Greek Heroines

Comparison Essay # 91981

Drama and Theater > Greek and Roman
English > Analysis
Literature > Greek and Roman

Greek Heroines

This paper compares the Greek heroines Clytemnestra from Aeschylus' play "Agamemnon" and Medea from Euripides' play "Medea".

1,620 words () | 0 sources | 2006

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that both Clytemnestra from Aeschylus' play "Agamemnon" and Medea from Euripides' play "Medea" are betrayed by their husbands and decide to take vengeance into their own hands. The author points out that one major difference between the women is that Medea seems to have been completely faithful and loving to her husband; whereas, Clytemnestra may have never loved Agamemnon. The paper relates that another difference between the women is the weapon of choice in that Clytemnestra chooses to use knives in order to bathe herself in her husband's blood but Medea uses her magic to kill Kreon.

From the Paper:

"Medea has not sent away her children, because she plans to use them against Jason. Both mothers claim to love their children but only one actually tries to protect their children from harm (there is more suspicion that the true reason is so she can be with her lover privately). Medea loves her children; we see this as she faces reality of their murder. She questions whether or not she could really kill them but decides in the end it is for the best."