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Medea

In Euripidesf Medea, Medeafs lust for relentless revenge against her unfaithful husband Jason leads her to commit a number of atrocious acts including the murder of her two young children. Cleary, despite how slighted one feels, taking the life of another, especially of ones own children is irrational and appalling. However, while the reader is made to view Medea critically, he cannot help but feel sympathy for her plight. Medea suffers greatly yet still manages to hold onto her humanity. Although her quest to settle the scores between herself and Jason leads her to commit atrociously horrible acts of treachery, Medea cannot be classified as wholly evil because the reasons and events that lead to these actions earn sympathy and understanding for this tragic woman.

Medeafs actions are indeed cruel and immoral but can be at least partially justified validly. Medea is conceived as a conniving and deceitful woman even towards her friends. After being banned by King Creon, Medea encounters the King of Athens Aegeus. She tricks her old friend into swearing that he himself gwill never cast [her] from [his] land,/ nor, if any of my enemies should demand me,/ will you, in your life, willing hand me overh (lines 749-751). Medea


Medea proves she still holds onto her humanity. She is not just a monster. She considers her plans and confirms that her actions even now affect her. She is torn by her love for her children and the reader cannot help but sympathize with her struggle as surely being torn between two difficult decisions is indeed a hard trial many face and can identify with. Medea endures the pain of jealousy, isolation, betrayal and rejection yet still manages to display human qualities such as remorse, love and guilt. She considers her actions before committing them, she takes into account the feelings and opinions of others unlike Jason who refuses to acknowledge the feelings of others. No one considers Medeafs feelings or shows any genuine concern regarding her fate. Medea continues to earn sympathy because of the harsh treatment she receives from others. The reader also sympathizes with Medea because she is made to be an outcast. After making herself an exile in her own country because she helped Jason, Creon banishes her from her new home saying gBy no manner of means/ shall you, an enemy of mine, stay in my countryh (Lines 322-323). Medea is treated cruelly by many characters in the play. Creon, without any pity banishes her while her husband abandons her, despite all she has done for him. Medeafs actions are completely horrendous and shocking but her reasons for committing them earn her some empathy.

does this in order to guarantee herself a safe place to retreat to after her murderous deeds are completed. Medea is creating a false persona for herself when she deceives Aegeus into thinking she is a helpless, innocent woman who is far too weak to protect herself. She completely neglects to tell Aegeus why she is banished and what she plans to do before traveling to his land. The deviousness she displays in tricking a friend to unknowingly protect a soon to be child murderess is cause for the reader to view her critically. However, Medeafs action is not completely without justification. The ancient world was very much a manfs world, not a womanfs. Euripides reminds us of this when Medea remarks:

Here, Euripides shows Medea at her worst. She is vengeful, irrational and cruel. She does not appear to consider at all the seriousness and gravity of her actions. She is blinded by her rage and hatred. The

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Approximate Word count = 1566
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)


  

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