Dysfunctional dynamics : the characterization and iconography of three tragic couples

Medea, Phaedra, and Clytemnestra are three of the most well-known female characters from ancient tragedy. Each of these women underwent a literary evolution in characterization between the Greek and Roman periods, which affected how they were depicted by artists and perceived by audiences. While the transformation of each of these tragic wives is unique, this shift culminates in an increase of agency and autonomy for the women in the Roman traditions.