In most societies, mothers face a plethora of rigid expectations and stereotypes, in many cases overcoming racial and cultural divides. They are, for example, often expected to be unconditionally loving and nurturing towards their children, and submissive towards their husband. Such roles are becoming more disputed as feminism becomes more prevalent, particularly in Western societies; however, they are common foundations for female characters in works depicting the past. Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying, for example, depicts Addie, a mother of five living in the Deep South, as somewhat indifferent towards the majority of her children. Toni Morrison’s Beloved portrays Sethe, who is, on the surface, more traditionally maternal in her devotion than Addie,…show more content… During the climax of the play, she resorts to killing her children - although she appears to be intensely pained by such an act, she justifies it by stating that she “loathed [Jason] more than she loved them.” (76) Throughout the play, she displays affection towards the boys, and her anger is even at one point described as “melting” in their presence. (??) At the same time, however, she is motivated by the need for vengeance against Jason, and as the boys grow closer to their father, she comes to the conclusion that “they are his cubs. They have his blood. As long as they live I shall be mixed with him.” (74) In addition to this, Medea also seems to have the need to disprove the idea that she is “soft and submissive like a common woman...loving her master.” (72) She holds contempt for patriarchal gender roles, especially as Jason repeatedly imposes them on her, stating that she, as a woman, is “weak” and irrational. (56) These factors played into her decision to kill them; however, she also refused to let Jason have their bodies, claiming that he would “betray even the little bodies, coin them for silver, sell them for power.” (80) Medea’s decision was, overall, fairly selfish, mostly based in her deep-seated spite towards Jason - although she may have considered the fact that Corinth was “in confusion and headless agony,” and feared for her boys’ safety - but she demonstrates some respect for them by refusing to give their bodies to
