Written by the renowned playwright Euripides during the Golden Age of Athens in 431 BCE, Medea is a haunting tale of betrayal, witchcraft, and infanticide that has captivated audiences for centuries. Combining elements of Dramatic Realism and Melodrama, this timeless play delves deep into the dark corners of the human psyche and challenges societal values.
While Euripides did not invent the character of Medea, a powerful witch, his distinctive use of dramatic techniques such as detailed exposition and intense emotion set his version apart from the various tales and versions that existed before. Witchcraft was a common theme in Greek mythology, with seductive and dangerous figures like the goddess Hecate and infamous witches like Circe. These mythical beings were often portrayed as capable of luring men into peril.
Euripides, a Greek Tragedian, wrote Medea during a time of political stability and prosperity in Athens, following their victory over the Persian invasion. This period, known as the Golden Age, gave rise to the Greek Tragic Drama, led by playwrights like Euripides, Aeschylus, and Sophocles. Through Medea, Euripides subtly questioned the moral values of Athenian society. However, this golden age came to an abrupt end with Athens's defeat in the Peloponnesian War against Sparta in 406 BCE.
The play opens with the betrayal of Medea's husband, Jason, who abandons her and their two children to marry Glauce, the daughter of King Creon of Corinth. Seeking to elevate his social status by marrying into the royal family, Jason turns his back on his family and their turbulent journey together, which led them to seek refuge in Corinth.
Medea, a princess of Colchis, had used her sorceress abilities to help Jason obtain the Golden Fleece. They fell in love and fled to Greece, with Medea even going as far as killing her own brother to escape her pursuers. In Iolcus, Jason's hometown, she tricked the King's daughters into murdering their father to secure Jason's position as the new ruler. Despite their exile to Corinth, the couple established a family and gained respect among the locals. However, when Jason callously abandons Medea and their children, she is consumed by grief and curses both herself and her offspring.
Readers may recognize the name Jason from Greek mythology, as he was also known for leading the Argonauts, a band of 50 heroes, on a quest to obtain the Golden Fleece, which belonged to his father, King Aeson of Iolcus.
King Creon, fearing Medea's wrath, banishes her and her children from Corinth. However, Medea pleads for one more day to stay, during which she begins plotting her revenge. She considers murdering Jason, King Creon, and Glauce, but Jason tries to defend his actions, stating that his marriage to Glauce is in everyone's best interest. He even offers to help Medea, but she refuses.
At this time, King Aegeus of Athens arrives in Corinth and offers Medea refuge in his city. In exchange, he asks for her help in curing his sterility with her sorceress skills. Empowered by this offer, Medea intensifies her plan for revenge, which now includes killing her own children. She justifies this horrific act by stating that it will cause Jason immense pain, bringing her a sense of satisfaction.
To carry out her plan, Medea pretends to sympathize with Jason and gifts Glauce a poisoned coronet and dress, hoping to win King Creon's favor and allow her children to stay in Corinth. However, the poison kills Glauce, and upon discovering her daughter's body, King Creon is so distraught that he takes his own life.
When a messenger brings news of the deaths, Medea shows little emotion. Finally, she escapes to Athens, where she will face the consequences of her horrific actions.
In conclusion, Medea is a gripping tale that not only showcases Euripides' skill but also shines a light on the societal values and beliefs of ancient Greece. Its poignant themes of betrayal, revenge, and the consequences of one's actions continue to resonate with audiences, solidifying its place as a timeless classic in literature and drama.
In the ancient play Medea by Euripides, the main character is driven by the tragic role she plays as the heroine.
Medea's actions are fueled by her desire for revenge against her husband, Jason, for betraying her. She takes it to the extreme by murdering their children. To escape the consequences, she is gifted a chariot by her grandfather, Helios, the Sun God, and leaves Jason to suffer the consequences of his actions. The play ends with his tragic state of losing everything he holds dear.
Meet the key characters in Euripides' Medea:
Medea is a classic example of Greek Tragedy, which originated in Athens in the 5th century BCE. Tragic playwrights, like Euripides, adapted traditional myths and stories with tragic endings to explore human nature and its flaws.
The roots of these tragedies can be traced back to Satyr dithyramb, a type of hymn sung during lively dances in honor of the god Dionysus. Euripides was a master of evoking emotions, as seen in Medea's words to King Creon, who has banished her:
"My suffering will kill me in the end. It's over. My enemies are coming for me, and I can't stop them" (Lines 333-338).
This quote highlights Euripides' focus on his characters' emotional turmoil, particularly in Medea's belief that her suffering will lead to her demise.
In Medea, Euripides breaks from traditional prologues and instead uses monologues to provide background information on Jason and Medea's past. A monologue is a long speech that offers insight into the main theme of the play, while a prologue serves as an introductory section.
For instance, Medea's nurse recounts how Medea helped Jason obtain the Golden Fleece, including her murder of her own brother and Jason's murder of King Pelias (Lines 1-55). This monologue also sets the premise for the play, revealing Jason's abandonment of Medea and their children. Monologues are an effective tool for playwrights, like Euripides, to provide crucial context without overwhelming the audience with dialogue or lengthy introductions.
Euripides' unique writing style is evident in his use of realism in Medea. In contrast to conventional plays, he uses dialogue that imitates natural speech instead of relying on rhyming or meter. This simple style is best exemplified in Medea's emotional outburst towards her children:
"Why must your children suffer for their father's misdeeds? Why do you hate them so? I fear they will be harmed" (Lines 141-146).
It is crucial to remember that Medea was originally written in Classical Greek, so what may seem like natural speech to us may have differed from what was considered normal for the ancient Greeks. However, modern translations strive to maintain the natural flow of speech, as intended by Euripides.
In addition to realism, Euripides also portrays his characters as insecure and conflicted, rather than the confident and steadfast heroes depicted in contemporary plays by Sophocles and Aeschylus. Throughout the play, Medea questions her plans and grapples with anxiety, highlighting the emotional turmoil she faces.
One rhetorical device used by Euripides in Medea is Pathos, which appeals to the audience's emotions and stirs feelings they may already have within them. In this play, he uses Pathos to evoke sympathy for Medea and connect the audience with her character. The most memorable use of Pathos is in Medea's soliloquy, moments before she murders her children. A soliloquy is when a character speaks their thoughts aloud, regardless of whether anyone else hears them:
"Do not be a coward. Do not recall your love for them now, or how you gave them life. For this moment, forget they are your children and mourn them later."
Euripides' use of Pathos effectively portrays Medea's inner turmoil and the struggle she faces in carrying out her plans.
Euripides's renowned play, Medea, written in 431 BCE for the Dionysiac festival competition, delves into themes of passion, heartbreak, and the challenges faced by a female protagonist in a male-dominated society. Despite facing criticism for its inclusion of a foreign and female lead character, Medea stands out as a thought-provoking and powerful piece of literature.
Medea, a sorceress and foreigner, openly rebels against the oppressive society she lives in. She conforms to societal expectations as a devoted wife and mother, sacrificing her own family to help her husband Jason obtain the Golden Fleece. However, she is ultimately betrayed and abandoned by Jason, causing her to reject societal norms and seek revenge.
Euripides portrays Medea's suffering under the weight of societal expectations with empathy. In a poignant monologue, she speaks to the chorus of Corinthian women, declaring "we women are the most unfortunate" and highlighting the unjust and unequal treatment of women in Athenian society (Lines 264-272).
In 5th century BCE Athens, foreigners were often feared and labeled as "barbarians." As a foreigner herself, Medea challenges this stereotype through her intelligence and position as a tragic heroine. However, her violent and passionate revenge against Jason ultimately reinforces the negative connotations of foreignness.
The Corinthian women, represented by the chorus, display their distrust for foreigners before Medea's final act of revenge: "You cruel and wretched woman...killing your own children with your own hands" (Lines 1517-1521).
What sets Medea apart from other Greek tragedies is its experimental use of pathos, realism, and monologues instead of prologues. It offers a unique and emotional glimpse into the struggles and emotions of a female protagonist, making it a standout piece in Greek literature.
Written during Athens' Golden Age, Medea sheds light on timeless themes of passion and xenophobia through the story of a woman pushed to seek revenge by societal oppression and betrayal. Despite its last-place ranking in the Dionysiac festival competition, Medea remains a powerful and enduring piece of Greek literature.
Who is the author of Medea? Medea was written by Euripides.
Why did Medea kill her children? Medea killed her children as a form of revenge against her husband Jason for abandoning her and their children to marry another woman.
When was Medea written? Medea was written in 431 BCE.
Medea is a renowned play belonging to the Greek Tragedy genre.
Medea follows the story of a sorceress named Medea, whose husband, Jason, leaves her and their children to marry Glauce, the daughter of King Creon. Fuelled by a mix of passion and despair, Medea devises a plan for revenge. Her actions ultimately lead to the deaths of Glauce, King Creon, and her own children, cementing her infamy as a vengeful figure.
