Women and the Ancient World

Paper Summary:

This paper examines gender role definition in the ancient world by reviewing ?Antigone? by Sophocles, ?Eumenides? by Aeschylus, and the plight of Eve in ?Genesis? from the Old Testament of the Bible. The author points out that it is evident women were placed in a secondary position and that the law was traditionally determined by men or male gods. The paper relates that the three women experienced some form of judgment: Athena with social disapproval; Eve with the punishment of pain; and Antigone with death.

From the Paper:

""Antigone" reflects the earliest of the feminist portrayal of woman standing against the laws of men. Sophicles does not portray Antigone as a paragon of feminine conformity, rather, she is a woman who has never married, never borne children and is only a 'daughter' in a social order that values males and devalues females. Nonetheless, she is seen as having power through her ability to motivate others toward assuming her opinion. She has strength of character and the strength of her convictions."

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