Abstract This paper is a philosophical evaluation of the story of Medea. The paper argues that this was not a sudden act, and that Medea's emotional state had led her to act rashly in the past, although this time she went beyond all expectations. Her emotions of anger and love controlled her, and eventually led her to murder her children to avenge her husband Jason's actions.
From the paper:
"Stoic philosophers, such as Seneca, believe that emotions, both good and bad, should be suppressed in order to make reasonable and rational judgments. Those who use emotions as a basis for their actions are not following this philosophy on life, and therefore they would lead a corrupted life filled with misguided actions. A perfect example of how emotions can corrupt a person's life is the tragedy of Medea. She killed her children to revenge her husband from leaving her family so he could regain his stature as royalty by marrying the daughter of King Kreon of Corinth. Medea's act of revenge against her husband analyzed through a stoic's perspective leads to the conclusion that she was culpable of her crime."
Abstract This paper reviews the famous story of Oedipus who was destined to kill his father and marry his mother and discusses how his action of evading his fate by leaving Corinth was an attempt to exert his free will and seek truth and enlightenment. It argues that, although Oedipus was intent on pursuing the truth throughout his lifetime, without first realizing his own ignorance it was not possible for him to acquire knowledge and true enlightenment. Oedipus was ignorant of his true parentage. It concludes that by asserting his free will over destiny, Oedipus was, in fact, punishing himself for the one true and courageous act of his lifetime ? the successful discovery of enlightenment!
From the Paper "Although acknowledging the importance of destiny, Greek general thought placed little emphasis on determinism and preferred to portray mankind as possessing free will. In Oedipus Rex, Sophocles addresses both sides of the coin by, on the one hand, stressing the infallibility of the oracle of Apollo, yet also endowing Oedipus with ultimate control over his own actions. It is within this context that the story of Oedipus portrays the tragic plunge of a powerful and wealthy man into the depths of ruin and dishonor. Likewise, Plato, in the Allegory of the Cave and other writings, carefully balances the importance and influence of fate with humankind's ability to control and steer their path to truth and enlightenment. Although many have raised and examined the similarities which underlie the tale of Oedipus and Plato's Allegory of the Cave, this paper will propose the view that Plato would have taken, and considers the advice and comment that he may have passed upon Oedipus."
From the Paper "Max Liebermann (1847-1935) and Lovis Corinth (1858-1925) were successful German painters, members of the original Berlin Secession, whose reputations outside Germany were minor, and faded considerably after 1940. They have, however, made a strong return in the last 25 years. Though they are frequently identified with particular schools of painting--Liebermann with Impressionism and Corinth with both Impressionism and Expressionism--neither painter fits well in the assigned groups. This lack of a strong affiliation, and their individuality, was one factor that led to their neglect. Another factor was a general disinclination for anything German in America and much of Europe. Despite considerable French influence, both men remained firmly associated with German artistic traditions, and Corinth had often called for a specifically Germanic art. The third ..."
Abstract The paper discusses how the works of the ancient Greek playwrights are difficult for us to read within the context of the 21st century because most people today believe in the validity of the idea of free will. It shows the difficulty to square such an almost inherited insistence on the importance and sovereignty of free will with the idea of fate that runs so deeply through classical drama. The paper argues that a closer reading of classical texts demonstrates that perhaps the classical Greeks were not so different in their understandings of human nature as we ourselves are. By examining Sophocles? treatment of the story of "Oedipus", the paper examines the fact that the Greek's insistence on the importance of fate is in fact not so very different from our own understanding of personal responsibility.
From the Paper "There are clear corollaries to human behavior today: We look at someone like the man accused of being the Washington DC-area sniper and we can see elements of his own past that brought him to the point where he is today, and we say to ourselves, he had little choice in becoming this terrible man. But we also believe that he did have some choice: We understand that life limits the chances that each one of us has, and yet we do not believe the fact that our lives were limited gives us leave to act wrongly.
Perhaps Sophocles is saying to us, this is the hand of fate pressing down on the head of Oedipus: He has no choices. But it seems more likely ? given that human nature in Sophocles's time is much the same as it is today ? what he is saying is that we often have very few choices, and often not very good ones, but we always do have choices."
Abstract This paper examines the character of Medea in the play by the same name by the Greek writer, Euripides. By referring to examples from the text, the paper shows Medea's passion for her love Jason, her will to give up her family and country for him, her loss of status when her love affair does not work out, her misery in her situation and the final tragic murder of her own children.
From the Paper "Euripides? Medea is considered one of the most evocative plays about women's rights. It is also one of the most controversial plays till today. The reason for this is probably because Euripides? chose to project Medea as an extremely strong woman who is not afraid to assert herself and chooses rather extreme means of doing so, including infanticide. It is her drastic actions, rather than the underlying principles that probably causes Medea to be a controversial work."
Abstract This paper outlines the similarities in the female literary characters, Medea and Dido. It suggests that, even though the two characters are usually thought of as very different, they share many similar qualities. It says that they are both strong, knowledgeable, admirable, patriotic, and have great love for their husbands and fathers. In spite of these similarities, the two characters are thought of very differently, however, because of their different motivations for their actions. Thus, Dido is remembered for her strength and knowledge and Medea for her treachery.
From the Paper "There is a great deal of modern scholarship associated with the classical treatment of women. Hundreds of pages of intellectual interpretations regarding the nature of their lives, their beauty, their wisdom and most specifically how they were treated by men, all through the fish eye view of classical literature. In two works there are two characters who are particularly fascinating to scholars, Medea and Dido. Euripides and Virgil both gave the world a true gift of literary interest. Comparing the two characters, Medea and Dido leaves an impression that they are a great deal alike, and yet the world's lasting view of them is very different."
Abstract This paper looks at the similarities that existed between Greece and Rome in ancient times. The paper also looks at the significant differences that existed between the two civilizations.
From the Paper "As life settled and wars abated in Greece and Rome, time could be devoted to entertainment and education. Greece became prosperous through trading and good leadership. Thus leisure time could be devoted to politics and religion, as well as other entertainment. In Athens for example, a splendid temple was built in honor of the goddess Athena (Unstead 23). Cities were also furnished with open-air assembly places where speeches and voting could be attended. Market places with stalls were surrounded by walks and shops. Theaters were built for the notorious Greek dramas, with marble seats for the richer citizens. 17,000 people could be seated in these theaters. The chorus was a very important part of the Greek tragedy, and actors wore wigs and masks (Unstead 26). Further leisure time was devoted to pottery made in beautiful shapes and decorated with great skill."
Abstract In his play, "Oedipus Rex," ancient Greek writer, Sophocles, invites us to ponder the nature of destiny and how, wise as we think ourselves, the very acts by which we work to avoid our fate only bring it rushing to meet us. Most of us have a good idea of what the concepts of blindness and vision mean and how they differ from one another. This paper shows, however, that Sophocles thinks otherwise and gives us good reason to wonder just how different they are from each other. In fact, by the time Oedipus stumbles beyond the gates of Thebes, we begin to realize just how entangled vision is with blindness, for nothing blinded Oedipus to the inevitability of his fate so well as having had it shown to him. Seeing his fate did not enlighten him; it put him in greater darkness.
From the Paper "This is the biggest kind of blindness in Oedipus; the absolute inability of human beings to see all the myriad ways in which things work to bring us to our fates. Had Oedipus done what we flatter ourselves to think we would have done, namely consult the assumed parents with the new information before doing anything, and then sitting on our hands to make sure the prophecy didn't come to pass, it wouldn't have made any difference in the end. Had he become king of Corinth, at some point he would have had to go to war with Thebes, ended up killing Laius in open battle, and been forced by some obscure custom to marry the vanquished king's widow to retain the crown. In another sense, we are all Oedipus, trying to understand and outwit fate."
Abstract It wasn't so long ago when racial injustice was so blatant that a black person was unable to simply buy a cup of coffee in certain restaurants. The paper argues that, today, racial injustice is a bit more secretive, a bit more underhanded, but is undeniably still there. Certainly, businesses no longer hang "Whites Only" signs in their windows, but glass ceilings, housing discrimination, and many other examples still exist in America 40 years after Martin Luther King's powerful "Letter from Birmingham Jail". The paper shows that by skillfully and purposefully using the Apostle Paul's "Book of Love", King's strong exhortations are a powerful lesson that is still relevant today.
From the Paper "Paul explains the reasons why he has such a problem with the fornication occurring in Corinth. His explanation is similar in tone and process to King's going into detailed explanation of why segregation is wrong and how non-violent action is really the best solution. Both lay out their points quite clearly and convincingly, yet without fancy verbiage to impress the reader. Their words are simply based in heartfelt sentiment and inner passion for their beliefs. Their words further continue to convey their discontent."
Abstract The paper assesses the character of Oedipus in the play "Oedipus the King". The paper examines Oedipus' motivations and actions, concluding that while he is a victim of fate, he is not faultless. The author brings evidence that Oedipus is a corrupt tyrant, whose absolute power makes him believe that he is equal to the gods.
From the Paper "However, as Oedipus reaches adulthood he is warned by a prophet that he will kill his father and marry his mother. Oedipus leaves Corinth believing that he will avoid this terrible fate by never returning to his home. On the way to Thebes he meets an old man on the road and they get into a fight. Oedipus kills the man unaware that this man is his biological father. When Oedipus arrives at Thebes he finds the city in chaos because the Sphinx is murdering citizens. The Sphinx demands that the citizens of Thebes solve a riddle. When the citizens fail to solve the riddle, she strangles them. Oedipus comes to their rescue by solving the riddle and freeing them from the Sphinx. In return, Oedipus is awarded the throne and unknowingly weds his biological mother. In the end, Oedipus discovers what he has done and in retribution he blinds himself. He lives in exile as a blind beggar for the rest of his life. It is true that Oedipus had no idea he had murdered his father and married his mother, so he cannot be blamed for it but, blame is not the question; the question is pollution. Knowingly or unknowingly he did the deed and finds himself standing before humanity as a victim of fate and a polluted monster. It seems that although Oedipus attempted to avoid his fate, he was doomed to it. The gods control his life and there is nothing he can do to change his future."
Abstract This paper discusses, summarizes and analyzes one of the more famous works by Greek playwright Euripides, "Medea". The paper explains why some see the character of Medea as the villainess while others see her as a victim as much as a victimizer and that this later perspective suggests that the lesson to be learned from "Medea" is to stand up for what one believes in, and overthrow those who oppress and suppress.
From the Paper "Euripides, one of the great Greek playwrights of yesteryears, even today, remains a constant favorite among readers, more so than Sophocles or Aeschylus could ever become. The reason for this phenomenon is that Euripides more often than not, believed in sacrificing or sidelining propriety and correctness in favor of metaphorical and rhetorical displays of verse, and this may be what made him better known than most of his contemporaries of the middle Ages, when the Classical Greek tragedies came into their own. Euripides's treatment of the genre referred to as the 'tragi-comedy', therefore, is well known for being tame at times, and completely rhetorical at others and the reader often gets a feeling that he is reading the speeches of a great orator than the work of a poet. Euripides was a trained athlete, and was also a famed painter; however, it was his poetry that won him great acclaim and wealth during his lifetime. (Euripides and his Tragedies)"
Abstract The paper examines how both Oedipus and Medea are unfortunate, and ultimately tragic, main characters. The paper further examines how their respective their motivations, circumstances, behavior, and relationships, are entirely different: Oedipus is motivated by pride and Medea by revenge. The paper discusses how Oedipus' behavior is excessively, sometimes comically prideful while Medea's behavior is cunning and manipulative, alternately rational and irrational, and ultimately evilly terrifying. The paper concludes that despite these many differences, both characters ultimately destroy everything around them that they love most.
From the Paper "Medea is a careful observer of others, with an uncannily accurate sense of which sorts of ruses they will fall for. Next, after talking Aegeus into giving her refuge in Athens, she convinces Jason to have Glauce to make the request to Creon that her and Jason's two children not be exiled from Corinth along with their mother. In exchange for this, Medea promises, the children will present Glauce personally with two gifts, a cornet and a dress: ". . . by the children's hand I will send to her gifts that far surpass in beauty, I well know, aught that now is seen 'mongst men, a robe of finest tissue and a chaplet of chased gold. But one of my attendants must haste and bring the ornaments hither" (Euripides, Medea [online text])."
Abstract The paper explains that the character of Oedipus, in Sophocles' "Oedipus the King", is a hero because he is tested by the gods and a tragic hero because this testing comes from flaws within himself. The paper describes how Oedipus meets the challenges that have been set for him, learns from them and grows as a person even as he loses his status as king. The paper concludes that despite his many flaws, Oedipus truly is a hero.
From the Paper "A man who kills his father to marry his mother seems an odd figure to call a "hero." Rather, it would seem that such a man would be the villain of the piece, due to his violent and arrogant nature. Oedipus is every bit the hero, however, in that he is a tragic hero. Not only is he permitted to have these major flaws, he is expected to have them."
"Oedipus is a tragic hero both because of his flaws and for how he handles them. He is destined to lose everything because of those flaws, but both his attempt to change his fate and his ability to learn from his experiences make Oedipus heroic. Oedipus is also a human, feeling character. Unlike a typical villain who might discount the human lives he has affected by his actions, Oedipus responds in a strong and emotional fashion. These things can be summarized by three events: Oedipus' decision to leave Corinth to avoid killing Polybus, his reaction to learning that Jocasta is both his wife and his mother, and by his decision to defer ruling Thebes to his sons."
Abstract The paper discusses the the work of Thucydides in writing the history of the Peloponnesian War (431-404 BC), a struggle between Athens and Sparta and their respective allies. The paper looks at the various stages of the war and their results. The paper also examines the type of society in Sparta and Athens and their different cultures.
From the Paper "Thucydides lived c.460 c.400 BC and was an Athenian. He is considered by many to be the greatest of the ancient Greek historians, and his work had a profound influence on the development of historical writing. Although he was a relative of the great soldier and statesman Cimon, Thucydides was also an admirer of Cimon's political opponent, Pericles. He served as a general in 424 but was banished from Athens in that same year for his failure to protect Amphipolis from the Spartans. He returned from exile after the war ended in 404. Thucydides began writing his History of the Peloponnesian War in 431 when the great war broke out. In some ways, he was as much a journalist as a historian."
