Medea Essay, Research Paper
Medea
The Greeks Honored the god Dionysus throughout the year. In the
month of march they had a festival in which great writers such as
Euripides had plays performed. Among these plays is Medea.
Medea was married to Jason and would have two children with
him. They moved to Cornith and lived under the rule of Creon. After
living in Cornith for 10 years Jason turned around and married Glauce,
the daughter of Creon.
Medea did not take well to that idea and was ready to seek revenge
on Jason. Creon decides to have Medea exiled as to avoid her jealous
acts. When Medea is told this, by Creon, she begs to be permitted to
stay for one more day so that she can arrange for her refuge.
After a visit from Jason the ruler of Athens, Ageus, shows up and
tells Medea to come to Athens to seek refuge. Jason returns and Medea
convinces him to allow the children to stay in Cornith. When the
children return to Glauce with presents from Medea not knowing that
Medea had poisoned the gifts Glauce wears them and is poisoned along
with Creon. After still seeking revenge Medea kills the children and
refuses Jason to ever touch them again. By this Jason is devastated,
Medea has had her Vengeance.
Which brings us to the question, “Is Medea a which or woman
worth of pity”? My answer for this is neither. Medea did use a poison
that she cooked up to kill the king and his daughter. Medea was also a
confused woman who wanted vengeance for Jason leaving her. I would
rather say that Medea was a psycho. Not only does this explain her
actions, but is she ever goes on trial this plea will help her out.
This story reveals that there is a good side and a bad side to
everything. From the marriage of Medea and Jason to the vengeance
Medea seeks both good and bad happen. When Euripides wrote this he
must have planned for his audience to side with Medea’s pitiful soul, and
at the same time despise her for her murderous actions.