Question

In the play featuring Medea, how does she employ her femininity to manipulate Creon, subverting gender stereotypes?

A) By kneeling and taking Creon's hand in a gesture of supplication.
B) Appealing to Creon's sense of pity by reminding him of his role as a father.
C) Using her charm and emotional appeal to persuade Creon to change his decision.
D) None of the above.

Answer 1

Medea manipulates Creon by appealing to his paternal instincts, using societal expectations of femininity to subvert gender stereotypes and gain leverage in her situation.

Step-by-step explanation:

In Euripides' play, Medea employs her femininity to manipulate Creon by appealing to Creon's sense of pity through the reminder of his role as a father. This is a strategy that Medea uses to gain a reprieve from exile. In a patriarchal society where women were often seen as weak, Medea's clever use of societal norms about femininity, such as being a caring mother, subverts these gender stereotypes. She leverages the expectations placed upon her gender to achieve her ends. The correct answer to the question would be:

B) Appealing to Creon's sense of pity by reminding him of his role as a father.

Medea's actions are a powerful example of how female characters in Greek drama are not merely passive figures but can use the roles and expectations of their gender to effect change and exercise agency within the constraints of their societal context.