Sapho and Aspasia were both exceptional women in their time. They both had the opportunity to study which was not common for women of the era. Aspasia was especially fortunate not having to comply with the customs of aristocratic Athenian women because she was a foreigner. Although not much is known of these two women, their writings have traveled through history at least in some way or another.
The difference I see between them, is based on their public image. Sapho was believed to be a lesbian and discredited for that by men, her works were burned and destroyed and her name was linked to shame. What little is left, has been translated in the aftermath, that is, without her approval or review. If you read a poem by Sapho that was translated by two different people, the meaning can change completely, leaving us no doubt that we will never know what she really meant.
On the other hand from Aspasia, all we have is through men's accounts, men like Plato and Cicero. Her works were orated by men of the era who in turn celebrated her as a great speech writer and a teacher of men. Her reputation, although debated by many, was that of a prostitute which situates her in a better place than Sapho.
I believe their rhetoric is very different; Sapho is more of a romantic writer and her words come out as feminine some way. Aspasia's is more of a direct message, well thought for the masses, political rhetoric, meant to be read and heard by men. In a way both women were silenced, one by men destroying her work and the other by being present only through the voice of men.
No comments:
Post a Comment