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Medea: Summary
Title of Work: Medea Country/Culture: Greek Literary Period: Classical Type
of Literature (genre): Drama/Tragedy Author: Euripides
Authorial information: Euripides was born in 484 BC and took up drama at
the young age of 25. At most drama competitions, however his plays came in
last place until he was about 45 or 50 years old. In his entire life, he
wrote 92 plays of which only five received first place awards at
competition. Euripides despised women. He had been married twice to
unfaithful women and had three sons. This hate of women is shown in his
work of Medea.
Author's unique style:
Euripides' characterization of women is considered unique in the play Medea
because the tragic Hero/ine - in this case Jason and Medea in each one's
own sense - is done over by a woman after cheating on her with the princess
of the King of Corinth. He places emphasis on human emotions and
individual psychology in order to help the reader produce a clear picture
of the characters. Medea features strong dramatic situations and a
stirring part for the heroine, whose attitude of feminine pride and
tradition is still popular in today's world.
Setting: The entire play takes place on the island of Corinth in present
day Greece. Individual places such as Medea/Jason's home, and the palace
of the king and princess are also spoken of and used in the play. It has
an ancient Greek setting as well.
Theme: "What goes around comes around."
The theme of revenge in the sense of Medea's strong desire to seek revenge
on Jason.
Another possible theme of Medea may be that at times a punishment of
revenge should justify the crime - no matter how severe. Only a person in
such a situation (and greater beings) may know what to action to take in
this position.
Characters: Medea - The strong willed woman who would do anything for her
husband is victimized by him and turns deadly. After going to a great
extent to help Jason - killing people to be with him and married to him -
he turns around and marries a younger princess and leaves Medea and their
two children with nothing. This deeply angers Medea - her tragic flaw
appears to be an over excessive sense of revenge - who goes absolutely
berserk and kills the princess and her children to get back at Jason for
leaving her. She is very decisive and intelligent and had thought through
her actions against Jason before carrying them out.
Jason - The Husband of Medea who leaves her for another woman - the King of
Corinth's daughter - claiming it would be better for both Medea and their
children if he "got in good with the king". Jason obviously is not caring
about his wife who actually killed to be with him. He does however still
love his children. His flaw of apathy or the fact that he is not
perseverant causes his downfall when Medea has his wife (the princess)
murdered as well as his children. This causes Jason to be extremely
disturbed - but it is deserved.
King Aegeus - The present King of Athens who is very sympathetic. He is
friends with Medea and understands her problem. He tells her that she may
come to Athens and seek refuge if she pleases. He has no children and asks
if she will "provide him with some". In this sense, he is a jolly fellow
who assists friends in time of need. He also provides Medea with a place
to go and be protected after she goes on her killing rampage.
Nurse - The Nurse plays a somewhat minor role and yet influences the story
of Medea. She is employed by Medea to look after the children but the
Nurse also gossips and provides advice and assistance to Medea. She
provides the audience with background information on the play and puts
pieces together of the "big picture." The Nurse begs Medea to not do
anything rash because of Jason but says that she knows Medea will so that
foreshadows the though of tragedy in the play. She also sympathizes Medea
but as soon as Medea is not looking, the Nurse criticizes her as being
somewhat over reactive.
King Creon - King Creon finds disfavor on Medea for many reasons. Most of
all he believes she may decide to kill his daughter out of spite.
Quotes: ú "O God, do you hear it, this persecution, these my sufferings
from this hateful woman, this monster, murderess of children?
Still what I can do that I will do: I will lament and cry upon
heaven, calling the gods to bear me witness how you have killed my
boy prevent me from touching their bodies or giving them burial.
I wish I had never begot them to see them Afterward slaughtered by
you."- Page 46 Jason crying out to Medea who had killed their two
children to revenge what Jason had done to Medea (cheated on
her). This quote exhibits the idea of a tragic hero. Jason, in
other stories is by far a hero; a common practice amongst Greeks
is to have more than one wife. Medea goes overboard and kills
Jason's other life and the two children he and Medea had. This
quote shows his misery over the loss of his children. ú "Do not, O my
heart, you must not do these things! Poor heart, let them go, have pity
upon the children." - Page 34 Medea here is showing her frustration over
whether or not to kill her children to seek revenge on Jason. This
exhibits Medea's internal conflict. ú "Zeus in Olympus is the overseer
of many doings. Many things the gods achieve beyond our judgement. What
we thought is not confirmed and what we thought not god contrives. And so
it happens in this story." - Page 47 This quote from the Chorus exhibits
the theme of the play Medea that the gods only know what is best and that
at times what may seem absurd and excessive may actually be the best
possible thing for a person.
Glossary: Tragedy - a play, novel, or other narrative depicting serious and
important events, in which the main character comes to an unhappy end.
An example of tragedy is the work Medea by Euripides in which a woman who
is angry with her husband for leaving her so she kills the woman he left
her for and also kills her own two children she had with Jason to seek
revenge on him for leaving her. In this way, two tragic heroes exist.
Medea - in this story may be the tragic hero, sacrificing her two children
for revenge on Jason. Jason as well may be considered the tragic hero from
former stories because he loses his wife, "girlfriend," and children.
Tragic hero - the main character in a traditional tragedy, h/she is usually
dignified, courageous and often high ranking. The tragic hero usually wins
some self-knowledge and wisdom, although he or she suffers defeat possibly
even death.
Medea can be considered to have two tragic heroes. Medea - in this story
may be the tragic hero, sacrificing her two children for revenge on Jason.
Jason as well may be considered the tragic hero from former stories because
he loses his wife, "girlfriend," and two children.
Internal conflict - a struggle between opposing needs desires, or emotions
with a single character. Medea is indecisive whether to kill her two
children to achieve revenge on Jason or that she loves them enough not to
sacrifice them. She eventually comes to the decision that her children
should be killed in order to revenge Jason for what he did to her.
Plot Summary:
Medea, a play written by the ancient Greek dramatist Euripides is a classic
tragic play in which the tragic heroine suffers after gaining the knowledge
she has been searching for. Medea, the tragic heroine, takes revenge on
her husband whom she had practically killed for to be with, after he
"cheats" on her with a princess. The theme of the classical drama could be
stated as "what goes around; comes around." It takes place on the island of
Corinth - a place in Greece - about fifth century BC. The play, rather
brief, shows that the author's experiences with women carried over into his
writings as well as his life.
The play opens with Medea's Nurse indirectly giving background information
to the story about to unfold. It is quickly understood by the audience
that Jason, the husband of Medea, for whom she disowned her family and had
killed for, has left her for the King of Corinth (Creon's) daughter - a
beautiful princess. Medea is outraged by this and is set on seeking revenge
on him.
King Creon tells Medea that she will be exiled from the island of Corinth
because he fears for the safety of his daughter. Medea, however, does not
want to leave. She comes to an agreement with King Aegeus - King of Athens
- where she will be able to seek refuge in the city-state of Athens after
her exile from Corinth. He extends his hospitality to her quite generously.
By this time, Medea has become to formulate a plan to seek revenge on Jason.
Medea's plan is to kill Jason's new bride and his two children she had bore
for him and then flee for Athens. The chorus tries to console Medea and
tell her not to do such horrid things to other people particularly her
children. Medea ignores their request and is stuck with the decision of
whether or not to kill her children. She loves them and does not want to
but she knows she must kill them to get back at her husband who had wronged
her though she had done so much for him.
She goes through with the act of killing Jason's new bride - Medea's
children bring her a poisoned gown, which also ends up killing the King of
Corinth. - And then faces the tough act of murdering her own children who
she loves dearly. She does the awful deed and refuses to allow Jason
access to their bodies to bury them or the ability to say goodbye to them.
Ah_ Sweet Revenge
This story follows the usual Greek tragedy plot and story line and
Euripides conveys his idea of a woman well. The concept of a dominant
female is still applicable in today's world. Medea is still a popular
story today because of this. The theme may not be one, which is "good" -
that of revenge - but in the case of Medea it works well.
ADDITIONAL FEATURED ESSAYS
Medea: Summary
Title of Work: Medea Country/Culture: Greek Literary Period: Classical Type of Literature (genre): Drama/Tragedy Author:
Medea Is A Tragic Feminist Text
Medea is a tragic text due to it containing a tragic hero, Medea, who due to her harmartia challenges the dominant views
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