Social Traditions in Medea, The Piano, and The Age of...

Social Traditions in Medea, The Piano, and The Age of Innocence Traditions demonstrate a set of social norms that have been followed and adapted to for an elongated amount of time. In each of the plots, Medea, The Piano, and The Age of Innocence, the standard set by society was broken and the consequences imposed took form in varying degrees and shapes of violence. Whether it was outright murder as in Medea, or a more subtle but intense struggle as in The Age of Innocence, these consequences serve as the communitys opinion of this breach of its expectations for its members. All societies have many traditions set up, and each of the characters in the books either plays the role of someone who helps to uphold these traditions by†¦show more content†¦If she does, she refuses to care what these collective people have established as expected behavior of members of society. The common assumption is that the people who primarily follow tradition are the elderly, those who are most comfortable in the social norms and wish to keep things as they always have been. However, that is not true, as younger generations such as Medea, Stewart, and even May Welland uphold tradition and societal standards. People such as these see the traditions that their parents have impressed on them as the â€Å"proper and right† way to do things. They feel it is their moral obligation to continue to judge others by these standards, and to expect nothing less from those they know and love. Medea performs her wifely duties as she feels is her obligation. She bears her husband two male children to carry on his lineage and loves him completely. However, he does not act with the same reverence for the traditions as she does. He feels no obligation to love her with the same passion, or to stay faithful to her. Jason disrespects Medea and dishonors her by marrying a yo unger bride without her consent, with which he plans to start a new life and a new family. Feeling betrayed, Medea feels that Jason should feel the consequences of his actions, that he should learn not to go against social standards. Also as a faithful, providing spouse, Stewart is in a similar situation where he feels like he has done everything heShow MoreRelatedEssay Prompts4057 Words   |  17 Pageslist below or another novel or play of comparable quality. Avoid mere plot summary. An American Tragedy Light in August Anna Karenina Long Day’s Journey into the Night Antigone Lord Jim Beloved Macbeth Crime and Punishment Medea Death of a Salesman Moby-Dick Ethan Frome Oedipus Rex Faust Phedre Fences Ragtime For Whom the Bell Tolls Sent for You Yesterday Frankenstein Tess of the D’Urbervilles Hedda Gabler Things Fall Apart King Lear 2003