Oedipus The King, Antigone, Medea, And Lysistrata

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Analyze the portrayal of women in Oedipus the King, Antigone, Medea, and Lysistrata

and write a paper that explains, based on the four plays only, how women are perceived.

The thesis statement guiding this research is how women are perceived in the plays

Oedipus the king, Antigone, Medea and Lysistrata.

In the play, Oedipus the king the women are portrayed as unnecessary beings whose

existence is purely for greedy purposes and to satisfy men's desires. However, this is not the case

as the women come out strongly to defend themselves so as they are not made to look inferior to

their male counterparts. The women have repressed sexually a thing that has made them not to

develop as a group. The women were not allowed to ask any question, whatever they were told

they were supposed to consent to it whether good or bad. The women are perceived as objects

when Oedipus kills his father he comes to take her mother and ties the knot with her. This act

portrays the women as an object which can be taken and owned by anyone. Oedipus gets Jocasta

as a token after killing Jocasta's husband who was the reigning king. Therefore, the woman, in

this case, symbolizes that a man is powerful enough to concur anyone around him. Women are

demonized for inability to maintain their virginity without considering that it is the same men

who deflowered the women. It is a classic case of when a man cheats on his woman; it is

considered a normal occurrence.

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On the other hand, when a woman cheats on her man, it is considered an abomination.

Thus, the circumstances that women go through are used to symbolize the social inequity in the

social set up. Women are also used as symbols of power. When a man gets wealth and power, he

can win over any woman he wishes

In the play, Antigone women are portrayed in two different ways, but generally, women

are portrayed as objects of oppression. Ismene who is a lady gives in to the feeling of

hopelessness because she is a woman. She goes a notch higher begging her sister so as she can

reassess their plan. The plan was about how they could stay calm and be ruled just like the other

women in the past. However, in the play, there is still a group of women who have refused to be

oppressed and can fight against the restraints of society. She is a hero to the people of Thebes. "I

think all these people would agree if fear did not hold their tongues" (Sophocles 520-521). This

quote explains how Antigone believes she is a hero and she should be recognized for what she

has done and that had the soldiers not been scared of Creon they would have said something to

support her.

In the play Medea women are still portrayed as objects that are meant to satisfy the male

gender. They are said that they should be submissive to their males despite of what they undergo.

The women have repressed sexually a thing that has made them not to develop as a group. The

women were not allowed to ask any question, whatever they were told they were supposed to

consent to it whether good or bad.

The portrayal of women in Lysistrata in the Greek comedy "Lysistrata" by Aristophanes, women

fulfill a role, both in their respective families, as well as in society, which stereotypes them as

promiscuous, frivolous and cunningly manipulative. Men discard women's sense of individuality and

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women, through their "flimsy" thoughts and actions, complied with their expectations. However, it is

the fact that they have no opinion or voice over what happened to their city and families what pushed

them away from their seemingly superficial nature and encouraged them to change into powerful,

confident and outspoken individuals. "Lysistrata" starts with a scene exemplifying one of the major flaws

of women: their love for parties and sex. The protagonist is standing in the very first scene in front of the

entrance of the Athenian Acropolis, waiting for the women to attend the meeting. Then she complains

that "if it had been a Bacchic celebration they'd been asked to attend (...) you wouldn't have been able

to move for all the drums."(Aristophanes, p.180) A Bacchic celebration praises sex through orgies where

women filled the streets of the polis. This statement hints from the very beginning that women were

eager and open towards sexual intercourse to the point of mild promiscuity

Analyze the excerpt from the Bhagavad Gita (Hindu Holy Book) in our text, and break

down, into separate points, Krishna's definition of wisdom

The thesis statement guiding this research is analysis of Bhagavad Gita and Krishna’s

definition of wisdom.

In chapter two verse two Bhagavad comes out wanting to know what has happened to

Arjuna. Krishna’s. Exhortation to Arjuna is in the context of the great battle named after the epic.

The battle was necessitated when Arjuna's cousin Duryodhana flatly denied even an inch of

territory to Arjuna and his brothers while they were entitled to half of his kingdom. The

background to the battle is important to relate as it would throw light on Arjuna's mental

condition at the eleventh hour of the onset of hostilities. He along with his four brothers,

Yudhishtra, Bhima, Nakula and Sahadeva are the sons of Pandu, and the five brothers are

collectively referred to as Pandavas. Duryodhana, the son of Dhrtarashtra, brother of Pandu, is

the virtual ruler of the kingdom of the KUl1lS nominally under the kingship of Dhrtarashtra who

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is congenitally blind. Duryodhana along with his hundred brothers has been confronting the

Pandavas in bitter rivalry and hatred since childhood as he was intensely zealous of their

popularity with the citizens of his kingdom and their achievements in. Various fields of statecraft

and warfare. Pandu died early, and the Pandavas were denied a place in the sun by Dhrtarashtra

and his sons, and they had to wait for a long time till it was decided by the elders of the family

that they deserve their share of the kingdom. Earlier there was a contest held among princes of

the land for the hand of Draupadi, daughter of the king of Drupada kingdom. Arjuna came out

successful in the contest while Duryodhana lost it which made him more bitter in his attitude.

In chapter three Bhagavad Gita introduces it by saying that everyone should engage in

some form of activities in the world. But actions can either bind one to this world or liberate one

from it. By acting for the pleasure of the Supreme, without selfish motives, one can be liberated

from karma. Arjuna then says O Janardana, O Kesava, why do you urge me to engage in this

ghastly warfare, if You think that intelligence is better than fruitive work? Forgetting that karma

is there to give what is planted.it is further explained that no one can refrain from doing

something, not even for a moment. So everybody should always find something for themselves

to undertake.it is further explained that those people who try to restrain their senses and organs

from undertaking any jobs are pretenders.the superior can mobilize their senses and organs to

undertake any job that is found. Work done as a sacrifice for Visnu has to be performed.

Otherwise work binds one to this material world. Therefore, O son of Kunti, perform your

prescribed duties for His satisfaction, and in that way, you will always remain unattached and

free from bondage.

Krishna's definition of wisdom is the ability to see something and judge whether it is

right or wrong. Krishna tells Arjuna that the definition of a wise man is one who is unconcerned

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with whether things are "good or bad," but rather abandon attachments to the fruits of labor,

allowing them to attain a state beyond evil. When a man is unmoved by the confusion of ideas

and is united simply in the peace of action without thoughts of results, he can attain perfect yoga.

Arjuna asks what a man who has achieved perfect yoga acts like -- how he sits, how he moves,

how he can be recognized. Krishna says this kind of man is not agitated by negative emotions --

lust, fear, anger. They are naturally meditative and do not respond to good fortune or bad fortune.

They have no attachment to the material and live not in the senses, but the self. They are free

from ego -- the 'I, me, mine' which cause pain.

Analyze the excerpt from Confucius's Analects in our text, and break down, into separate

points, his definition of wisdom.

The thesis statement guiding this excerpt is Confucius Analects and his definition of

wisdom.

The Analects of Confucius is an anthology of momentary passages that present the

words of Confucius and his disciples, describe Confucius as a man, and recount some of the

events of his life. The book may have begun as a collection by Confucius's immediate disciples

soon after their Master's death in 479 BCE.

At the point when Confucius looked for his fortune in Lu, he likely showed up there as a

semi-untouchable, the child of a "blended" relationship between a man of Lu, who had since a

long time ago dwelled in Zou, and a lady of that non-Zhou place (see entry 3.15). Confucius

made his reputation as a solid promoter of a puristic recovery of Zhou conventions in court

direct, religious function, and each part of regular life. He wound up master in these conventions,

and it was based on this information and the convincingness of his case that the best approach to

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take request back to "the world" was to reproduce early Zhou society through its ceremonial

structures, or "li," that Confucius ended up known. The subtleties of what Confucius saw as

genuine inmate Zhou culture and why he thought its examples were devices for structure another

ideal world are the important subjects of the Analects.

Originally ‘a prince'; used by the Analects to denote an ideal moral actor. The term is

sometimes rendered ‘gentleman,' but has a more strong moral sense, and is left untranslated here.

At times it merely denotes a ruler.

The definition of wisdom according to Confucius is the ability to realize any wrongdoing

and keep away from it. The definition of a wise man is one who is unconcerned with whether

things are "good or bad," but rather abandon attachments to the fruits of labor, allowing them to

attain a state beyond evil. When a man is unmoved by the confusion of ideas and is united

simply in the peace of action without thoughts of results, he can attain perfect yoga. The Master

said, Those who are not ren cannot long dwell in straitened circumstances, and cannot long dwell

in joy. The ren person is at peace with ren. The wise person makes use of ren.

Compare the excerpt from the Bhagavad Gita in our text to the aspects of Daoism (Using

the excerpts in our text) and Buddhism (as presented on the following website:

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Buddhism

The thesis statement guiding this excerpt is the comparison of aspects of Daoism in

Bhagavad Gita and Buddhism.

Bhagavad Gita has an origin dating back in the 3000 B.C. Bhagavad stands for a Supreme power

like god while Gita means a song. Its translation in English means “Song of God”. It has acted as a source

of inspiration to a lot of leaders in political and scholarly classes. Most of its literature styles are derived

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from their ancient mystic teaching. Dao de Jing is a Chinese text way of thinking that was written around

sixth century B.C. It’s also known as Tao Te Ching. It has philosophical and religious views the world and

its nature too. It was not until the Han dynasty (206 B.C.E -220 C.E) that Dao de Jing became a

cornerstone of religious activities and that religious Daoism “took off” as a social phenomenon (

Moeller, IX). Laozi was a Chinese philosopher and the original author of Dao de Jing making this text also

be referred to by that name. Regarding this philosophy he used the word Dao first in it and is also the

founder of Daoism. Little is put down concerning this author from the historians. There is no single

individual who is credited for authorship of Bhagavad Gita though early scholars suggested that it was

compiled around fifth to second century. Bhagavad Gita is a highly valued book among the Hindu just

like the Bible or the Quran. Bhagavad was incorporated as a part of Mahabharata where it involves

Arjuna, a general and Krishna, a charioteer who was invited by the general to observe two armies

fighting (Agata, 203).

Pick any of the works we have read that you find the most compelling and write an essay

explaining how and why this particular work has such an impact. Remember to include many

specific references to the work you have chosen. Oedipus the King, Antigone, Medea, Lysistrata,

and Bhagwad Gita.

The thesis statement in this excerpt is the impact of the plays Oedipus the king, Antigone,

Medea, Lysistrata and Bhagavad Gita.

All the works that have been read have had an impact and a lesson that is passed onto

us.in the play Oedipus the king the play is much on the gender roles focusing in the female

gender. The women in these plays are seen as weak people who do not have the audacity to say

anything. They are submissive to their husbands a thing that should not be so.women are known

to have been one of the strongest creatures ever created by God but they have downgraded

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themselves. Being submissive is not bad but going to an extent of worshipping your husband is

the worst.

The play Antigone also has had its own impact in the world and those who read it oftenly.

The major impact is on how the women can turn out to be strong creatures when they decide to

come together and unveil their strength. The women in that play came together and began doing

the chores which were thought to belong to the male gender. The lesson passed is that the women

are also strong as the male gender despite what they go through.

In the play Bhagwad Gita also there is a lesson about hard work and how one gains

wisdom. Bhagwad Gita comes out clearly to condemn the lazy people in the community and

applauds the hardworking. Buddha is not associated with the lazy people hence if you are lazy

you are likely going to miss a lot of blessings. The play also teaches us about man ,the Supreme

God Head Krishna and the need for surrender to God. The Bhagavad Gita tathvavivechani says

that these are words of Lord Krishna direct from His mouth .It contains the essence of all the

sastras, vedas and Upanishads. Nothing is being untold in Gita like the divine character of God,

His philosophy, the ways of worship, the effect of Karma, and Gnana(supreme knowledge) and

all the words uttered are so true which can be transliterated and fit into today's and tomorrow's

living.

References

https://www.slideshare.net/hanny327/the-norton-anthology-of-world-literature-third-edition-vol-

package-1-volumes-a-b-c-martin-puchner-108604078

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Zhou, Youguang. "To Inherit the Ancient Teachings of Confucius and Mencius and Establish Modern

Confucianism" (PDF). Sino-Platonic Papers Victor H. Mair (226) (2012)

Fan, Lizhu; Chen, Na). "The Religiousness of "Confucianism" and the Revival of Confucian Religion in

China Today." Cultural Diversity in China. De Gruyter Open (1): 27–43 2015. doi10.1515/cdc-

2015-0005. ISSN 2353-7795

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