Medea Vs. Antigone Essay, Research Paper

Medea vs. Antigone

The two Greek dramas, Medea and Antigone both exhibit gap scenes that serve legion intents. Such as set uping truenesss, sabotaging premises on the portion of the audience, boding the remainder of the drama, and sketching all of the issues. Medea and Antigone portion many similarities in their gaps.

Both dramas begin with supplying the audience with the history and the effects of certain state of affairss that the characters were involved in. It besides brings the audience to the present clip, in which the drama occurs. This enables the audience to hold a clear and invigorated image of what facet of the fable the drama emphasizes or if any changes were made. In Medea, the nurse is the first character who enters the drama and reminds the audience of the fable of the Golden Fleece, and the love between Jason and Medea, from get downing to the terminal. She besides brings them to the present province Medea is in, which is of complete desperation and depression after Jason remarried. And she hates her kids now, and feels no joy at seeing them. ( Oates, 292 ) . In Antigone, one of the intents of the chorus is to supply history to the audience. Although, Sophocles did alter the construction a small. The first to come in the drama are Antigone and Ismene, who are prosecuting in conversation over withstanding the edict prohibiting their brothers entombment, which brings the audience to the present clip. Shortly after, the chorus enters and recounts the grounds for the conflict and decease of Polyneices and Eteocles, brothers to Antigone and Ismene. The chorus appears every scene to function as the voice of the civilization, and advocates to the characters. Save those two of cruel destiny, who, Born of one sire and one female parent, set against each other their couple conquest lances, and partakers in a common decease. ( Oates, 192 ) .

While the chorus and the nurse recount the background of the narrative they at the same time set the temper of the drama. Their addresss are expressed with such deep emotion that the audience can t aid but go involved. The nurse in Medea sets a really tense temper that remains throughout the whole drama. I fear she may plan some indecent strategy ; for her temper is unsafe nor will she digest her cruel intervention. ( Oates, 292 ) .

Another similarity these two dramas portion is the rebelliousness O

f the traditional function of adult females. The Grecian civilization was set in the function that adult females should take and it was seldom violated. Womans were expected to take the submissive function and ne’er inquiry a superior male. Their voice was seldom heard and their sentiments were undistinguished, particularly in society. Equally far as matrimony went, adult females must purchase their hubbies with a dowery and it was necessary fro them to stay married, even if it was a bad matrimony. Divorce was illegal for adult females, while a adult male could remarry if he chose to make so. This rebelliousness from the traditional function forces the audience to see their society from a different angle. These dramas examine a adult female who isn T submissive and makes her ain determination ; based on her ain values alternatively of he one s society forces them to accept. Overall Antigone s character was obstinate, angry, dogmatic, and she put her household and spiritual beliefs before the province. The gap conversation between Antigone and Ismene discusses Creon s edict prohibiting the entombment of Polyneices. Antigone confides in her sister that she plans to withstand the order and asks for her aid. Ismene reminds Antigone that they are adult females and non strong plenty to withstand the province. Antigone views the trueness to her brother and the jurisprudence of the Gods above the province and will decease for Polyneices entombment. She is a adult female ruled by inherent aptitudes, emotions, and utmost pride. I shall rest, a loved one with him whom I have loved, sinless in my offense ; for I owe a longer commitment to the dead than to the life But if thou wilt, be guilty of disgracing Torahs which the Gods have stablished in honor. ( Oates, 189 ) . Medea examines a female who besides defies the traditional function. Medea is depicted as a violent, barbarous adult female who will halt at nil to seek injury to her enemies. She attacks the function of adult females in society and disagrees with the manner adult females are treated as inferior. And yet they say we unrecorded secure at place, while they are at the wars, with their sorry logical thinking, for I would lief take my base in conflict array three times o Er, than one time give birth. ( Oates, 298 ) .

Sophocles Antigone and Euripides Medea are two Greek dramas that portion many similarities. For illustration, the manner the audience is informed of history and the rebelliousness of the traditional function of adult females are merely two. Therefore, Grecian calamity has many reoccurring subjects, which can be straight related to the society in which they were written.