Blog 2

Females often aren’t the focal point in major stories and the same can be said for women in society 50 years ago. Though, dating back to the days of the ancient Greece woman were finally getting the recognition and credit they rightfully deserve. The role of the female has immensely change and Greek plays laid the foundation for opportunities they have today.When you look at the role females in a typical manner it is often that they stay in the background without a voice of an opinion, doesn’t stand up for herself, overly emotional and is often inferior to her male counterpart which laughable in the society we live in today. In the play “Antigone” by Sophocles, the Greek drama illustrates the roles of two women, Antigone and her sister Ismene. Ismene displays the typical woman very well in this role in this play, “ I do not dishonor them; but I am powerless to act against the citizens”(Antigone lines 68-69). Also with this, “At least don’t reveal what you do to anyone; keep it secret, and will do the same”(Antigone lines 74-75). Reading between the lines you can see that Ismene was very passive, more of a follower and very inferior in that respect. We can see the total opposite of that in her sister, Antigone.Antigone in many ways is the renaissance woman in this story. She defines everything the woman role is now, strong willed, passionate, outspoken, loyal and independent. You can see all this being displayed within the play, “You can hold on to that excuse; but I will go to raise a burial mound for the brother I Love”(Antigone lines 70-71) and “No! Shout it out! You will be much more hateful for your silence, if you don’t proclaim it to everyone!”(Antigone lines 76-77). As indicated you can see how Antigone is and her contributions to how a woman’s role in society has change for the better.You also see how methodical, smart and tenacious a woman can be even in the times when Sophocles and Euripides were writing these Greek Tragedies. It’s no surprise today that women that you see today are in the position with high esteem professions like professors, lawyers, doctors and teachers. Medea really holds true to this in many ways. In “Medea and the other plays” written by Euripides you can see she use her strong traits as woman but in the wrong frame of mind. As indicated in the play you can really see her mindset as a woman, “Allow me to stay…let me think…in life for my children…show them some pity!…I do not care what happens to me…it’s my children…suffering children I weep for”(Medea lines 340-346). From those lines one indicate she seems very caring also but she is smart and very premeditating in her scheming and plotting. The development in this character was way beyond it’s year sort of like a pioneer in that respect. We all can appreciate the role in which woman play today in this modern day of society. Whether it be domestic house wife, artist, doctor, business woman, you name it the female has done it and the role in which they play can now be traced back to Greek plays. This foundation can greatly be appreciated now and say it has paved the way for those benefit from its roots.