23rd Annual Student Research Conference
All Those Ravin' Women: Feminist Connections in Aeschylus' The Oresteia
Joanna K. Bess
Dr. Hena Ahmad, Faculty Mentor
Ancient Greek women were not known for their domineering, manipulative personalities. In fact, the highly patriarchal society thought of women as objects and possessions merely intended to birth and raise children on the quiet homestead. But Aeschylus, the famed father of Greek tragedy, presents the women in his fiction as vicious, conniving, and even grotesque portrayals of dominance. His trilogy of plays which is compiled into one work, The Oresteia, features murder, revenge, supernatural forces, and women at the forefront of every plot turn. Through exploration of the historical context of the male-driven City Dionysia Festival of Theatre in the 5th century B.C., I will analyze how Aeschylus depicts strong mothers, daughters, and sisters in a world traditionally dominated by men.
Keywords: Women, Theatre, Greece, Gender Roles, Feminism, Tragedy
Topic(s):English
Theatre
Women's and Gender Studies
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 50-1
Location: VH 1232
Time: 1:15