Preview

Comparing The Killing Of Children In Medea And Bacchae

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
175 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Comparing The Killing Of Children In Medea And Bacchae
Another example of the killing of children is the horrific and gruesome events that take place nearing the end of the play, involving the characters Pentheus and Agave. Possessed by Dionysus's powers Agave the sister of Semele slaughters her own son Pentheus along with the Bacchae by mutilating his body and decapitating his head. By the end on the play she has returned back to the palace with her son's head in her arms boosting that she has killed a Lion however to only realise that she has killed her only son. The Bacchae relates to Medea by playing on the Killing of children through a mother committing an unthinkable crime of murdering her own child. As seen throughout these two plays Euripides made the conscious decision to portray women
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Analysis Of Cleophus's Rape
    • 419 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Analysis Of Cleophus's Rape

    PER REPORTER: Tiffany said Roslyn came to the hospital today around 1:15 p.m. to be checked out due to the child reporting that she had been raped by her half brother (Cleophus) and his best friend (Sam). According to Roslyn, Cleophus got out of prison last night and called her and asked her if she wanted to come over and hang out. She said her grandmother told her that she did not think her going to hang out was a good idea; however, she said she went to hang out anyways. She said when she made it to Cleophus’s house his best friend (Sam) and two other boys were there by the name of (Mario and Duke). She said she noticed that the boys were smoking and she said the next thing she knew was Cleophus, and Sam had her pint against the bathroom wall by her neck while Cleophus raped her.…

    • 419 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    A Midsummernight's Dream vs Medea
    • 678 Words
    • 3 Pages

    A Midsummernight's Dream vs Medea

    “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “Medea” are both good plays, but “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” appeals to a wider audience. There is a reason that it is the most produced play in the world. It appeals to a wide audience because of its…

    • 678 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Comparing Medea And The Poisonwood Bible
    • 607 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Comparing Medea And The Poisonwood Bible

    In novels and play writes such as Barbara Kingsolver’s, The Poisonwood Bible and Euripides, Medea, the theme Role of women arises: women in many societies are subjugated and displayed as the inferior gender, when they are truly the strongest; they carry all the pain and suffering of society, the wars and the deaths; thus they are the pedestal that keeps everyone up. In order to reveal theme Kingsolver and Euripides make use of literary devices such as symbolism, imagery and diction. Using all three literary devices Kingsolver reveals that women such as Orleana believe that they are just rag dolls that are pulled, pushed and just there, even so realize how strong they really are; that if it was not for them their children would not be able to live. Medea on the other hand represents all the pains and struggles of women and is attempting to inform all women that they have the power and must stand up for themselves.…

    • 607 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Year 12 Kayla Complete Medea Essay 2 2
    • 1687 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Year 12 Kayla Complete Medea Essay 2 2

    In the play Medea written by Euripides, the patriarchal society of ancient Greece is examined and the role of women in a male centred society is explored. In this world where “the middle way,” or moderation in all things is valued and reason and logic are seen to be the ideal, there is no room for passion or emotion which further limits the value of women. In response to Jason’s arrogant sense of superiority and his disregard for his wife’s feelings, Medea shows criminal behaviour by killing Jasons children and his new wife so he cannot continue his family line and denying him burial rights for his own children. However, it is Jason who acts like a criminal because he betrays his oath to Medea, and his criminal behavior forces Medea to commit the unjustifiable act of infanticide because she felt she had no other alternative.…

    • 1687 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Medea Tragic Flaws
    • 180 Words
    • 1 Page

    Medea Tragic Flaws

    One of the reasons as to why Medea is such a compelling character is because she does not have one particular tragic flaw. Her tragic condition is the result of a convergence of flaws. I think that these can be summarized by the idea of Medea not recognizing any balance in her emotions. She fled her father's home with an intensity of emotions invested in Jason that were never calculated nor any type of deliberation present. This same abandon is seen when Medea kills her brother. It is also evident when Medea cannot accept that Jason has stopped loving her and loves another. While Medea does consider the implications of killing her own children, it is to no avail as the intensity of her emotions overcomes all reason. When the Nurse understands…

    • 180 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Medea's Revenge Analysis
    • 990 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Medea's Revenge Analysis

    Euripides’s creation of a character who thirsts for vengeance was groundbreaking. Medea stopped at nothing to settle the score with those who had wronged her, even if that meant sacrificing her own children. In Medea, Medea specifically wants to exact her retribution on the man that left her, Jason. She has lost everything, whether it be her home, her marriage, or even her sanity. Medea must question herself why this desire for vengeance is so potent. She decided that killing her children was necessary in order to gain the last laugh, and she suffered no consequences for it. Many steps also had to be taken in order for Medea to achieve her ultimate goal. Vengeance may have been seen as justice in the eyes of Medea, but the two are very different.…

    • 990 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Medea's Betrayal
    • 364 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Medea's Betrayal

    Medea’s rage is a result of Jason’s betrayal, and with both desire and passion, it prompts her calculation- causing her to commit unimaginable crimes. Her rage is forgivable, yet her actions that follow are contemptible.…

    • 364 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Medea Tragic Hero Essay
    • 676 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Medea Tragic Hero Essay

    Helios’ granddaughter garners the favor of the gods through Jason’s broken oath and escapes without punishment due to that favor. She also utilizes her talent to bring about Jason’s demise and gain revenge for her broken heart. Euripides’ play casts Medea in a traditionally male role, scaring the male Greek audience and causing them to reanalyze what it means to be a hero. Since Medea is female, one does not immediately think her to be a hero. However, in analysis of her character and actions, she does not differ in characteristics of Heracles or Odysseus except in that she has more…

    • 676 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Medea Feminist Analysis
    • 611 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Medea Feminist Analysis

    Medea sits in her room all day sobbing loudly for the world to hear. She screams and cries as to capture everyone’s attention. As abnormal as it seems, the readers of Euripides’ Medea witnesses this scene at the beginning of the book. The Nurse and Chorus continually speak about the hardships Medea is going through, and tend to feel sorry for her. Euripides emphasizes the point that Medea is going through extreme pain internally with the thought and actions of her killing her own children. [Some may say that Medea is not sympathized with because she is full of so much grief, and her being a witch, is expected to do unexpected things.] However, readers can see that Euripides does sympathize with her because of the repetition of the Nurse and Chorus’s pity, as well as Medea’s own feelings. Throughout Euripides’s Medea, the Nurse and Chorus foreshadow Medea’s evil actions followed by their attempt at trying to stop and…

    • 611 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Who Is Guilty? in Relation to Euripides Medea
    • 549 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Who Is Guilty? in Relation to Euripides Medea

    play explains that Medea has no objection to murdering when it suites her, as she has killed both her brother and Jason's…

    • 549 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Medea Argumentative Essay
    • 1366 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Medea Argumentative Essay

    "When love is in excess it brings a man no honor nor any worthiness. But if in moderation Cypris comes, there is no other power at all so gracious" (Euripides). In the play Medea by Euripides, Medea is driven entirely by passion and fury and does not consider the consequences of what she is doing. She is so focused on her desire for vengeance that she does not stop to deem if what she is doing is right or wrong. Others around her do not console her but instead push Medea into her excessive nature. In the play Medea by Euripides, Medea allows others to rule her conscience which results in her destructive actions.…

    • 1366 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Examples Of Dramatic Irony In Ancient Greek Tragedy
    • 994 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Examples Of Dramatic Irony In Ancient Greek Tragedy

    Agave – Agave, the mother of Pentheus, is a woman of Thebes who becomes possessed by the god Dionysus. She, like many of the Theban women, join the Bacchus under Dionysus’ influence. When Dionysus convincingly tricks Pentheus to dress like a woman and go to see the Bacchae, Agave attacks him. Without knowing it is Pentheus she kills him by ripping off his head. She brings the head back to Thebes to show what she has done. Cadmus, her father asks her, “whose head do you hold in your hands?” she begins to realize what she has done (pg. 75, line…

    • 994 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    The Characterization of Medea in Euripides and Ovid
    • 1553 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The Characterization of Medea in Euripides and Ovid

    Both Fifth century B.C. playwright Euripides and Roman poet and dramatist Ovid tell the story of Jason ditching Medea for another woman; however, they do not always share a perspective on the female matron's traits, behavior, and purpose. Euripides portrays a woman who reacts to injustice by beginning a crusade to avenge all who harmed her which she is prepared to see through even if it means resorting to the most contemptible methods. Ovid, on the other hand, tells of a much less extreme figure whose humble goal is only to persuade Jason to return. Despite these differences, both Medeas create trouble by acting with emotions instead of with reason, and as a result, put themselves in regrettable situations.…

    • 1553 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Medea
    • 623 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Medea

    The famous Greek tragedy Medea, by Euripides, is about a woman who is so distraught by her ex-husband’s actions that she snaps and commits brutal crimes like killing his new bride and father in law, Creon and she even killed her children, an act so unthinkable that most people today shutter at the thought of it. People have scrutinized the play for centuries in an attempt to discover Medea’s true motives. Some believe that she is not actually evil, just mistreated to the point where she simply would not take it anymore. However, Medea is truly evil because she murdered the princess and Creon, she slaughtered her own children, and she never actually attacked Jason himself, but only the ones he loved.…

    • 623 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    On Monsters
    • 890 Words
    • 4 Pages

    On Monsters

    Moreover, many people are monsters because of the pain and suffering they instill in another human being. Repeatedly in the media, we witness news about parents harming their own children and children harming their own parents. Medea, a character vividly described by Asma as a “monstrous mother,” is a prime example of the monstrous person. The tale of Medea is about a mother consumed by much hate and anger with her husband, Jason; for “cheating” on her by proposing to another woman in order to climb the political ladder. In the event of all her…

    • 890 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics