Who Would Make a Better Wife for Ischomachus: Antigone, Ismene or Lysistrata - Essay Example

Who would make a better wife for Ischomachus: Antigone, Ismene or Lysistrata A man and woman leave their parents and make a union meant to not only play a companionship role, but also to continue the next generation. In this setting, each of the parties has to understand and work out their roles in the relationship. This paper checks into the issues around a good wife and how a clear understanding of man and wife responsibilities can be beneficial. With the case of Ischomachus, a wealthy and wise gentleman, concept of a good wife remains within understanding of the need for marriage. Couples support themselves for a happy union. The man and the wife have special duties to perform and these duties were assigned by gods to them. The roles which have been assigned to men and women are natural and that they should live by them. It is imperative that whatever roles that exist between a man and a wife, they are not to be substituted; this is because various adaptations have been given to either of them so that they can be able to perform the assigned responsibilities. In making a man and a wife, God did it with the intention that there will be the concept of one party giving and the other party receiving. For instance, a wife was made with little ability for outdoor activities, instead, she was given the will and knowledge for indoor activities, these include housekeeping, the nurturing of new born babies and a great affection for the new born and the family at large. For the wife to be comfortable, the man provides security in the home, he has been given the ability to provide courage to the wife. All these things work well where sharing is done. When these two parties stick to their various roles, there is bound to be ultimate success. Ischomachus became a great wealthy farmer because he was able to train his wife to manage house chores, rule and train slaves. This made him concentrate on managing those activities that were more outdoor and hence succeeded. In a definite case, it needs to be that way. When a man and a wife concentrate in the areas of their expertise, they often excel. For instance, in his conversation with his wife, Ischomachus points that a shelter is very important for people, they should have a cover on their heads. Unfortunately, as soon as these things have been done, new needs will always come again, hence the need for one who will constantly do it, who in this case is the man. Ischomachus notes that the couple ought to procreate. The man and the wife grow old and at one point in time, their efforts need to be complemented. Having children gives them a chance to continue their generation. Furthermore, children should care for their parents in old age. They are able to take on the duties that their parents were doing thus providing the much need social and economic security. According to the foregoing discussion, a wife is an important person to the man. It is in a natural sense that the two parties have been made each with attributes that enable the other to be very effective. When they act out in this understanding, they are able to be outstanding. However, the gifting to both parties and their potentials may not be known to both at onset. One of them should be in a position to explain or train the other continuously in the course of their union. In actual sense, no one is born with the knowledge of everything relating to him or herself, for example, Socrates is eager to know how Ischomachus was able to train her wife, he asks; [“Ischomachus’, I said, this is in fact what I’d like to learn from you – did you teach your wife yourself what she needed to know or did you take her from her father and mother knowing everything she was supposed to do?”] Ischomachus prides in the fact that he is an “excellent person” because he has been able to train his wife to manage indoor affairs while himself works on outdoor matters. Ischomachus points out that it was by his intellect that the woman did not object to his teachings, as a matter of fact, the woman was very willing to learn. It was easy to teach her about what she was supposed to do and on this she did it without fail. Ischomachus case points out to the fact that there is no better woman than the other. It is the duty of the man to train the wife in manner in which they are supposed to live. A man needs to understand that time is important in teaching a wife what pertains herself and the welfare of the entire family; it is not an instant job. After all this has been done, gaining wealth will by no means be something worth. Wealth in a marriage is important since it can be used to magnificently honor the gods, help friends who could be in need among other things (Alvey 32). In the dialogue, Socrates explains that this use of wealth is noble. To Ischomachus, he derives pleasure from using his wealth in this manner. Wealth that is generated out of sheer determination and hard work should be used not just to benefit the man and the wife but also for the good of all in the community. However, the motivation to use wealth in this manner depends on a few elements. First, it depends on the upbringing that a person has had in his times when growing up. Ischomachus was brought up to understand the value of friendship, the immediate environment and the care for them all. This is being socially responsible; Ischomachus is able to use lots of the wealth he has generated for the growth of the city. Ischomachus tells his wife that they are supposed to work hard so that they become virtuous in their souls and in the body. He emphasizes that when one works hard he is able to do lots of good works, which is important for living harmoniously. All these arguments point to the fact that a man needs a wife and the best wife is the one that you train and teach on the fundamentals of work, the beauty of friends and most of all the essence of work and its importance to the society as a whole (Lyttkens 11) Before choosing on the man or woman to make the husband or the wife respectively, keen consideration is always made to ensure that the union is established on firm principles. In many societies, young people will always want to observe and see how their parents have existed, if the existence provides a good motivation, they are encouraged to find partners who are able to share the interests of each other. (Cunningham 9). The main aim is usually to ensure a conducive environment for both parties, the children to come and the immediate environment. Just like Ischomachus, the way one is brought up determines very many things in their adult life. It determines perspectives that the child is going to have towards the marriage itself, the efforts and attitudes towards work and the relationship that will exist among different people in the community. A marriage that has existed harmoniously is likely to impact right morals to young people who are joining the marriage institution. This is the union that will have a man respected by other people in the society. Each of the parties will know and work out their duties without fear of contradiction. According to the ancient Greeks, wives were trained in order to know and perform their duties. Families that had clear separation of family roles would largely succeed and were wealthy. Parents have a great influence in their children’s choice of marriage partners and how they are going to manage their marriage lives as man and wife. Children on the other hand have little influence on their parents pertaining the success of their union as man and wife. (Cunningham 10-11) This is the reason why parents should offer the right parenting or upbringing to shape up their children’s future lives. Ischomachus case presents a classical example of how a man ought to grow up his family and remain relevant in a society. Wealth that is made should be used for the common good, not only for enriching the family but the whole society at large. This leaves the question of who to marry largely depended upon your ability as a man to train your wife in a manner that brings honor to you and the entire society. Works cited Alvey, James E. "The Ethical Foundations of Economics in Ancient Greece, Focusing on Socrates and Xenophon." International Journal of Social Economics 38.8 (2011): 714-33. ProQuest. Web. 3 Feb. 2014. < http://search.proquest.com/business/docview/875620233/45903727DA734EB6PQ/2?accountid=45049> Cunningham, Mick, and Arland Thornton. "The influence of parents marital quality on adult childrens attitudes toward marriage and its alternatives: main and moderating effects*." Demography (pre-2011) 43.4 (2006): 659-72. ProQuest. Web. 3 Feb. 2014. Lyttkens, Carl Hampus. "Reflections on the Origins of the Polis." Constitutional Political Economy 17.1 (2006): 31-48. ProQuest. Web. 3 Feb. 2014. < http://search.proquest.com/docview/216194675/3B2A6709A9C740C2PQ/1?accountid=45049> Read More