Power for Women in Alcestis and Hippolytus Essay -- Greece Greek Play

Is it feasible that by the loss of ones liveliness and being, one would be able to gain influence and power? Does this fatal gain of power show a previous lack of it? Does forgoing ones invigoration for an echt cause better a womans reputation in turn giving her more power? Through our studies, we have observe that typically women exhibit a limited amount of agency in ancient Greece. Women occasionally assert dominance in the household although, even inwardly the home they posses limited influence over their maintains. An interesting theme runs though Euripides theatrical tragedies Alcestis and Hippolytus. In each play the lead female character forgoes her life for the sake of love. In Alcestis, Alcestis willingly gives her life to prevent her husband Admentus death. In Hipplytus, Phaedra chooses to commits suicide as a result of falling in love with her husbands son and refusing to be deceitful to her husband. Consequently, is self-professed death a venue for the women to assert authority and gain status and agency? How do their reputations and the reputations of their households affect this step-up of power? In ancient Greece, women, through sacrifice of their lives, uphold and improve their reputation through which they increase their influence and power in society, yet although they atomic number 18 praised by society because of these valiant deeds, they are unable to actively reap the benefits of this powerful reputation. Numerous sources including Euripides tragedies show that reputations are held with the highest regard in ancient Greece. It is through peoples perceptions that one is judged in that locationfore, reputation should be upheld at the greatest of costs. Laws of classic society allow for a ma... ... Phaedra preserves her reputation and altered her husbands behavior through her suicide. Yet, there was a trade off each woman acquired a greater amount of power, yet lost her life in the process. Ho wever, because Greek society praised honorable death, this was an appropriate societal action and a proper way for the women to acquire power. Women did assert power in choosing to take their own lives and improve their reputations.Small summaryGreek tragedies show that women, through sacrifice of their lives, uphold and improve their reputation through which they increase their influence and power in society. Yet, there was a trade off each woman acquired a greater amount of power, yet lost her life in the process. However, because Greek society praised honorable death, this was an appropriate societal action and a proper way that women acquired power.