Blog #5- I Want a Wife

Judy Brady's essay, "I Want a Wife", is admirable for a few of its characteristics. The blunt, sarcastic language is very effective in expressing the author's very brash point and most of the opinions are true. The last line, "My God, who wouldn't want a wife?" is actually quite humorous in its sarcastic qualities and really hammers down her overall message that men use women for their own selfish gains. Also, although used to prove a negative point, the author simultaneously displays how busy and strong women are she lists all of the chores women must juggle and accomplish. Most men do not realize just how important women are to their lives or how lost they would be without them.

However, although this essay is effective in drawing emotion from the reader, whether they be female or male, it is overly-harsh in my opinion. The essay says nothing positive about the entire male population and leaves the reader feeling brainwashed into believing all men are heartless animals. Also, the essay is out-dated as most women do not live these house wife roles anymore. These days, women are just as independent, hardworking and successful as the men and can even be as cruel. Therefore, if the essay was meant to draw anger and hatred for males in general, then I would consider it very effective.

Medea seems to be the appropriate audience for a strong essay such as this. I am sure that she felt the same emotion towards Jason as Brady does towards men. Not only can Medea herself relate to the examples of mistreatment in this essay, but the first paragraph of the essay also relates to the play as a whole. The first example being the recently divorced male friend of the author who is introduced in the beginning. He has a child and is looking for a new wife. This sounds very similar to Jason when he left Medea for another woman but was still responsible for the two children he had with Medea. Also, at the end of the essay when it states, "If, by chance, I find another person more suitable as a wife than the wife I already have, I want the liberty to replace my present wife with another one. Naturally, I will expect a fresh new life; my wife will take the children and be solely responsible for them so that I am left free.", it is clear how this relates to Medea's story. Jason not only replaces Medea, he also forces her to care for their two children while he is free to move on to his new wife.