1. Seneca's Version of Medea
Although Medea committed numerous murders, these horrific acts were well justified. The pain Medea suffered grants her just reason for these acts, as well as establishing her as a sympathetic character. Medea sacrificed everything to be with Jason, and he left her. Jason shattered Medea's life by leaving her, and does not deserve happiness with his new wife. Because Medea endured hardships for Jason without any appreciation from him, she is a sympathetic character.
Medea accepted many sacrifices to be with Jason. She gave of her powers and talents to help render Jason the Golden Fleece. Once they fell in love, Medea fled her family and home country to be with Jason. While fleeing across the Mediterranean Medea killed her own brother and threw him overboard in an attempt to slow their pursuers. Medea then convinced the daughters of Pelias to kill their own father, the king of Iolcus (Euripides 31). Everything Medea did was out of love for Jason. Medea bore Jason two sons, and expected to live a life of happiness with him. Without warning, Jason left Medea to marry a woman of royalty. The new wife, Glauce, was the daughter of Creon, who was the king of Corinth. Jason argued that he married Glauce solely to create a better life for his family. Jason stated that "It's not for the sake of any woman that I have made this royal marriage, but, as I've already said, to ensure your future, and to give my children brothers of royal blood, and build security for us all" (Euripides 35). Medea ignored Jason and claimed that he left her out of lust for a young princess. Medea said to Jason, "You are consumed with craving for your newly-won bride. Go, enjoy her" (Euripides 36)! Jason's statement is proven false by the fact that he did not mention his plan to Medea before leaving her.
Jason's act of betraying Medea hurt her greatly. After hearing what her husband had done, Medea cried out wishing to die.
I. Medea's power II. Medea's passion A. Medea's love for Jason B. Jason's love for his children III. Medea's revenge A. Uncontrollable rage B. Death of Kreon and his daughter C. Death of Medea's children IV. Medea's disillusion A. Causes her rebellion B. No sympathy V. The dangers of a p...
In the play Medea, by Euripides, many techniques are incorporated to augment the compelling persona of the protagonist, Medea. ... The chorus also reveres Medea to a certain extent. ... This relationship makes Medea a compelling character. The image of Jason and Creon in juxtaposition to Medea is essential in constructing Medea as a powerful character. ... At the end of Medea this is precisely what happens, suggesting that the Gods support Medea. ...
Throughout Medea, animal imagery becomes more frequent, and it is used to reveal symbolic content, omens and foreshadowing, and Medea's tone. ... The animal imagery in Medea is used to reveal symbolic content. ... Medea does this to show her children's innocence. ... Medea also refers to both Jason and Creon as being "the dog". ... Furthermore, Medea's tone plays a very important role throughout the play because it reveals Medea's deep thoughts, and her emotions for Jason. ...
Medea "Medea illustrates the gap between male and female perceptions of the world." ... Medea is the main character of the play. ... In Medea the Chorus is a group or Corinthian women whose main objective is to sympathise with Medea. ... The Nurse is Medea's closest confidant. ... The males in Medea were weak and submissive. ...
In Medea, the character Medea does not seek justice at all, rather, she seeks vengeance. ... Medea begins by murdering Creon and his daughter. ... Even this cannot fulfil Medea's vengeance. ... "(271-272) Next Medea turns against her own children. ... He asks Medea, "...are you pure evil? ...
Euripides also carefully reveals the elements of Medea's past that demonstrate her readiness to sacrifice family to pursue her intractable will; Jason and Medea's original tryst, for example, required that she kill her own brother. ... To reach the point of infanticide, Medea's basic human nature has to be transformed, ushering in conflict of some type. Consequently, Medea's eventual indecision and motivational conflicts manifest the warping of natural sentiments. For example, Medea considers a natural, common sense course of action when she debates fleeing with her childre...
His former wife, Medea, has no such fame and yet still has a higher position than most people do. ... Creon is, in fact, scared of Medea for this very reason, for he knows how clever and strong she is. ... For the first half of the play, the audience is introduced to Medea and her pathetic situation. ... In the case of Medea, the audience feels great pity for Medea and for the children because these are the people most hurt by the tragic action. Though Jason is left in ruins as well, Medea and her children are more affected; her children in that they were murdered by their own mother, and...
It is immediately made known that Jason "let [Medea] down and the children too," as an explanation for Medea's "shouting to high heaven" about Jason's infidelity, and ingratitude that leave her with a broken heart (311). ... The unbearable adoration Medea has for Jason is taken for granted, and disregarded; Jason proves this by planning to wed the daughter of the King of Creon, and leaving Medea to fend for her self. ... Medea's love and revenge not only alter her life, but also the lives of those around her. ... Medea's forceful persona consumes these flat characters. ...