Hi folks! Antigone and Medea are two of the most provocative readings we'll have this semester. How do you read them? What moments stand out as giving you insight into what the playwrights were trying to say?

What stood out to me the most was when Medea says that women suffer more than men because they "buy a husband" and must then "accept him as master," expressing her pain and the choices available to women in ancient Greek society. Euripides, here, is using Medea's voice to represent the injustice for women, that their lives were limited by marriage and male authority. Through her fury, Euripides is also indicating a radical critique of gender roles, which must have been shocking for an Athenian audience.

This document demonstrates a specific time and place that required women to be silent and obedient, in which Medea's speech contests wholly. Medea's intelligence, passion, and rebellion do make her both powerful and dangerous, indicating the threat women's independence posed for patriarchal Athens. Compared to our earlier readings, including Hesiod's Theogony and representations of women in Homer, Euripides allows for female suffering to be articulated in a more complex, human voice. It conforms with and complements the theme of limited female agency, but it completely differs from our earlier texts in that a woman has been given space to articulate her suffering, to think critically, and to address and critique her treatment. I am curious to learn about the reaction of an Athenian audience to Medea, and whether or not Euripides intended for Medea to serve as a feminist statement or a warning.

The detail that jumped out to me from the reading Medea was when Medea decided to kill her own children. She killed her children and took them with her so that no enemy could harm her children even after their death. Even though it seems like Medea killed her children to save them from the cruel punishment of her enemies. However, that does not justify the murder of her own children. The author might be trying to show the consequences of revenge and betrayal through Medea's actions. It shows how anger and hate can also bring self-destruction. It is a perfect example of the idea that sometimes you must lose something to gain something, just as Medea had to sacrifice her children in order to take revenge on her enemies. The documents seem to contradict the perception of women from this time. Medea went beyond societal expectations to attempt murder, showing the powerful image of women. I would like to find out more about why Medea decided to kill her children and take their bodies with her when she escaped. Why didn’t she simply take them with her alive instead of killing them?

A key moment that stood out to me is when Medea says’ “Women in Corinth, I have come out here, outside the house, so you won’t think ill of me.” This line specifically shows how aware Medea is of society’s judgement toward women and how unusual it is for her to speak publicly. By stepping outside, Medea challenges the traditional role of Greek women, who were expected to stay silent and hidden in the home.

I believe Euripides uses Medea to question gender norms and expose the unfairness women faced. Her intelligence and emotional strength go against the stereotype of women as irrational or weak. Although Medea’s actions later are extreme, her voice represents female power and frustration in a society that limits women.

Ultimately this passage can reveal how patriarchal ancient Greece was, yet Euripides gives Medea a strong voice that forces the audience to see her as more than just a victim. I’m curious to how a real Greek society and the women within them might have related to her defiance.

The line that really stuck with me was when Medea says, “Of all creatures that can feel and think, we women are the worst treated things alive.” It hit me hard because it shows how trapped women were back then, and how aware Medea was of her own unfair situation. You can feel how much pain and anger she’s carrying inside.

I think Euripides wanted to make people think about how women were treated and how little power they had. Medea isn’t just angry because of Jason—she’s angry at the whole system that left her with no real choices. It’s sad but also powerful to see her stand up for herself, even if she goes too far.

This says a lot about ancient Greek society and how strongly men controlled everything. Women were expected to stay quiet and loyal, and Medea completely breaks that image. I think that’s why she shocked people so much.

It is the same situation  of Antigone, since both women fight back against unfairness, but Medea does it in a darker and more personal way.

I’m really curious about how the audience back then saw her

did they see her as crazy, or did some actually understand her pain?

One passage that really stood out to me in Antigone is when Antigone says, “Zeus did not announce those laws to me… I did not think anything which you proclaimed was strong enough to let a mortal override the gods.” This part shows how brave and loyal she is to her beliefs. Even though Creon is the king, she refuses to obey him because she believes the gods’ laws are more important than human ones. It made me think about how strong Antigone’s character is, and how she’s willing to die for what she thinks is right.

I think the author, Sophocles, was trying to show the conflict between human law and divine law, and how women, like Antigone, could also be powerful and courageous even when society expected them to be quiet. This story tells us a lot about ancient Greece. It was a time when family honor, respect for the gods, and obedience to authority were all major parts of life. It also relates to other readings we’ve done about women in ancient times, like Medea by Euripides, because both women challenge what men expect of them and stand up for themselves, even if it leads to tragedy. What I’d like to learn more about is how audiences back then reacted to Antigone. Did they see her as a hero or as someone too rebellious for a woman?