Medea Summary 585k22

Medea-Nick Francis Prologue (1-130) 

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The purpose of the Nurse’s speech is to give the backstory (‘Jason and the Argonauts’) of how Jason and Medea met, and the sacrifices she made for him. Medea no longer loves her children, and instead feels hatred for them. The Nurse is concerned that Medea may harm them. The Nurse believes Jason has committed an atrocity, and that his betrayal of Medea was morally wrong, after all she sacrificed for him. The audience sympathises with Medea at this point, this is because the Nurse has portrayed Jason in a negative light, and depicted Medea as the innocent victim.

Parados (131-212) 

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Euripides, through the use of the chorus, shows that is the general belief of the Colchians that Medea has been wronged, and who now suffers as a victim of Jason’s actions. Medea appeals to the god and goddess Themis and Artemis, which implies she appeals for justice. This is ironic considering Medea’s dark past, and her malicious intentions for revenge.

First Episode (214-409) 

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Creon orders Medea to leave Corinth as he fears she may “do some irreparable harm” to himself and his daughter. He fears that he cannot guard himself from a woman who is “clever and controls her tongue”. Medea’s banishment may not have changed her plans for revenge, only accelerated them. She sought to kill her children early on, well before she was exiled. Only her plans to kill Glauce and Creon were forced into action earlier. Medea mentions her relation to ‘Helios’, the embodiment of the Sun. This reminds the audience that she is powerful, and has direct lineage to a powerful deity Medea believes that women are naturally scared of battle, and physically less gifted than men. However, she believes that a woman with purpose can be unstoppable and incredibly capable, if not more so than men.

First Stasimon (410-445) 

“Uphill flow the waters of sacred rivers”. This could be taken to mean that ‘sacred’ or traditional values are now reversing. The Chorus believe that men are becoming deceitful and honourless, whereas women will soon receive “recompense”.

Second Episode (446-626) 

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Jason argues that Medea had the opportunity to leave peacefully in the land and in her home, and submit to the will of Jason, and Creon; however, she chose to speak out, and make threats. Jason offers to Medea and their children financially, and request that they are not banished from Corinth. He claims to be looking out for their future, and ensuring they live comfortably. Medea killed her brother and betrayed her family in order to help Jason retrieve the Golden Fleece, and to be together. Furthermore, she effectively murdered Pelias, who stole the throne of Iolcus. Medea accuses Jason of abandoning the Oaths that he swore to the Gods when they were married. Having betrayed her own family and homeland, Medea is unable to return after being exiled from Corinth. Neither can she turn to Pelias’ daughters, whom she fooled into murdering their father. Jason argues that by abandoning her homeland, Medea was allowed to live in Greece, a civilised country, as opposed to her home of Colchis. Additionally, Medea “won renown” from citizens of Greece, because of her “special gifts”. Jason believes that a woman should accept when the marriage is over, he believes that Medea acted irrationally. He also believes women are the source of many troubles in the world. Jason argues with a calculated and calm tone, this depicts him almost as unfeeling and cruel; whereas Medea argues angrily and emotionally, showing that she is truly affected by the betrayal. Euripides may have intended for these tones to reflect the significance of their relationship to each individual. Jason presents a “skilfully” constructed argument, which attacks Medea’s true motives for abandoning her homeland. His anecdotes are factual; however, they do not reflect Medea’s true purpose in marrying Jason. Medea’s arguments are emotional and ionate, she argues that Jason’s life is owed to her, as she sacrificed so much, and they have children together. Medea’s arguments appeal to values of family, and loyalty; whereas Jason’s arguments are calculated, but falsely accuse Medea of marrying for ulterior motives.