![]() ![]() In fact, one could say that there is a shift in the gender roles Medea embodies. It can therefore be said that Medea exhibits traits that both conform with and differ from the typical gender roles of women. This emphasises her role as a mother and makes her a more sympathetic character. She is wrought with emotion (a feminine trait) and hatred against Jason and exhibits regret when contemplating killing her children. Despite this, Medea is still characterised as female. Not only this, but Medea is in a powerful position at the climax of the play contrasting with the lack of power ancient Athenian women had. She is also a dominant speaker and manipulator, a very masculine quality. In the eponymous play by Euripides, Medea is shown to transcend society’s gender roles in several alarming ways: most notably by killing her children, thus contradicting the expected role of motherhood. ![]() ![]() Women were expected to marry from a young age, bear children and remain dedicated to their husbands they were barred from the political sphere as well as many careers and were prevented from owning land or property. Gender roles, still widespread today, were even more prominent in ancient Greece. Classics Ambassador Esmé writes about one of the most haunting, complex and well-known figures in Greek mythology, literature and culture – Medea, priestess of Hecate, granddaughter of Helios, sorceress of Colchis. ![]()
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