Binary Oppisition Essay -- Greek, Corinthian Women

Binary Opposition In Greek tragedy there are many themes that are contrasted with each other. This is known as binary opposition, which s defined as a contrast of themes that are the opposite poles of each other. There are many conflicts in Euripides’ Medea and Bacchae: perhaps the three most conspicuous oppositions are rational versus irrational, foreigner versus natives, and stereotypical dichotomy of female and male. The first binary opposite in Euripides plays are rational versus irrational thinking, his characters are changing constantly within the plays; there are a couple of characters that stays in a rational thinking which they do not favor any side of the conflict. In Medea, Euripides showed rational thinking through the Chorus, who are married Corinthian women; they lend Medea support in time of need and gives advice as a friend and not as foe, when she would talk and act irrationally (Medea 173-82). The Chorus does agree that â€Å"[Jason] wrongs and betrays† Medea by breaking their oath of marriage (Medea 131-42; 208, MLA unit 6 info from). But they do not take it to the extreme thinking as Medea does and explains to her that if she does go through with her plans of revenge that â€Å"no city, no friend, will pity [Medea’s] pain† (Medea 657-58). The Chorus even advises her that killing her children and her enemies is wrong and just to â€Å"give up [her] plan[s]â €  (Medea 813). In the same way, Euripides’ play the Bacchae has rational and irrational thinkers, they are Cadmus the old king and Tiresias the prophet, and on the contrary of rational is the irrational thinkers who are Pentheus the current king and Dionysus the god. Cadmus and Tiresias are the only two men who stay rational throughout the play. They agree that there is ... ...ety. In Euripides play Medea, she uses the stereotype of woman to gain trust, an extra day in Corinth, and what is expected of the men and women in society. The conversation between Creon and Medea, â€Å"[he] orders [her] to go from this land,† but Medea starts to use the submissive woman on the king as to gain a day. She told the king† not to be afraid of me, Creon, I haven’t the means to do harm to men who are the rulers,† and manipulating king to let her stay one more day in Corinth because of her children to â€Å"have pity on them!† (271-356). In fact, Medea manipulates Jason by asking him to take the kids and not allowing them to be exiled out of Corinth’s. Medea uses that even gifts â€Å"persuades the gods and that gold is stronger than gold,† to trust her in giving a gift to his new bride as â€Å"[the] spirit of luck is with her†¦ [to] grow her fortune more† (947-975).