FOR ANGELINA MAY ONLY

Esther Howard Cuadros

Professor Brewer

HUSL 6305: The Anti-Hero

05 June 2018

Medea: Euripides’ feminist anti-hero

Despite her demented behavior and evil deeds, Euripides’ Medea demonstrated intermittent clarity of thought- logos applied to its zenith in dissecting the Greek patriarchy, all the while using manipulation to achieve her goals. It is in these moments that modern readers can recognize the budding feminist within Euripides’ female anti-hero. Scorned and publicly humiliated by her husband, Medea used extreme means to exact revenge. Still, through her various monologues- to Jason, the women of Corinth, et al. – Medea detailed succinctly how Greek societal norms negatively affected the ‘fairer’ sex and was determined to flout convention. This essay does not aim to argue Medea’s use of manipulation or her maniacal tendencies; rather, I argue that Medea- the antithesis to accepted Greek femininity- is an ancient example of proto-feminism.

There are various schools of thought that would disagree with the above estimation, but to believe that Medea only subsisted of maniacal behavior would be an understatement. Medea was outspoken, eloquent, analytical, highly intelligent, and manipulative. She also exhibited a mental fortitude that allowed her to ruthlessly kill through means usually reserved for men, i.e. using a sword versus only using poison. Euripides imbued her with the above masculine attributes, which were qualities that would normally encapsulate a male anti-hero, not a female protagonist. Though one can presuppose that Euripides chose to create Medea with such qualities to illustrate social inequity and/or to critique the Greek patriarchy, one thing is certain: Euripides created a multilayered character who defied the narrative range and structure for female protagonists at that time, which makes this investigation a worthy endeavor.

Final Paper Proposal

There are many scholarly arguments that support the view of Sue Bridehead as a ‘sexless, frigid’ young woman who was more of a tease than a woman worth of any empathy. I argue that not only was Sue not deserving of any of those synonyms, but through feminist theory, show that she was a creature before her time. Though this novel is penned under the Victorian era, there is much social change happening historically. With the beginnings of feminism in the 1850’s Britain, the opinion of Victorian maidenhood and a woman’s place was now in question and tradition in peril. Sue Bridehead was, I believe, Hardy’s attempt to reconcile the ‘old’ with the ‘new’. Though we will never know of Hardy’s true motivations or thoughts behind his characters, we have his story that leaves a powerful message of the strength of societal beliefs. We have to think that Arabella was placed into this story as contrast to Sue, with Sue being the preferable sort. If this premise is true, then can we as readers accept that Sue Bridehead was a complex character; one who had flaws but was genuine and therefore still worthy? Can we accept that her rejection of her husband under law and her husband of her heart was not because of a perverse desire to entice and tease? It was in fact her desire to be free from restrictions and be herself, just as women do today? Under the feminist theory, I plan to trace Sue Bridehead throughout the novel, showing examples to prove that Sue was, in fact, the reimagining of what the ‘new era’ woman would encompass through Hardy’s eyes.

The Research Paper Unit

Due dates: see PPT on eCampus

The final draft of your research paper must be:

· 750-850 words (no exceptions)

· Contain two scholarly sources and one popular source

· Correct MLA formatting

· Works Cited page

Your topic can be over any issue that is arguable. Please use the PPT to decipher an appropriate topic. This link has quite a few topics that can be of use to your brainstorming: https://blog.prepscholar.com/good-research-paper-topics

The Proposal:

Due: November 11th at midnight on Turnitin.com

This assignment is to be 150-250 words explaining why you want to write about whatever topic you chose.

Please use the provided template (see eCampus) with the five questions to guide your content.

The Annotated Bibliography

Due: December 2nd on Turnitin.com

Details TBA in class

Rough Draft and Final Draft- see Turnitin for due dates and details TBA

FINAL PAPER. PROPOSAL TEMPLATE

Student First Name, Last Name

Professor Howard Cuadros

English __________

11 November 2018

Final Paper Proposal (Type title here if you have one)

1) What is the relevant history or background for your argument?

2) What is your argument? Be specific (thesis statement)

3) Why is your topic important? In other words, why should readers care?

4) What prior beliefs, assumptions, preconceptions, ideas, or prejudices might be brought to this project (warrants)?

5) What might be some ideas that back up/support your claim (reasons)?

Your assignment must be between 150 to 250 words

Please visit the following links before you start the research paper

https://slc.berkeley.edu/writing-worksheets

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/academic_writing/essay_writing/argumentative_essays.html

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/the_writing_process/thesis_statement_tips.html

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/academic_writing/establishing_arguments/index.html

Please choose the title of the research paper very wisely so that it would look simple. I don’t want the complex title and complicated language. Try to make it in simple and easy to understand language. Please do not use too complicated words on my research paper. Just make it simple and easy to understand.

You have to complete;

The proposal paper ( 150 -250) words

Annotated Biblography

The rough draft and full final draft ( Research paper) – (750-850) words