Mistreatment - Essay Example

Task Female Figures in ical Literature: Responses to Mistreatment Introduction Women in the past lived in a male dictatorship era, which saw them incur both physical and verbal aggression from men. Two women who faced male hostility and mistreatment are Medea in Euripides Medea by Euripides and Lucretia in Early History of Rome by Livy. Both women reacted similarly by challenging their offenders, but reacted differently to their situations. Medea who had been rejected by her husband for a royal wife killed her husband’s new wife and her husband’s boys, while Lucretia who had been raped committed suicide to force action to be taken to her assailant. This study aptly discusses the male mistreatment such as verbal and physical mistreatment of Medea and Lucretia, two outstanding classical mythical female figures. Medea and Lucretia There are various factors that account for the differences in responses by the two women. Below are factors that lead to Medea murdering Glauce the new bride and her children. To begin with Medea was a foreigner, and a barbarian which did not mean much to her Greek husband Jason. Medea’s husband could not refuse the opportunity to wed the king’s daughter Glauce, thus, emotionally ill-treated Medea by rejecting and verbally abusing her. Medea rings a bell to Jason for having left her people to stay with him. “...since Jason betrayed them...” (Euripides & Diane, 4). Lucretia was a virtuous woman, and could not tolerate the humiliation of being a rape prey. Lucretia killed herself to testify her purity of being raped by Sexton Tarquinius. She kills herself to illicit sympathy, and ensures that revenge was accorded to her. She deems that no good can transpire to a woman without any reputation. She might have killed herself to uphold her honour and stand up against men as a woman in a male dominated period. Sexton physically abused Lucretia by raping her, and treated her with hostility by threatening to kill her (Langlands, 87). The two women reacted on inferior treatment by men in their individual countries. Medea’s response of having reprisal on her husband is not for the greater interest of all the women in Greece, but for her own painful revenge on her husband. Medea is a temperamental woman who can not endure the jealousy, and anger after her husband tells her that he would make her his mistress. This shows men dominance, since he betrayed her subsequent to her forfeiting everything as well as killing her brother, and leaving her country for him. Her reaction is, therefore, mainly personal. “...her dear father, her land, her home and all that she betrayed for Jason,” (Euripides & Diane, 4). Lucretia’s death is not retribution it is an act of sacrifice for social justice. Instead of revenging her rape she decides to bring the man to shame (Langlands, 88). Male supremacy is evident when the blame is shifted to the woman. Lucretia decides to sacrifice herself for the best of all women in Rome. Her demise brings destruction to Sexton and his city, thus ensuring that men steer clear from meting out physical abuse on women. She had to sacrifice herself to stop men from continuing to abuse women and fault shifting. The two women feel that men are to blame for their cruelty, and tragedy. Their misfortunes are as a result of men dominating their privacy, and their feelings. Medea settles on killing Jason’s new companion, and sons to spite her husband, Jason. She considers he has neglected her by rebuffing her. She grieves about how wicked men are, and wishes for lightening to strike her. Medea is swayed that Jason is to blame for her woes, since he abandoned her for princess Glauce. “...he is my master-but it is obvious he is harming those whom he should love. He is guilty...” (Euripides & Diane, 7). Lucretia feels that Sexton is responsible for her misery, thus her suicide act. Sexton sexually ill-treated her in her house at night when she had housed him (Langlands, 87). She runs to her father to inform him, and seek justice, but her father and husband Collatinus tell her to stop pursuing the matter, since it is her body that has been defiled not her honour, since it was without her consent. This shows male mistreatment, and dominance since Sexton threatened to kill her and put her naked body besides a slaves’ nude body. This show that death of women was not appropriately investigated only based on guesses. The two women scrutinized their function as women as men’s objects, and sought to dissolve this male supremacy. Medea states that Jason should not dishonour her like that because she is female. She states that women ought to be born stupid, since men despise intelligent ones. Medea’s response shows that her discernment of the responsibility of women in the society is as slaves to men, who do as they delight even if their women were hurt or betrayed in the process. Medea seems to think that every woman should protect herself that is everyone on her own. Lucretia sees her mistreatment as an opportunity for women to start eradicating male mistreatment, thus her self sacrifice. She sees her role in the society as that of a leader this is evident in her behaviour, she is pure and instead of having fun at parties like the other women she stays busy in her house (Langlands, 86). She sees the women’s role in the society as being possessions of men who did nothing; the revenge for Lucretia was an act of infringement of another person’s possession not a love story. Lucretia feels her body as a woman is as good as her honour and defends both. Her chastity gives her the self worth that makes men value her, and without chastity, she chooses death. This manages to stop male hostility by paving the way for justice, since Sexton Tarquinius lost his subjects, and his city (Langlands, 91). How the two women chose to react to male mistreatment show they are being empowered. In Medea’s case, she feels ready to die, but she is empowered by her strong jealousy. She settles on talking revenge instead of absorbing the abuse, and dishonour. “Aah... I wish I could die...” (Euripides & Diane, 105). Medea takes affairs into her own hands and manages to evade punishment. This shows her empowerment to act and fulfil her revenge. Medea is disempowered, since no matter what she has planned, she can not stand up to Jason, and refuse the wedding. She had to accept the marriage, and beg not to leave the kingdom to accomplish her deeds. The tutor says, “...Creon, the ruler of this land intends to drive these children and their mother out of Corinth...” (Euripides & Diane, 75). Lucretia’s case shows empowerment and disempowerment. She knifes herself in the heart and dies, an act that depicts empowerment since her father, and Collatinus would not pursue the matter. Therefore, instead of living in misery, and shame while her assailant goes scot-free, she chooses to take away her life. Her surrender succeeds as her loss leads to Sexton suffering immensely for his wicked deeds. Disempowerment is shown in the way she responds by killing herself yet her attacker is only disciplined. Male dominance was so influential that Lucretia could do nothing, but sacrifice her valued life for justice to be served. Conclusion The mistreatment of females by males was prevalent as seen in the accounts of the two prominent women; Medea and Lucretia. Somehow they managed to stand up for their rights, and stop the intimidation in the male dictated society. Medea murders her foes and Lucretia kills herself, both to serve justice. Works Cited Euripides, and Diane, Svarlien. Medea. Indianapolis: Hackett, 2008. Print. Langlands, Rebecca. Sexual Morality in Ancient Rome. Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Press, 2006. Print. Read More