Monday, April 27, 2009
Journal # 3 - Oedipus Rex
The gender roles established in Oedipus are quite clear. In general, the men are the ones who have conflict in their lives. They rush blindly into argument and are the slowest to realize the truth. This case is especially evident in the exchange between Oedipus and Jocasta, she realizes before he does the truth about her marriage to him, while he takes much longer, and still hasn't found out. However, women are also more disrespected in society, although Grecian society was the best of its time for equality of the sexes, it still had a long way to go before it became the relative equality we have achieved in America. Jocasta seems like a strong example to women, she tries to do the right thing, but due to a lack of judgment, tragedy strikes her as well. This is rather similar to the situation Oedipus was put in during this play so far. The gender's don't seem to change when addressing the other gender. Men are slightly less aggressive towards women, but are still slightly disrespectful.
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Indeed, while there is disrespect, i got the impression that Oedipus still valued Jacosta's opinion in some way, even if she was the last person he went to for counsel. Although at this point I've found it hard to determine the exact place of women in the society.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Deezy. However, consider that Jocasta was hiding out in the palace during Oedipus' speech--and she only came out towards the end. This could possibly promote the idea that women were just as hidden and "closer to the home" as they were in America prior to Women's Suffrage.
ReplyDeleteI think you both bring up valid points but I also want to add how the women seem to "have it more together". While Oedipus, Terisias and Creon argue and deal through emotions, Jocasta seems more calm and collected, ready to encourage and help. This could portray the amount of serenity women have and the amount of vigor and spark in the men.
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