Medeas Monologue by Euripides (Mother Character)

In one of the most chilling monologues in all of Greek Mythology, Medea seeks revenge against the heroic yet callous Jason (the father of her children) by killing her own offspring. Found in the play Medea by the Greek writer Euripides,  this monologue offers an alternative to the traditional female monologues found in classic literature. In the play, Medea kills her children (offstage) and then flies away on the chariot of Helios, and while many have argued that this play demonizes women, others contend that Medea represents literature’s first feminist heroine, a woman who chooses her own destiny despite the hand she was dealt by the gods. Although not the typical  mother character monologue, Madeas monologue  is deeply expressive of the difficulty and multiplicity of the emotions love, loss, and revenge, making it a truly excellent audition piece for female actors who want to convey their ability to portray a depth of complex emotions. Full Text of Medeas Monologue Taken from an English translation of the Greek play by  Shelley Dean Milman  found in The Plays of Euripides in English, vol ii, the following monologue is delivered by Medea upon discovering Jason has left her for the princess of Corinth. Upon this realization that shes been left alone, Madea attempts to take control of her own life and says: O my sons!My sons! ye have a city and a houseWhere, leaving hapless me behind, withoutA mother ye for ever shall reside.But I to other realms an exile go,Ere any help from you I could derive,Or see you blest; the hymeneal pomp,The bride, the genial couch, for you adorn,And in these hands the kindled torch sustain.How wretched am I through my own perverseness!You, O my sons, I then in vain have nurtured,In vain have toiled, and, wasted with fatigue,Suffered the pregnant matrons grievous throes.On you, in my afflictions, many hopesI founded erst: that ye with pious careWould foster my old age, and on the bierExtend me after death—much envied lotOf mortals; but these pleasing anxious thoughtsAre vanished now; for, losing you, a lifeOf bitterness and anguish shall I lead.But as for you, my sons, with those dear eyesFated no more your mother to behold,Hence are ye hastening to a world unknown.Why do ye gaze on me with such a lookOf tenderness, or wherefore smile? for theseAre your last smiles. Ah wretched, wretched me!What shall I do? My resolution fails.Sparkling with joy now I their looks have seen,My friends, I can no more. To those past schemesI bid adieu, and with me from this landMy children will convey. Why should I causeA twofold portion of distress to fallOn my own head, that I may grieve the sireBy punishing his sons? This shall not be:Such counsels I dismiss. But in my purposeWhat means this change? Can I prefer derision,And with impunity permit the foeTo scape? My utmost courage I must rouse:For the suggestion of these tender thoughtsProceeds from an enervate heart. My sons,Enter the regal mansion.  [Exuent SONS.]  As for thoseWho deem that to be present were unholyWhile I the destined victims offer up,Let them see to it. This uplifted armShall never shrink. Alas! alas! my soulCommit not such a deed. Unhappy woman,Desist and spare thy children; we will liveTogether, they in foreign realms shall cheerThy exile. No, by those avenging fiendsWho d well with Pluto in the realms beneath,This shall not be, nor will I ever leaveMy sons to be insulted by their foes.They certainly must die; since then they must,I bore and I will slay them: tis a deedResolved on, nor my purpose will I change.Full well I know that now the royal brideWears on her head the magic diadem,And in the variegated robe expires:But, hurried on by fate, I tread a pathOf utter wretchedness, and them will plungeInto one yet more wretched. To my sonsFain would I say: O stretch forth your right handsYe children, for your mother to embrace.O dearest hands, ye lips to me most dear,Engaging features and ingenuous looks,May ye be blest, but in another world;For by the treacherous conduct of your sireAre ye bereft of all this earth bestowed.Farewell, sweet kisses—tender limbs, farewell!And fragrant breath! I never more can bearTo look on you, my children. My afflictionsHave conquered me; I now am well awareWhat crimes I venture on: but rage, the causeOf woes most grievous to the human race,Over my better reason hath prevailed. Even Euripides contemporaries found the monologue and play to be shocking to the Athenian audiences at the time, though this may have stemmed more from the artistic liberties Euripides took in retelling Medeas story—the children historically were said to have been killed by the Corinthians, not by Medea—and the play itself was ranked third of three at the Dionysia Festival where it premiered in 431 B.C.

The Colors Of Racism By John Steinbeck And Of Mice And...

The Colors of Racism in Of Mice and Men The struggle of racism in America is one which has been regularized in American society. The devaluation and undermining of colored individuals has become commonplace, due to social injustice. In particular, racial discrimination prevails among African American societies due to the color of their skin, and the stereotypical notions of racial superiority that the white race illuminates. For over three-hundred years, the African American communities have been oppressed due to a mere lack of social equality and respect. Due to the precedent of slavery set before the nineteen thirties, the social conditions were deemed as horrific and unthinkable. A teeming amount of victims of racial discrimination choose to accept their discriminatory experience, while others choose to transform these insults and manifest them into an effort towards social equality. Those individuals who chose to stand up against oppression were the self-starters and doers of the twentieth century. These individuals that opposed the prejudice and ruthlessness of the racial disposition are the foundation for the coming centuries. In An Overview of Of Mice and Men, Kevin Attell suggests that Crook s acceptance of his inferiority among his counterparts, is what garners a substantial amount of incivility and vulgarity within the realms of ranch, due to social injustice. Crook’s acceptance of his inferiority to his white counterparts is what further drives theShow MoreRelatedDiscrimination And Prejudice By Harper Lee And Of Mice And Men1238 Words   |  5 PagesDiscrimination and prejudice were very common acts in the early and middle 1900’s. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck prejudice is displayed by the acts of hate towards someone’s color of skin. People of color were the majority, that were treated unfairly. 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We’re gonna get the jack together a nd we’re gonna have a little house and a couple of acres, an’ a cow and some pigs† (Steinbeck, 14)Read MoreDiscrimination Of Mice And Men919 Words   |  4 Pages Discrimination of Mice and Men â€Å"Listen to me, you crazy bastard,† â€Å"Don t you even take a look at the bitch.In the book â€Å"Mice and Men† People in the story uses mean phases and words to use against people that is not the same as them or that does not look like them.In the quote it shines light on how people treat each other during the book and on how they act when they are near each other.In John Steinbeck s Novel Of Mice and Men, the author illustrate that peopleRead MoreJohn Steinbeck s Of Mice And Men959 Words   |  4 Pagesthey act when they are near each other. Instead of saying nice words, they bring people down in Mice and Men. Individuals in the story use mean phrases and words to use against people that are not the same as them or that doesn’t look like them. 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Loneliness is common in many peoples lives and that is also true for the lives of the characters of the book. Almost all characters in the book are lonely in one way or the other. The main characters of the book are George and Lennie. Even though these two seem to have each other, they are both lonesome in a way. Lennies mental retardation isolates him from many people. George is the only person

Homosexuality and Morality Click Now To Get Solution

Question: 1. What makes an activity, desire or pleasure sexual? Can we give a non-circular definition here? 2. Critically assess the different definitions of perversion that have been offered. Are any of these definitions correct or helpful? (Answer with reference to two or more of Nagel, Solomon, Goldman and Scruton) 3. Is sex without love somehow morally deficient? 4. What is sexual objectification? Under what circumstances (if any) might it be morally permissible? 5. Is prostitution morally permissible? Answer with reference to at least two competing moral viewpoints (e.g. liberal, Marxist, radical feminist, consequentialist, virtue ethicist, Kantian) on the topic. 6. Is masturbation morally permissible? Answer with reference to at least two competing moral viewpoints (e.g. Natural Law, consequentialist, virtue ethicist, Kantian) on the topic. 7. Is pornography morally permissible? Answer with reference to at least two competing moral viewpoints (e.g. liberal, Marxist, radical feminist, consequentialist, virtue ethicist, Kantian) on the topic. 8. Is homosexuality morally permissible? An swer with reference to at least two competing moral viewpoints (e.g. Natural Law, consequentialist, virtue ethicist, Kantian) on the topic. 9. Should same-sex marriage be legalized? Explain your answer with reference to arguments that have been offered for and against by philosophers. Answer: Homosexuality is the state of sexual desire or conduct towards a person or persons of the same sex. Homosexuality is something which is romantic and has attracted sexually to the same sex discrimination of he/she looks, with the feeling that there is nothing in the world more important than the one the person is enjoying his/her movements with. Homosexuality is somehow recorded as a controversial topic and as a different theorists have given their different viewpoints. However, a judgement on the immorality by the divine sources is flawed; it runs contrary to building modern intellectual structure and makes it difficult to predict what actions are wrong and what are right. On medical basis homosexuality is a neurotic disease which has a high tendency to overwhelm the whole personality. It is caused because of psychological disease. The immorality of homosexuality is decided on the grounds of consequentiality, where evaluation is based on general happiness and the amount of suffering it causes (Haiderl, 1999). Rationally, every that act which increase the level of personal happiness should be morally permissible and acts which bring suffering should not be morally permissible. Homosexuality is the persist pattern of romance, emotions and sexual attraction in terms of compatibility with the people of the same sex. The most common terminology used in homosexual people is gay for males and lesbian for females. The major factors used for defining homosexuality include sexual behavior, attraction and sameness. So all these factors work together in harmony There are chances that a life partner who is first attracted towards opposite sex may may later on be attracted towards a person of the same sex. So applying labels is not an accurate way to describe one sexual ability (George, 1997). Nicholas Tonti Filippini, one of the Australias leading voices in the debate on same sex marriage, claims that in some countries, the law doesnt make any discrimination among people with same sex marriages. As per such laws, everyone is free to make their choices. Children are a production of heterosexual relationships and such marriage creates children's rights. The hard fact wi th homosexual holders is that they cannot produce their own children and the children either comes from a previous relationship or by some surrogacy or technical measures. Therefore a complex array of parental relationship is set up of the birth mother, genetic, gestational (Nicholas Tonti, 2011). There are many arguments made by controversial assumptions of mixed feelings of homosexuality about the facts, that it is good or bad for the society. But decisions are made for the average person's satisfaction of discrimination and not necessarily on the basis of laws (A Schopenhauer, 1966) The Ruse is a philosopher of science who made contributions to the history and analysis of philosophical with biological science and contributed to give epistemological causes of homosexuality. Just like him, the viewers of same sex marriage have different views of union between two women and two men. Thus, this proposal denies the truth of physiological, psychological and biological differences between women and men. Human race, growth and development of the child are affected by this kind of relationship. Such types of relationships are less strong, less stable and less valuable as viewed by their friends and family. So this has an adverse effect on their health and well beings and society, including level of high mental disturbance in such couples. (Michael Ruse, 1990). Violates morality of Natural Law Aristotle the father of natural law classified the act of homosexuality as existence of both forms made up of male and female. The relationship between human beings is not just a marriage. It is the bonding which relies on human nature and thus ruled by natural law. The fundamental rule of law is to the strive for good done and elude the evil, as the law is immutable and universal it is applied to the entire race of human, equally (Hinton, 2003). Therefore sexual activity which violates the natural law should be properly governed. If homosexuality is morally permissible, it will end the humanity of preserving the genetics or species. This disturbs the natural law. This fact cannot be denied that for normal growth of a child, it should have mother and father both, but with homosexuality, child always faces difficulties in his bringing up by homosexual couples. This leads to the weakening of the overall personality development of the youth (Robin, 2006). Morality on virtue ethics Virtues are acquired qualities which are potential for the state of character and mind on the basis of moral and intellectual values. The question arises, is homosexuality immoral according to virtual ethics? According to the theorists of virtue ethics, if anything is wrongly considered as immoral, then the only result is the guilt. As per this theory, if there are reasons for considering anything as the right, at the same time there are reasons for considering it as wrong. People who dont wear their helmets may cause serious harm to themselves, but it cant be said that their action is immoral (Aranzadi, 2013). Virtually and ethically, living in a free city and in a free nation, there should be no restriction on the people and their thoughts. Major ethical theories are not philosophically wrong and are as follows (Simson, 1997): Utilarianism states that morality is achieved and guided on ground of actions. If such action brings happiness its best it should be maximized, but if it brings sadness, then it should be minimized on the benefit of cost analysis. Homosexuality does not cause any major harm to the person's sadness, but its true that it causes unprotected sex (Lewis, 2005). Utilitarianism doesnt make a difference on emotions or encourage egoism. As per this theory, it is wrong to punish or harm others to benefit yourself. To have a moral decision acceptable there is a need to take the right decision procedure to produce good results at higher level without any bad results (Mucciaroni, 2011). Categorical Imperative directs that an act of an individual should be logical and rational, so that rationality can be practiced with others also. Homosexual behavior comes up with this law by just having a sex on personal enjoyment without disrespecting or hurting anyone. If the sexual act between men and women is accepted, then it should also be be permissible for the same sex with the same reasons of enjoyment. To have an action morally permissible on the basis of the categorical imperative is that the action in the same situation should be rationally appropriate for each and everyone. If they get the satisfactory actions, then that action is morally permissible (Kriz, 1997). Aristoelian ethics, virtue has two parts, which states that an individuals personhood flourishing is the only goal that they promote and second that make habits in a way to achieve personal happiness. For action to be morally permissible in this ethics consideration is given only to the sensitivity of the situation for personal happiness. Like fighting or harming is something bad and immoral, but if its in a self defense than its satisfactory (Mooney, 2008). Stoic ethics, virtue agreed that our character, thoughts are important element for our reasons and beliefs. An irrational thought gives a wrong emotion and a rational thought gives a right emotions. Hence, any kind of sexual behavior can cause appropriate or inappropriate beliefs. As sex is a beautiful thing in the world and allow ourselves to be pleasured. Stoic theory gives the thought of all types of sufferings by judging irrational values. There is belief that homosexual behavior is perfectly virtuous in all senses. Stoic ethics, virtue is an ethics on true moral thoughts which brings an appropriate emotions and actions (OBrien, 2005) Conclusion By the argument, views, laws and virtues it is concluded that according to the ethical theories homosexuality is morally permissible. To accept it as something like a slippery slope argument which relies on the fact that one occurrence may lead to another. To achieve homosexual morally, just make strong ethical standards through which they govern our society and lives with it without any discrimination. Changes to the natural law and ethics if necessary, will make decision difficult to accept for possibilities. This may be rewarding for someone and hard for others to accept. Such homosexual people may insist for their rights more openly by feeling less shame about their sexual attractions and their lives. What is needed is the family of love and acceptance to avoid their physical and mental health problems. According to Utilitarianism this act is morally permissible if its results are more beneficial with less harm. Many philosophers found ethical virtues useful as they help to make decisions about right and wrong for various actions. It is generalized that its harm to not consider personal happiness of others if they are rational to avoid their mental and physical illness. These theories help a lot to strengthen the rational behaviors and evaluated the beliefs to make strong bonding of human life and emotional response to motivate us to promote the values for good life Biblography Eskridge, William N.,, Jr 1997, "A jurisprudence of "coming out": Religion, homosexuality, and collisions of liberty and equality in American public law", The Yale law journal, vol. 106, no. 8, pp. 2411-2474. George, R.P. 1997, "Public reason and political conflict: Abortion and homosexuality", The Yale law journal, vol. 106, no. 8, pp. 2475-2504. Haider-Markel, D. 1999, "Morality policy and individual-level political behavior: The case of legislative voting on lesbian and gay issues", Policy Studies Journal, vol. 27, no. 4, pp. 735-749 Same-sex Marriage | Marriage Laws - Nicholas Tonti-Filippini2011-09-06 The metaphysics of sexual love - A Schopenhauer, EFJ Payne1966 Haider-Markel, D. Joslyn, M.R. 2008, "BELIEFS ABOUT THE ORIGINS OF HOMOSEXUALITY AND SUPPORT FOR GAY RIGHTS: AN EMPIRICAL TEST OF ATTRIBUTION THEORY", Public opinion quarterly, vol. 72, no. 2, pp. 291-310. Homosexuality: a philosophical inquiry - Michael Ruse1990 Heinze, J.E. Horn, S.S. 2009, "Intergroup Contact and Beliefs about Homosexuality in Adolescence", Journal of Youth and Adolescence, vol. 38, no. 7, pp. 937-51. Kriz, L. 1997, "Sex and the Church: Gender, Homosexuality, and the Transformation of Christian Ethics", Library Journal, vol. 122, no. 11, pp. 76. Lewis, G.B. Brooks, A.C. 2005, "A Question of Morality: Artists' Values and Public Funding for the Arts", Public administration review, vol. 65, no. 1, pp. 8-17. Mooney, C.Z. Schuldt, R.G. 2008, "Does Morality Policy Exist? Testing a Basic Assumption", Policy Studies Journal, vol. 36, no. 2, pp. 199-218. Mucciaroni, G. 2011, "Are Debates about "Morality Policy"' Really about Morality? Framing Opposition to Gay and Lesbian Rights", Policy Studies Journal, vol. 39, no. 2, pp. 187-216. Murphey, D.D. 1994, "Homosexuality and the principles of a free society", The Journal of Social, Political, and Economic Studies, vol. 19, no. 1, pp. 105. O'Brien, J. 2005, "A Sociology of Religion and Homosexuality", Contemporary Sociology, vol. 34, no. 5, pp. 462-465. Robin, B.K. 2006, "The Deep Structure of Law and Morality", Texas Law Review, vol. 84, no. 4, pp. 877-942 Simson, M., Stuttaford, G. Zaleski, J. 1997, "One Nation, After All: What Middle-Class Americans Really Think About God, Country, Family, Poverty, Racism, Welfare, Homosexuality, Immigration, The Left, The Right, and Each Other", Publishers Weekly, vol. 244, no. 52, pp. 44. Tijsseling, A. 2010, "Lost Intimacies. Rethinking Homosexuality under National Socialism. Gender, Sexuality, Culture, Vol. 4.]", International Review of Social History, vol. 55, no. 3, pp. 532-534. Aranzadi, J. 2013, "The Natural Link Between Virtue Ethics and Political Virtue: The Morality of the Market", Journal of Business Ethics, vol. 118, no. 3, pp. 487-496. Crossan, M., Mazutis, D. Seijts, G. 2013, "In Search of Virtue: The Role of Virtues, Values and Character Strengths in Ethical Decision Making", Journal of Business Ethics, vol. 113, no. 4, pp. 567-581. Dierksmeier, C. 2011, Thomas Aquinas on Justice as a Global Virtue, Social Science Research Network, Rochester. Hinton, B. 2003, "A Critical Look at Finnis's Natural Law Ethics and the Role of Human Choice", Journal of Value Inquiry, vol. 37, no. 1, pp. 69. VanDrunen, D. 2008, "Review of "A Shared Morality: A Narrative Defense of Natural-Law Ethics" by Craig A. Boyd", Journal of Markets and Morality, vol. 11, no. 2.

My Deepest Fear Essay Essay Example

My Deepest Fear Essay Essay One of the biggest lies of all time told is that slumber is the best speculation. For as I lie down to rest each dark. I toss and turn for hours on terminal. troubled by the happenings of each twenty-four hours. overwhelmed by the errors I’ve undeniably made. and haunted by the errors I will doubtless do tomorrow. The restlessness caused by my insecurities neer ceases to get the better of me. And in an effort to get away the experiential panics of being. I write. Until my diary is filled to the end†¦until my eyes easy descend. I write†¦ I have been reading since I was two old ages old. Because it is by and large non in the nature of yearlings to grok modest literary plants. I did non read books. Alternatively. I read my milieus. analysing both periods of pleasance and pieces of disparity. subconsciously retaining non the former but the latter. And as books come to life in the head. mirroring gesture images. I remember my childhood as such. Watching my female parent. so immature. being beaten by legion â€Å"boyfriends† proved damaging to my guiltless mind. Not merely were these work forces crushing her. they were crushing this thought of normality into my caput that I’d sum to nil greater. We will write a custom essay sample on My Deepest Fear Essay specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on My Deepest Fear Essay specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on My Deepest Fear Essay specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer I’d achieve nil more than what my female parent had. holding had two kids at 18 with no high school sheepskin to decrease unforgiving fortunes. And I sit in school feeling as if my dreams. at the really root of them. hold dried up like raisins in the sun†¦I sit in my categories penetrating my fate so intently that I am simply feigning to understand what is being taught. Therefore. despite the words of the august Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. my deepest fright is. in fact. that I am unequal. I fear that I am non good plenty and the undertaking of confuting this apprehension has been backbreaking. cognizing that every twenty-four hours. something has tried to destruct me and has merely fallen short. And I am diffident if this item is worthy of jubilation. And I wonder†¦has my tegument colour betrayed me? Has my inkiness. this skin color which I was taught to happen so beautiful. stricken me with the imprecation of holding to turn up in a poorness consumed vicinity. dependent upon the authorities to house and feed me ; the same vicinity that gunned my male parent down and took the lives of several of my equals. It can’t be†¦that my skin color has become so obvious that I am invariably holding to alter my frock. and adjust my tone to suit the demands of a disapproving bulk. Some position my sable race with contemptuous oculus. My colour is a devilish dye†¦to those who don’t see. that I am human first before I am black. Or is my sex the perpetrator? Has my being a adult female determined my destiny? Because as a member of an intersectional community it is known all excessively good that I am stricken by these procedures of sexism. and subjugation ; non working independently of one another. but interconnected. organizing a kind of junction. or intersection. of mul tiple signifiers of favoritism. But this can’t be†¦because harmonizing to female parent Maya Angelou. I am a adult female phenomenally†¦ And I know all excessively good that the caged bird sings for freedom. I have been so long stricken by the rough worlds of my upbringing†¦and I have been so long weltering in self-pity that I have forgotten my heritage and it shames me. Kings and Queens of Africa inhabit me. Affonso and Amina. Idris and Makeda. who are my ascendants. would certainly be affronted to cognize that I have non realized what it has been in my nature to make: get the better of. defy. and amaze. And it is here that my African roots assert themselves. coercing me to mount the foothills of my uncertainty. the mountains of my false lower status. and extremums least traveled by. And as I stand at the precipice of life’s enigmas. this Pennsylvania State University precipice. I am all of a sudden intertwined with a household consummated non merely of the people of my fatherland. Africa. but of the woods of Asia. the Waterss of the Caribbean. the jungles of South America. and the mountains of Europe†¦these people of changing colourss. sexes. and civilizations who have defied quandaries much different than my ain. And we stand. hushed. equal. en masse. And it is here that I hear Mr. Mandela speak to me. â€Å"As we are liberated from our ain fright. our presence automatically liberates others. † †¦whether it be those of our ain lineages†¦or those of line of descents wholly dissimilar.