Rome/China--Women's Lives

Livy seemed a little back and forth about the whole ordeal. She at times seemed to side with the women who "dared seek a higher position," but other times, she criticized them for their efforts. Despite this, Rome seems like a good place to be alive during the Classical Era. In Greece, men--husbands--went out alone and would party in the amphitheaters and see plays and performances, all without their wives. In fact, they would leave the wives at home to go have an affair for the night, and the wives could do nothing about it. In Rome, while women weren't necessarily given equal rights, they have privileges the Grecian women did not. For example, the Roman women were allowed to accompany their husbands out of the house. They could participate in social gatherings and have a say, even if it had no worth. Yes, they had little added advantages, but they were bold enough to keep asking for more. Even if they were asking other women's husbands (which is indeed a bold move), they were trying to make a change for their fellow Roman women.

It's funny, because Roman woman had very few rights, but they were...revered. Not idolized, but slightly respected. Woman in China led a very different life. The woman were respected to an aesthetic extent, but that was the only extent. They were not treated well. They were not respected nor cherished like males were; they had no choice in marriage, politics, or personal decisions, and they were only used for purposes like childbearing. The respectable housewives were stuck at home all day. The women who weren't respected in high society, ironically, were respected in a different sense because they were the emperor's concubines. They were more well-known than any wise, creative, or brave women. In short, women in China were used and I would hate that.

 Despite this, I think the question of which location I would want to live in this time period can't be applied as it once may have. Life is so different today than it was back then that there is hardly an adequate comparison. Of course, women today still don't have equal rights despite many movements and laws (women of the same education and class and race as men won't be paid the same amount as men in the same job, etc.), but they are allowed to be seen out of the house, they have more purpose in life than getting married to produce posterity, and they can take an active role in daily life. They can participate in politics and careers and make their own decisions. Women in the Classical Era rarely experienced that sort of liberation, so if I had to choose a time to live in, it would be now; however, if I had to choose a place to live in back then, it would be Rome.

Antigone and Greek Heroes

It’s interesting that there are so many Greek tragedies and dramas that all play the same role but in different ways and orders. For example, Odysseus is a man—yes, a king, but still just a man—who only wants to return home to his family. He is a very good leader and fights to keep every one of his men, even if it means taking time away from traveling home. In this way, he is selfless and confident. Antigone is similar in that aspect: she feels very strongly for the people in her life, especially her family, and she will go to any limit to see that her family receives the respect and appreciation she thinks they deserve, even if it means putting her own life in jeopardy. Odysseus is looking out for his family of marriage while Antigone is looking out for her family of blood. She respects the divine law, while Odysseus makes the civil law.

I think the main virtue Antigone epitomizes is courage. Death is a frightening aspect of life (actually, the lack thereof). Despite this, Antigone decided that a proper burial for her brother was a better cause than her own imminent burial. Likewise, Odysseus took risks that should have inevitably killed him, but never did. In fact, Odysseus basically stood up to death and said that he would control his lifespan, and it would not end until he was again united with his family.

Creon, on the other hand, was not courageous and not respectful of family ways. He was so determined to be seen as a strong, undefeatable leader that he allowed that to stand in the way of what most people look for in a leader: compassion and empathy. It’s unfortunate because Creon’s main purpose centered around him striving to please the people by comforting them with a leader they deserved. The ironic thing is that, in a different lens, he would be considered a hero, and his personal Achilles heel is the very thing that would be seen as a strength rather than a weakness.