"Medea" by Euripides. Discuss whether the play is underpinned by a feminist or misogynistic theme

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Discuss whether the play is underpinned by a feminist or misogynistic theme

In the play Medea, Euripides recognises the lack of gender equality of his time and comments on the patrichial nature of ancient Greek society. A feminist theme resonates in the play and has been developed through the characterisation of Medea and Jason.

Medea, the female protagonist, is portrayed as powerful figure. Medea is spurned and aggrieved by a man but instead of accepting the situation submissively as she would have been expected to do, she asserts her own power. Furthermore, when King Creon decides to banish her, she doesn't hesitate to argue persuasively on her own behalf despite his position of power. She naturally assumes that she has the right to speak as a man might do.

Medea recognizes the oppression of women in her society when she declares "we women are the sorriest lot: first we must at great expenditure of money but a husband and even take on a master of our body". However, Medea herself denounces women by admitting that they were born 'useless for honest purposes' suggesting that woman's skills lie solely in the ability to exert their will by