The Role of Women in Oedipus the King and the Epic of Gilgamesh - Essay Example

?Contrast of the Role of Women in Oedipus the King and the Epic of Gilgamesh Introduction Literature is the reflection of the age and the contemporary social system prevailing during the time it is penned down. In the light of this statement, both the literary pieces, Oedipus Tyrannus and The Epic of Gilgamesh stand as a social discourse and throw light on myriad socio-economic facets of two rich ancient civilisations of the world. Both these enriched literary products also bear a social testimony pertaining to the status, standard and most importantly the roles of women in context to their household and society. Contrast of the gender roles in these two texts would definitely launch one into a realm of a comparative analysis of two great societies namely the Athenian and the Sumerian and allow the readers to understand the social relation between the enriched halves of the world. Contrast of the Role of Woman While contrasting the role of women in two most fascinating literary pieces from the ancient history which bears the social doctrine of two most enriched societies of the world, it is evident that the power and position of women become the poignant importance of judgement. Also, the origin of entitling women as weaker section of the society or determining her position as the second sex has its root deep into the history. A thorough examination of the position of women in these texts would culminate its readers into the examination of power and position of women in those ancient societies respectively. Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex or Oedipus the King can be seen as a drama of characters. Myriad intricacies of human nature, insight and psychology find its true dimension in the complex plot of the trilogy and each of these characters evolve as a symbol or expression of life and character. To determine the role of women in Oedipus the King or precisely in Athenian society, the speech of Pericles should be taken into consideration. In it, he considered women’s character as weak and vulnerable. He did not view women more than a means of yielding children and bringing them up to join the army. He also put forwarded the view that the women who are less heard or seen or talked about in the society are looked upon with more glory or dignity, “Great will be your glory in not falling short of your natural character; and greatest will be hers who is least talked of among the men, whether for good or for bad” (Thucydides, “History of the Peloponnesian War”). The women characters in the Oedipus the King are conceived on a parameter of womanhood set by Pericles for Athenian women. In Oedipus the King, there are mainly three women characters and the most prominent among them is Jocasta, Oedipus’ mother and wife and Antigone and Ismene, Oedipus and Jocasta’s daughters. These women characters fit into the scheme of the ideal of Athenian womanhood set by Pericles. These two girls neither speak nor are seen till the end of the play. But very contrastingly, Jocasta the poignant character of the play does not conform into the ideal of Athenian womanhood set by Pericles. Firstly, she is visible from the beginning of the play and speaks up many times. Her role can be viewed as a mediator. She is also presented with enough importance as a fight is shown ensuing between Oedipus and Jocasta’s brother Creon because of her. She is also seen giving her view in myriad issues and is provided prime importance by her brother and husband both, when Oedipus declares that in Thebes, all the three including Jocasta have the same power, position and prestige. In this play, Jocasta is projected at par with the other male characters of the play in terms of power and position and in no way she is undermined. In the Epic of the Gilgamesh, the gender plays a pivotal role. Though the central character of the epic are males like Gilgamesh and Enkidu and are considered as most powerful and most wise humans and Gods, the women in the play subsequently have the power to influence these men. Like the play, Oedipus the King, women characters do not play central role but are not subordinated in any way. They are the chief reason for the plot development in both the text. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, women are shown in more diversified way. Myriad faculties of women and their roles in the society evolve through each women character in the play. Unlike Oedipus all the women characters are given some assigned role in the story and the focus of the readers and audience also likewise revolve around all the women characters. The first women character encountered in the Epic of Gilgamesh is Ninsun, the mother of Gilgamesh. She is portrayed as a loving and caring incarnation of a portrait of an archetypal motherhood who is shown as extremely comforting and guiding her son in all his endeavours. Also the role of women is shown more strongly through the ironic depiction of Gilgamesh taking advice from a women tavern keeper for reaching Uta-napishti after his display of blatant abuses and mistreatment of women folk. Shamhat plays the most powerful role among all the women characters as she shows the capacity to lure Enkidu and compel him through the power of sex to learn civilised life which she only teaches him. Shamhat is shown as the woman with her strong and passionate power. Ishtar also plays a powerful role as goddesses of love as she uses her power not only to capture men but also to hurt them. She is the most powerful as she is shown manipulating both men and gods for attainment of her desires. Conclusion Thus, in the Epic of Gilgamesh the role of women is stronger than the Oedipus the King. Not only the women characters are shown in their myriad faculties but also their role and position in the society are more elaborate in providing guidance, love and care to men and also in terms of equality, they hold a challenging position. In Oedipus the King, on the other hand, the role of women gets confined through the poignant display of the facets of women through Jocasta which does not undermine the role of women in the society but when compared with the projection of women characters in the Epic of Gilgamesh, it falls definitely weaker. Reference Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War. Courier Dover Publications, 2004. Bibliography Kovacs, M. G., The Epic of Gilgamesh. Stanford University Press, 1989. Sophocles & Grene, D., Oedipus the King. University of Chicago Press, 2010. Read More