Medea - theme focus PDF

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Medea - focusing on analysing ideas on a central theme in the novel. ...

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THEME FOCUS: Euripides is able to comment on the dangers and inevitability of tragedy due to extreme emotions or passion that can be changed to intense hatred. Euripides reinforces the danger of betrayal within family and society, since betrayal is associated with broken trust, loss of self-worth, hatred, desire for revenge can prove catastrophic. QUOTE: Nurse’s speech (prologue) “Oh, if only it had never gone to the land of Colchis, the ship Argo, winging its way through the dark-blue Clashing Rocks!” “For never then would my mistress Medea have sailed to the towered city of Iolcus, her heart transfixed by desire for Jason; never would she be persuaded Pelias’ daughters to kill their father or now be living in this land of Corinth with her husband and children..” Line 1-10 pg 51 “An exile has won a warm welcome from her new fellow-citizens and who seeks to please her husband in all she does” Line 10-20 pg 51 “keeps a marriage intact...when a husband can count on complete support from his wife” Line 10-20 pg 51 “..where love was once deepest a cancer spreads..” Line 10-20 pg 51 “..betrayed my lady and his own children for a princess’ bed..” Line 10-20 pg 51 “..Medea, poor lady, dishonoured in this way..” Line 20 pg 51 “..her husband’s criminal behaviour came to her, she has remained where she lies, all thought of food dismissed, surrendering herself to anguish and melting each passing hour with tears..” Line 20 pg 51 “All she does is occasionally turn her white neck away to speak bitter words to herself..” Line 30 pg 52 “O Father dear, my country, my home, I have betrayed you all in coming her with a man who now treats me with contempt!” - Jason treats Medea with such disrespect, making her feel useless line 30-40 pg 52 “Misfortune has taught her, poor lady, the misery of losing one’s country” Line 30-40 pg 52 “She hates her children and takes no pleasure in seeing them” Line 30-40 pg 52 “may hatch some unheard-of scheme” Line 30-40 pg 52 - Nurse fears of Medea’s desperation to hatch a barbaric act “no ordinary woman; no one making an enemy of her will win an easy victory..” Line 40-50 pg 52 EXPLANATION (REVEALING UNDERSTANDING) Euripides’ first lines directs the audience to consider the fundamental wrongness of the journey, to steal a sacred object - the Golden Fleece Although the nurse’s lament is sincere, the playwright Euripides reinforces the impossibility of undoing the past. Therefore he is commenting that a greater level of responsibility for all citizens, including leaders, is needed to reflect on their actions, rather than denying responsibility or accountability. The audience are aware of the present calamity, where, as exiles in a foreign land, Jason rejects Medea, leaving his wife for Glauce. The prologue identifies Jason’s motivation for his betrayal is his political desire to succeed Creon as King of Corinth, by marrying Glauce. Jason’s abandonment precipitates disastrous results for those connected with him, that he never

acknowledges. Therefore his deceptive rationalisations used to justify his actions and avoid consequences will be juxtaposed with Medea whose passions will override responsibilities that bind her, especially to her children. Euripides establishes Medea and Jason as lacking accountability. Medea’s emotional wounds and psychological mindset are evident from the outset. Medea, who was “transfixed by desire for Jason” reinforces the dangers of excess, especially as she admits that “anger”” will be the “master” that will govern her actions and thinking. Medea’s magical powers a sorceress helped Jason accomplish the extraordinary tasks, including stealing the Golden Fleece from Medea’s own father Aetes. His proviso in helping Jason accomplish his feat was that Jason agreed to marry Medea, which he did. This was the oath that bound Jason to Medea, a deal that was broken, leading to the tragedy. Medea’s action driven by her passion for Jason, to do everything for him. Euripides is referencing the important of “oaths” in the ancient world. Jason has abused the gods’ divinity in breaking his oath to Medea, and therefore the Nurse’s sympathy is being transferred to the audience - sympathy for Medea as she is seen as the abandoned wife in a foreign city and Jason’s cowardice or “criminal behaviour” in neglecting his promises/oath is compounded considering all she has done in giving birth, raising his two sons, helping Jason’s life, providing assistance in fulfilling the extraordinary heroic tasks in taking Golden Fleece and manipulating Jason’s nieces to kill Pelias who took Jason’s throne. Euripides uses the Nurse to outline the devastating effects that Jason’s betrayal has had on Medea’s psyche, whose intention devotion has transformed into self-destructive behaviour. His vivid description reflects that Medea almost is mentally disordered in her grief. The imagery that a “rock [would] pay more attention”, that “she...remained where she lies”, “not raising an eye”, where “thought of food [is dismissed]” , where she collapsed in “anguish” and the imagery of her “melting each passing hour with tears” reinforces Medea’s plight as a woman betrayed, alone and alienated. Even the Nurse’s ominous reference to Medea’s “hate” for “her children” that she “takes no pleasure in seeing” draws the audience’s attention to the inevitable and horrific act of filicide, where her innocent sons will suffer as they are a reminder to her of Jason and his betrayal. The Nurse’s reference to Medea’s “bitter words” regarding her “dear” Father, elicits sympathy that she has lost everything by her association with Jason. Therefore Euripides is reinforcing that our response to these difficulties will reflect whether we take responsibility for our actions. Medea’s sacrifices and loss as a result of her fateful meeting with Jason will reflect how she will freely respond to the “misery”. As a sorceress, Medea manipulated Pelia’s daughters, who were Jason’s nieces, to kill their father in the hope of magically returning him to his youthful state. Medea’s actions were driven by her loyalty, love, passion for Jason. The nurse reflects on patriarchal society, where the position of women was to “please her husband in all she does”, in order to keep her “marriage intact” reflecting that he could “count on complete support from his wife”. As a result of Jason’s infidelity “everything has turned to hatred” since Medea has been rejected by him and she doesn’t have the refuge of her former home in Colchis....