Feminist Analysis Essay On Jason Leaving Medea

Furthermore, Medea takes offense to men having nothing to bind them to their commitments and women having to uphold to higher standards of commitment. In her eyes this is an injustice because whether it is a man leaving his wife, or a wife leaving her husband it only reflects negatively on the woman. She states “we women are the most wretched…we have bought a husband, we must then accept him as professor of our body… for women, divorce is not respectable; to repel the man, not possible” (24). From this statement we can tell that women are not afforded the same options as men, but still women are less respected if they do not act according to the social expectations of women. Jason leaving Medea not only subjects her to societies ridicule and shame, but a personal shame. The extent of her loyalty as went unappreciated and it results in her feeling used. Medea states, “Do you see how I am used- In spite of those great oaths I bound him with-By my accursed husband? Oh, may I see Jason and his bride ground to pieces in their shattered palace for the wrong they have dared to do to me, unprovoked! ” (22). In Medea's eyes his actions are a betrayal and her actions express those of vengeance. Has much as she has done for him she would have never thought that Jason would have shamed her in the way that he did. The idea that unexpected behavior leads to belittlement can be best expressed in Aristotle's, understanding of an insult, when he states, “if [a person] should have been expecting the opposite. For what is greatly unexpected is the more painful... From these considerations it should be clear what seasons, times, dispositions and ages are easily moved to anger… (144). Medea was not expecting Jason to dishonor her because she has fulfilled
Medea is a great example of gender oppression leading to belittlement, but we must also take into account the fact that Medea has the freedom to express and take action against the injustice she feels has been done to