The mythological Greek tradition serves as an example image of gender differences and perception of the Greek custom. The interpretations of the sexes offer historical background to Greek society. Through depicting the mythological works one can find unique differences that characterize both men and women. Women especially hold an interesting role. Certain characteristics and traits help define the role of women and give historical insight to the role of women that is perceived and should be achieved. Through the general interpretation of women in Greek mythology one can find whether this mythical portrayal compliments or contradicts the role of women perceived in historical Greek society.
The myth of Greek creation signifies important feminine features that are prevalent through many of the mythological stories. The Earth holds female character and is able to produce offspring absent of male presence. A common feminine trait that is portrayed in the story of creation is trickery and deception. Rhea plots a trick to deceive Crounes from killing her last child Zeus. Deception is known as a tactic in both sexes but is more predominantly feminine.
Another feature depicting gender difference is the notion of struggle. The struggle between men and women to claim rights and uphold power is a battle between the sexes. The wife verse husband struggle for the reproductive rights creates a power controversy. The women fight from birth but men want the power. An example of this could be when Heaven permits Earth’s birth of children. This outrages Earth and precedes her to plot a trick of revenge.
The Term Paper on Gender Roles And Power In Society
People use gender roles to obtain power. In my life experience this is always been true. I look at it in my everyday life at the workplace. I happen to work with people who have gotten where they are based purely on their sex alone. I am not talking about sex in terms of intercourse, rather than gender. However this does work both ways. It also works for different types of power. To say that ...
Then comes the creation of feminine creature. Pandora is born. Her name means “All Gifts.” This is due to the fact that all gods influenced her creation in some way. This symbolizes the significance of gift giving in Greek culture. From Pandora stem the Greek goddesses. They are portrayed as women with large breasts and a thick stomach. The enlarged abdomen symbolizes pregnancy and the notion of being a nurturing mother and creator of life. They uphold the elements of being a motherly figure. Greek women were supposed to remain pure and abstinent until married. Once married they were expected to serve as mothers and faithful wives to their husbands. These were Greek expectations but not always fulfilled by the Greek women. For example Aphrodite and Hera were promiscuous goddesses who filled the notion of being a mother but fell to the seduction of lust. Another example could be Athena, Artemis, and Hestia who were virgins for their entire lives and never became the nurturing motherly figure.
The story and portrayal of Demeter also vents some womanly characteristics. The story parallels that of the Iliad and the Odyssey with the pattern of wrath, separation, and return. However the conclusion of Demeter’s story differs portraying gender differences. She doesn’t uphold the masculine notion of revenge but rather the feminine notions of marriage, kinship, and unity. Her heroic quest is in seek of love and family relation.
Women in Homeric society are classified in several different classes that hold some basic features. The predominant feature of women is the “homely” aspect. Females are viewed as the ones to stay home and raise kids. Homeric society suggests that they should do chores and use most their time doing things around the home. They are also viewed as submissive to the male denomination. They are treated like objects and passed on like property. Their dependency on men portrays a secondary status that makes women inferior to the dominance of men.
The Essay on Aristophanes Lysistrata Women Greek Men
A Review of Lysistrata Lysistrata, a play written by Aristophanes, was first performed in 411 B. C. It portrays an arousing comedy of a plan to end the war between Athens and Sparta as proposed by an Athenian woman, Lysistrata. To do this, she holds a meeting among the women of Greece in an effort to convince them that men will succumb to peace as a result of sexual frustration. The women agree, ...
Now lets look at the historical Greek society and woman’s position in archaic history. By looking at the artistic side of the past one can dig up a societal perceptions of the womanly figure. Through the reading of poems one can gain a knowledgeable amount of personal experience and perceptions of that time. Many of these writings contained a great deal of information that would reveal the status of sex and how it was perceived. Art alike was a deciphering tool of gender status. Women served as a predominant figure in sculpture.
The most significant part in this time was the development of the Polis. Polis can be defined as a city/state. The independence of the city served as the most important characteristic. The emergence of Polis affected the position of women and how they served in society. Women were expected to be sexually moral practicing the notion of abstinence until they were married. They were also supposed to serve as faithful wives to their husbands. While women were seen sexually permitted men were able to flaunt and daunt with their sexuality.
The emergence of written laws had a great impact the societal statues of women in Greek society. These laws hindered the position of women to a sexist minimum. The laws stated women’s boundaries and morality of Greek status. They weren’t created to belittle the worth of women but rather to uphold the power of man and a healthy household.
The legal status of women in classical Greek history was rather biased. Although it was the woman to birth the child and raise the child, the men had ultimate power and protection of his family. The legal status of women was dependency. Men were the main tread of support and served as the legal representative of his children. Law prevented women’s ability to enter into legal transactions. They were forbidden from engaging in any type of business. Women were also forbidden from any heavy ownership. The only things the independently owned were little things such as jewelry or clothing. Greek society curtailed the abilities of women and denominated any equal rights that were submissive to men.
The Essay on Greek Language, History, Religion, Architecture, Clothes
Greek Language, History, Religion, Architecture, Clothes, Education and MoreThe Greek language evolved in four different phases: Ancient Greek, Hellenistic Greek, Byzantine Greek, and Modern Greek. Ancient Greek (1400-400 BC) introduced letters and vowels. Hellenistic Greek was from 400 BC- 400 AD and was a widely spread language thanks to Alexander the Great. Byzantine Greek (500-1500 AD) is the ...
Through the deception and interpretation of the role of women in Greek myth and history one can find a rather gendered biased perception of the feminine figure. The character of women carries both contradictory and similar traits throughout Greek mythology and the historical society of Greece. In Greek myth women seem to pose a more aggressive attitude. Although women are portrayed as a passive character in both myth and history, women seemed to be more submissive in Greek history. The notion of trickery and struggle against men in myth seem to address a more aggressive attitude. However the dominance of man parallels both mythical literature and history. One characteristic that is similar is the motherly figure and the purity of virginity. Also the expectance of being and serving as a true, honest and faithful wife is predominantly alike. Through both the mythical Greek literature and the history of Greek society we can find womanly characteristics that both compliment and contradict each other.
