Women Within The Grecian Culture - 1316 Words

Ancient Greece as a place and period time in our extensive history was a place of patriarchal power, controlled almost entirely by the masculine sphere and association with the Gods. It was a time in history that produced some of the most famous thinkers however they were all men. Women within the Grecian culture where very much the passive sex, confined to housework and almost never educated. It is interesting therefore that the characters that have emerged at the exposure of the phallic philosophical pen still remain as an ally to the feminist movement and are relevant to our way of thinking today, acting as feminist pioneers both in theory and literature, helping the canon evolve years after being written. At a time where scientific†¦show more content†¦Medea, the Gorgon monster who seduces men, turning them to stone and Antigone – who is arguably still one of the most powerful images we have of female strength to date. In their own right and agency, they all act a s feminist pioneers Sophocles Antigone, along with Medea are potentially the best example we have for how Myth has shaped and developed the feminist movement. Sophocles’ drama Antigone, written around 441 BCE, is one of his three ‘Theban plays’ that chronicle the dark fortunes of the house of Oedipus, king of Thebes. After Oedipus’ death, there is a struggle over the kingship between his two sons Eteocles and Polyneices. The army of Polyneices marches on Thebes and is defeated, but both brothers are killed in the battle. The new ruler, Creon, decrees that whereas Eteocles will be buried with full honours for defending the city, the rebel Polyneices must be denied holy rites and left to rot in the field and if anyone disobeys him they are to be punished by death. The state and patriarchy take high place within the novel as it does in many Grecian teaching places. The play was used to teach the subjects of the citadel about respect for the law and respect fo r society. We must therefore ask questions concerning the place of a feminine tragic hero, and the effect that it would have had. Antigone as a rebellious character raises