Breaking Gender Stereotypes in Media for Revenge

Brad Levett’s “Verbal Autonomy and Verbal Self-Restraint in Medea” argues that Medea develops masculine characteristics that help her exact revenge on Jason. Levett uses the terms verbal autonomy, or the ability to resist persuasion, and verbal self-restraint, the ability to control one’s own language, to explain what Medea does and how she does it in order to attain justice. Levett points out that, according to ancient Greek beliefs, because Medea is a woman, she is susceptible to persuasion and is too emotional to control her words.

Levett explains that Medea suppresses her femininity in exchange for masculine traits in order to accomplish her goal. It is true that Medea overcomes some female stereotypes, but without the use of her gender as well as the added masculine qualities, Medea would not have achieved her goal. Medea’s ability to use female stereotypes as well as develop a masculine interest in reputation and honor allow her to achieve verbal autonomy, verbal self-restraint, and ultimately her victory over Jason.

Verbal autonomy is crucial is achieving vengeance and, as a woman, Medea uses her gender to her benefit. Levett argues that in ancient Greek times, people believed that women were easily persuaded because femininity was weakness. Therefore, as a women, Medea was believed to prone to persuasion. While Medea does admit to be easily persuaded by Jason when they first met, Levett initially paints this as a bad thing, as in Jason does not take her seriously during their first encounter because he believes he can persuade her to understand his side.

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However, Jason’s belief that he has persuasive power over Medea becomes a great tool for Medea to use in her plan.

During their first encounter, Medea has no choice but to give Jason all the power. Medea is powerless over Jason’s autonomy and unable to respond to his harsh words. Jason lumps all women together saying “the whole female race should not exist. It’s nothing but a nuisance” (Euripides 594-595). He pushes Medea further into anger knowing that she will not retaliate due to her lack of self-restraint. Medea does not want Jason to see her any weaker than she already is so her response is angry and pointed but is still not strong enough to faze Jason. Jason comes out of the encounter as the stronger and smarter opponent believing Medea can never touch him. However, Medea uses this to her advantage.

After some reflection over the encounter, Medea restrains herself devises a plan to utilize her gender in a cunning, manipulative way. Medea calls upon Jason for a second encounter. During this encounter, Medea brilliantly, “loses the battle in order to win the war” (Levett 62). Medea allows Jason to believe he has effectively influenced her into agreeing with him by saying, “Pathetic! Really, I must have been insane to stand opposed to those who plan so well” (Euripides 889-890) which would not have been possible without his assumption that women are susceptible to persuasion. She wouldn’t understand before, but now she does. By “…using the stereotype to her own advantage” (Levett 62), Medea now has the upper-hand over Jason. He is clueless as to Medea’s true intentions all because Medea played into the belief that all women can be easily influenced.

Even as Medea increasingly develops her masculine characteristics, her maternal instincts threaten the revenge plot. Due to her grief and anger, Medea struggles to control her language, but her masculine-like obsession with reputation prevents all other thoughts. As Levett suggests, Medea does display the female stereotype of being too emotional through her grief over Jason’s betrayal. As she assuages her grief and seeks justice, however, Medea begins to show more masculine qualities. Her desire for revenge is itself a masculine trait. Jason betrayed her, and instead of crying for a while and moving on, Medea sought revenge and justice as a dishonored man might.

Nonetheless, Medea is a woman and cannot avoid hesitation all together. “Her sorrow lead her to question her resolve…” (Levett 62) for a while and she nearly abandons her plan saying “The heart goes out of me, women, when I look at my children’s shining eyes. I couldn’t do this” (Euripides 1064-1065). And still, the masculine qualities in her pull through more powerfully. As typical for men, “in the end it is her concern for her reputation that wins out” (Levett 62). Medea overcomes the weak stereotypes of women in favor of more powerful masculine traits. So with the combination of cunning feminine traits and powerful masculine qualities, Medea is ready to get revenge over Jason.

It is only through exhibiting both male and female qualities that Medea succeeds. Levett suggests that the play presents being easily persuaded as a negative trait of women; however, Medea is able to use this to trick Jason into believing he has won so she can proceed with her plan. Once Jason has been fooled, Medea moves in to the action step of her plan. Medea’s “ability to suppress her feelings of sorrow and to displace her lamentation for her children reflects strength of will” (Levett 64) that give evidence to Medea’s masculine qualities. She puts aside all feelings of female-like sorrow and hesitation in favor of revenge and justice. But without the use of both male and female qualities, Medea would not be able to achieve her desired result.

Levett’s argument that Medea displays masculine qualities in completely true, however he does not include how her female qualities are a valuable asset to her revenge. It is because Medea used her female qualities that she was able to formally launch her plan. Medea knew that Jason expected her to be easily persuaded so by convincing him that she was persuaded, Medea had Jason trapped in cluelessness while she proceeded with her plan. Then, in a more male-like fashion, Medea suppressed all feelings of sorrow and guilt so she could act on her quest for revenge. Medea needed to use both male and female qualities to make her plan a reality because features from both gender is the most powerful tool there is for manipulation and revenge.