... By betraying her father she is going against her traditional role as a daughter which was to be obedient, passive and grateful. Despite this betrayal she still shows some female essence: "She sat alone in her room, weeping and telling herself she was shamed forever because she cared so much for a stranger that she wanted to yield to a mad passion and go against her father." (Edith Hamilton, Mythology) She cries, showing a weak, typically womanly emotion, as "...women must weep", because she feels guilt and remorse. She also contemplates what she is going to do, unlike 'irrational' men, who more often act before they think. After thinking it through and yielding to her mad passion, Medea's actions are carried out and she saves Jason's life which is very brave and heroic but usually falls under the category of a male characteristic. This imminently challenges traditional understandings of gender ...

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