Medea and Antigone are two tragic figures from Greek mythology. Medea is a sorceress who helps Jason steal the Golden Fleece and kills her own children to revenge her husband’s betrayal. Antigone is the daughter of Oedipus who defy’s Creon’s order not to bury her brother resulting in her own death.
Both women share similar characteristics such as their stubbornness, their capacity for violence, and their willingness to sacrifice everything for their beliefs. However, they also have some key differences. Medea is motivated by passion, while Antigone is driven by principle.
Medea is willing to resort to underhanded methods to get what she wants, while Antigone strictly follows the rules. Medea ultimately destroys herself, while Antigone goes down fighting. In comparing and contrasting these two tragic figures, we can see that Medea and Antigone represent two different approaches to life. Medea is all about passion, while Antigone is all about principle.
The opening scenes of Medea and Antigone, both Greek plays, have several functions. Such as establishing allegiances, undermining preconceptions on the part of the audience, foreshadowing what’s to come, and defining all of the problems. In terms of theme and structure, the openings of Medea and Antigone are quite similar.
Both Medea and Antigone open with scenes that establish loyalties. In Medea, the Chorus is made up of Medea’s Nurse and Corinthian Women. The Nurse is shown to be very loyal to Medea, while the Corinthian Women are fearful of her. This sets up a clear division between those who are loyal to Medea and those who are not. In Antigone, the Chorus is made up of older Theban men. They are shown to be loyal to Creon, and hesitant to side with Antigone. This again sets up a clear division between those who are loyal to Creon and those who are not.
Both Medea and Antigone also open with scenes that undermine assumptions on the part of the audience. In Medea, the Nurse tells the story of how Medea was betrayed by her husband, Jason. This challenges the assumption that Medea is an evil woman who deserves to be punished. In Antigone, Antigone tells her sister, Ismene, that she is going to bury their brother, Polynices. This challenges the assumption that women are powerless and must obey men.
Both Medea and Antigone also open with scenes that foreshadow the rest of the play. In Medea, Medea is shown to be a powerful witch who is capable of killing her own children. This foreshadows the events of the play, in which Medea kills her own children in revenge for her husband’s betrayal. In Antigone, Antigone is shown to be a brave and determined young woman who is willing to defy the law in order to bury her brother. This foreshadows the events of the play, in which Antigone is put to death for defying Creon’s edict.
Finally, both Medea and Antigone open with scenes that outline all of the issues. In Medea, the issues are Medea’s anger at her husband, Jason, for betraying her; Medea’s desire for revenge; and Medea’s struggle to decide whether or not to kill her own children. In Antigone, the issues are Antigone’s defiance of Creon’s edict; Antigone’s determination to bury her brother; and the conflict between family loyalty and obedience to the state.
Medea and Antigone are similar in many ways, but they also have some key differences. Medea is a tragedy, while Antigone is a tragedy with a happy ending. Medea is about revenge, while Antigone is about justice. Medea kills her own children, while Antigone dies for her brother. In the end, Medea is exiled and alone, while Antigone is reunited with her family.
Both plays begin with an explanation of the history and consequences of certain events that the characters were involved in, as well as a flashback to the present day. It also transports the audience to the current period, when the play takes place. This allows spectators to have a clear picture of what aspect of the legend is emphasized by the play or if any changes were made throughout its course. In Medea, for example, the nurse is introduced as being reminiscent of Greek mythology’s Golden Fleece and Medea’s love for Jason from start to conclusion.
Medea’s entrance is what Medea says to the Chorus about her revenge, which she is planning to take against her husband and his new wife. Medea is viewed as a victim because her husband has betrayed her and their children will be affected by the decisions that he has made. However, Medea is also viewed as being capable of committing evil deeds in order to get revenge. In Antigone, the guard gives the backstory of Oedipus, Jocasta, Polynices, and Eteocles to Creon.
He also reminds the audience of how Haemon died because of his own actions. This allows the audience to see that both plays are tragedy genres but with different aspects being focused on. Medea focuses more on the revenge that Medea takes and how she is driven by her emotions, while Antigone focuses more on the idea of justice and how one should uphold their beliefs even if it goes against those in power.
Both Medea and Antigone are willing to go against authority figures in order to achieve what they believe is right. Medea plans to kill her husband’s new wife and children even though she knows that it is wrong. She rationalizes her actions by saying that it is necessary in order to get revenge for what he has done to her.
Antigone also goes against authority when she decides to bury her brother Polynices even though she knows that it is forbidden. She believes that it is her duty to give him a proper burial and she is willing to risk her life to do so. Medea and Antigone are both strong-willed women who are not afraid to stand up for what they believe in.
Both Medea and Antigone are tragic figures because they suffer from great loss. Medea loses her husband, her children, and her home. She is exiled from her homeland and is forced to wander the world alone. Antigone also suffers from great loss when she loses her fiancé, Haemon. She is also sentenced to death by her uncle, Creon. Medea and Antigone both suffer greatly, but they continue to fight for what they believe in despite the odds being against them.
