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Deja Vu Feminist Views ///// Isabelle Ferguson

Feminism is a common word in today’s world, but everybody has their own view of what the “feminist image” is. Orestes' trial had me bouncing in my seat, mainly due to the judge and prosecution. Two types of feminism stuck out to me this week in Athena and the Furies, which paralleled some forms of feminism in modern times.

    Athena represented the “independent woman” feminist attitude. We know that she is a fierce warrior, battle tactics being one of her many specialties. Athena states she prefers “the male in all respects-except for a mate...” in line 736-737. She doesn't have a mother (Aeschylus, line 665), so she is a daddy's girl. The independent woman needs no man, strives to be successful in a man's world, and, not yet mentioned, surrounds herself with powerful women. Athena sees the power the Furies hold, and offers them a home in her kingdom (line 833). This brings us to the second type of feminism

The Furies may have seemed to be the more radical force while reading “Neither Apollo nor Athena’s strength might serve to save you, from your fate... (Aeschylus, line 298).” However, the Furies fight for women. Their main argument was for Clytemnestra being a mother, and they want justice for her spilled blood. They really reminded me of the more docile feminist belief in supporting and defending your sisters, no matter if they are a house-wife, governor, or pop star.

These are just my observations, what are your thoughts?


I commented on Lily Caswell's and Abigale Bell's posts.

Comments

  1. Caroline TuckerSeptember 21, 2020 at 8:53 PM

    These are great observations. I did not notice the types of femininity they showed. It is interesting to me that Aeschylus and authors before him would write some female gods as independent. Would they not want the women to see that example and go against the code for women that was set up by society? I want to know how many women stepped out of their position in society because of Athena and the Furies.

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  2. abbieheddenSeptember 22, 2020 at 9:25 AM

    I have lots of views on feminism, and there's far too much to tackle in a comment, but I can't help but see the image of Cher in Athena's place. Yes, this is an "out there" comment, but bear with me. Cher was interviewed on the news and said "I love men like I love dessert. I don't need dessert, but my life is the better for having it!" I think Athena probably had a similar view.

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