Tragic Women
In Greek society, the theater blended history, art, and social gatherings in one seamless performance. In many ways, the theater was a revered art form, and indeed many classic stories were made for the Greek stage. Oedipus the King, Medea, and Agamemnon are three such stories. These three Greek plays were all tragedies, and in each story the women characters within the play enhanced the element of tragedy. By understanding the role each woman played, and by comparing and contrasting these roles, we can better understand the brilliance of Greek tragedy, and ultimately appreciate the art of Greek theater.
In the play Medea, the character Medea is both the victim and the victimizer. This provides an interesting element to the tragedy because it gives the reader, or the listener, a feeling of conflict. Therefore, instead of a happy man falling into misery, you have a character that is already miserable who increases her own misery in order to make someone else miserable, in this case her unfaithful husband Jason. Medea provides a picture of the ultimate tragic figure. Because her husband was unfaithful, Medea was placed into a set of tragic circumstances that she herself could not control, but because she murdered her husband’s wife and her own children in order to ruin Jason‘s happiness, she destroyed her credibility as a victim. So, yes, Medea was ruined but she responded unporportionately. One of the interesting things to note about the play Medea is the fact that Jason’s new wife is not victimized. Although Jason’s wife is not responsible for the torture she received, or her ultimate death, the audience is unfazed, if not a bit sickened, at her passing. Therefore, Medea remains the tragic figure, yet she is the villain. The unique role of Medea really changed and enhanced the concept of tragedy.
The play Agamemnon is like the play Medea because it shares a common theme of revenge. When Agamemnon returns home after ten years of war, he is greeted by his wife Clytemnestra who secretly seeks to kill him. While Agamemnon has brought home a war bride, and had previously sacrificed their daughter, it is not Clytemnestra who is victimized. When Clytemnestra and her lover murder Agamemnon while he is bathing, the pity goes not toward Clytemnestra or even Agamemnon, but to the war bride Cassandra. This contrast from the story of Medea is probably because in Agamemnon Cassandra is able to voice her opinions and situation to the audience. Therefore, Cassandra strikes pity where Jason’s wife did not because the audience could relate to her on a more personal level. The story leaves Clytemnestra as the villain, for she made Cassandra once again unwanted and an outcast.
The tragic role of the women in Oedipus the King is strikingly different from that of the two other plays. In this story, the theme is that of horrific discovery, and the women add to the sense of revulsion and loss. When the audience discovers that Jocasta is both the wife and mother of Oedipus there is an immediate sense of repulsion. Certainly, there is a sense of pity for the character, but it seems as if the pity is overridden by disgust. In this play, Jocasta is not the main tragic figure. Even when Jocasta hangs herself, the sympathy is directed more towards her husband. While the audience understands Oedipus to be the main tragic figure, it seems that Oedipus himself feels most sorry for his two daughters who will not be able to marry. The daughters are a perfect example of complete innocence in a tragic situation, and because they are women, the audience recognizes that they will be unable to leave their sad situation.
The Greek playwrights knew how to use the special role of women to enhance their tragedies. Every woman character, from powerful Medea to ignorant Jocasta, left a unique imprint on the legend of Greek tragedy. By recognizing the oppressive condition Greek women lived in, the playwrights were able to realistically bring elements of revenge, discovery, and helplessness into their plays. Only by understanding the role of each woman in these tragedies can we gain an appreciation for the various ways in which the element of tragedy was enhanced.
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Okay, so this is my essay that needs some help. I always do my best grammatically, however I am not very good. I really need A LOT of constructive feedback because it really is hard to edit your own essays. I would really appreciate ANY constructive crit, and you don't have to be familiar with the three plays in order to help. Thank you!
