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== Summary ==
== Summary ==


[[Image:MedeaChariot.jpeg|thumb|Medea’s Chariot]]The play [[Medea]] begins in turmoil and escalates until the tragic end. ''Medea'' tells the story of passion that transforms from love to hate. Consumed with a passionate rage ''Medea'' seeks to avenge her husband, [[Jason]] who has wronged her.   Jason has left ''Medea'' and taken a new wife.  To add insult to injury, Jason’s new bride is the daughter of king [[Kreon]] and a Greek.
[[Image:MedeaChariot.jpeg|thumb|Medea’s Chariot]]The play [[Medea]] begins in turmoil and escalates until the tragic end. Medea tells the story of passion that transforms from love to hate. Consumed with a passionate rage, Medea seeks to avenge her husband [[Jason]] who has wronged her. Jason has left Medea and taken a new wife, the daughter of king [[Kreon]] and a Greek.


 
The play opens outside the house of Medea and Jason in [[Corinth]]. The Nurse tells the sorrows of Medea and how Jason has abandoned Medea after all she has done for him. The Nurse is afraid Medea will harm someone close to her. Medea’s heart is full of violence especially for Jason and the children. Medea is overwhelmed with grief that is manifesting as jealousy and rage.  
The play opens outside the house of ''Medea'' and Jason in [[Corinth]]. The [[Nurse]] tells the sorrows of ''Medea'' and how Jason has abandoned ''Medea'' after all she has done for him. The Nurse is afraid ''Medea'' will harm someone close to her. ''Medea’s'' heart is full of violence especially for Jason and the children. ''Medea'' is overwhelmed with grief that is manifesting as jealousy and rage.  
   
   
The Tutor appears with Medea two young children who have been outside playing. Medea’s children are oblivious to the resentment their mother is beginning to feel toward them. The Nurse warns the children to stay out of their mother’s sight. The Tutor is the bearer of bad news. The Tutor has heard rumors that Medea and her children will be exiled from Corinth. The Nurse is sympathetic to ''Medea’s'' plight while the Tutor is blasé.


The [[Tutor]] appears with ''Medea'' two young children who have been outside playing. ''Medea’s'' children are oblivious to the resentment their mother is beginning to feel towards them. The Nurse warns the children to stay out of their mother’s sight.  The Tutor is the bearer of bad news. The Tutor has heard rumors that ''Medea'' and her children will be exiled from Corinth. The Nurse is sympathetic to ''Medea’s'' plight while the Tutor is blasé.
The [[Chorus]] of Corinthian women arrives to check on Medea. The Chorus hears Medea’s cries and curses from inside the house. The Chorus asks the Nurse to go see if Medea will come outside so they can console her.  
 
 
The [[Chorus]] of Corinthian women arrives to check on ''Medea''.   The Chorus hears ''Medea'' cries and curses from inside the house. The Chorus asks the Nurse to go see if ''Medea'' will come outside so they can console her.
 


A distraught ''Medea'' enters the courtyard and delivers a poignant speech on the sufferings and indignations of women in an oppressively man’s world. ''Medea'' points out to the Chorus being a woman is even worst for her because she is a foreigner without a family or a home. The Chorus sympathizes with ''Medea''. ''Medea'' despises Jason for taking another wife, and condemns Jason, his new bride, and king Kreon. ''Medea'' makes the Chorus promise if she finds a way to revenge Jason, they will remain silent. The Chorus gives ''Medea'' a vow of silence agreeing ''Medea'' is right to seek revenge.
A distraught Medea enters the courtyard and delivers a poignant speech on the sufferings and indignations of women in an oppressively man’s world. Medea points out to the Chorus being a woman is even worst for her because she is a foreigner without a family or a home. The Chorus sympathizes with Medea. Medea despises Jason for taking another wife, and condemns Jason, his new bride, and king Kreon. Medea makes the Chorus promise if she finds a way to revenge Jason, they will remain silent. The Chorus gives Medea a vow of silence agreeing Medea is right to seek revenge.  


Medea has been blatantly lamenting her disgruntlements. ''Medea’s'' condemnations have come to the attention of king Kreon. King Kreon enters and exiles Medea and her children because he is afraid of Medea. Using her children, Medea appeals to king Kreon on a paternal level and asks for one more day for the sake of the children so she can get her affairs in order. King Kreon reluctantly agrees and allows Medea to stay in Corinth one more day convinced she could not do the evil he fears in one day.


''Medea'' has been blatantly lamenting her disgruntlements. ''Medea’s'' condemnations have come to the attention of king Kreon.  King Kreon enters and exiles ''Medea'' and her children because he is afraid of ''Medea''. Using her children, ''Medea'' appeals to king Kreon on a paternal level and asks for one more day for the sake of the children so she can get her affairs in order.  King Kreon reluctantly agrees and allows ''Medea'' to stay in Corinth one more day convinced she could not do the evil he fears in one day.  
The Chorus pities Medea but Medea assures them one day is all she needs to avenge Jason faithlessness. When considering how to kill her enemies, Medea rules out swords or fire because that would mean close contact with the victims and she may get caught giving her enemies a reason to laugh at her. Being humiliated is one of Medea greatest fears and motivates her to lash out to save face. Medea decides to use poison. A conniving manipulator Medea schemes to poison Jason, his new bride, and king Kreon. Medea is determined no one especially a man will mistreat her and live to tell about it.


Jason visits Medea. Similar to Kreon when he visited Medea, Jason immediately chastises Medea for her behavior and blames her for her own exile. Medea calls Jason a coward and reminds him of all she has done for him in the name of love. Medea is instrumental in assisting Jason in obtaining the Golden Fleece. Medea betrays her father, murders her brother, an exile from her homeland, and orchestrates the death of Pelias … all for a man who has snubbed her. Jason tries to convince Medea he married king Kreon daughter for her and their children sake. Marrying into prosperity will benefit them all. Jason argues Medea has benefited from their marriage more than he. Jason took Medea away from a barbaric, lawless land. Medea is very popular living among the Greeks. ''Medea’s'' cleverness is admired in Corinth whereas in [[Colchis]] cleverness is not revered. Also, the children need royal siblings to protect them. Medea and Jason continue to argue. Medea feels Jason should have been man enough to tell her he has taken a new bride. Jason believes Medea is too irrational to handle the news of his bride and her behavior now reflects he was correct in his assumption. Jason offers Medea contacts with his friends that will help her once she and the kids are exiled from Corinth. Fiercely pride Medea refuses to take anything from Jason who betrayed her.


The Chorus pities ''Medea'' but ''Medea'' assures them one day is all she needs to avenge Jason faithlessness. When considering how to kill her enemies, ''Medea'' rules out swords or fire because that would mean close contact with the victims and she may get caught giving her enemies a reason to laugh at her. Being humiliated is one of ''Medea'' greatest fears and motivates her to lash out to save face. ''Medea'' decides to use poison. A conniving manipulator ''Medea'' schemes to poison Jason, his new bride, and king Kreon. ''Medea'' is determined no one especially a man will mistreat her and live to tell about it.
By chance Medea’s friend king [[Aigeus]] of [[Athens]] visits. Medea envisions a safe haven for escape. Medea tells Aigeus of Jason’s treachery and her pending exile. Medea beseeches Aigeus for asylum in Athens. King Aigeus unaware of Medea’s murderous intentions offers Medea sanctuary in return for her offer of drugs that will end his childlessness. However, king Aigeus gives Medea one condition for sanctuary, Medea must come to Athens on her own will. Aigeus swears an oath to all the gods at Medea appeal that he will not turn her over to her enemies no matter what. Reassured Medea sets her scheme for vengeance in motion. Medea tells the Chorus of her plans.


Medea’s scheme of murder is coming together. Medea has a safe haven once the murders are complete. As her scheme unfolds, Medea realizes she must also murder her own children to completely avenge Jason’s dishonor. Medea wants to hurt Jason deeply and she cannot risk anyone who does not love her children hurting them. The Chorus begs Medea to reconsider murdering her children. Medea says, ”No compromise is possible” (803).


Jason visits ''Medea''.  Similar to Kreon when he visited ''Medea'', Jason immediately chastises ''Medea'' for her behavior and blames her for her own exile.  ''Medea'' calls Jason a coward and reminds him of all she has done for him in the name of love. ''Medea'' is instrumental in assisting Jason in obtaining the Golden Fleece. ''Medea'' betrays her father, murders her brother, an exile from her homeland, and orchestrates the death of Pelias … all for a man who has snubbed her.  Jason tries to convince ''Medea'' he married king Kreon daughter for her and their children sake. Marrying into prosperity will benefit them all. Jason argues ''Medea'' has benefited from their marriage more than he.  Jason took ''Medea'' away from a barbaric, lawless land.  ''Medea'' is very popular living among the Greeks. ''Medea’s'' cleverness is admired in Corinth whereas in [[Colchis]] cleverness is not revered.  Also, the children need royal siblings to protect them.  ''Medea'' and Jason continue to argue.  ''Medea'' feels Jason should have been man enough to tell her he has taken a new bride.  Jason believes ''Medea'' is too irrational to handle the news of his bride and her behavior now reflects he was correct in his assumption.  Jason offers ''Medea'' contacts with his friends that will help her once she and the kids are exiled from Corinth.  Fiercely pride ''Medea'' refuses to take anything from Jason who betrayed her.
Medea sends for Jason. Medea uses an assuaging attitude with Jason. Medea apologizes for her angry and tells Jason he is right to have married king Kreon’s daughter. Medea pretends to be submissive like Jason expects a good wife to be. After “''kissing up''to Jason, Medea sends her children along with Jason and the Tutor to the bride with gifts of a poison woven dress and a golden diadem.  


The Tutor returns with the children and tells Medea the royal princess will let the children stay in Corinth. The Tutor is baffled by Medea’s melancholy behavior. Medea exhibits tenderness and cold-heartedness as she cries and talks to her children preparing herself to murder them. When Medea’s children smile at her she considers relinquishing her murderous scheme. The fury Medea feels at being betrayed by Jason conquers her resolve. Medea is compelled to finish what has already been started.


By chance ''Medea’s'' friend king [[Aigeus]] of [[Athens]] visits. ''Medea'' envisions a safe haven for escape.  ''Medea'' tells Aigeus of Jason’s treachery and her pending exile.  ''Medea'' beseeches Aigeus for asylum in Athens.  King Aigeus unaware of ''Medea’s'' murderous intentions offers ''Medea'' sanctuary in return for her offer of drugs that will end his childlessness.  However, king Aigeus gives Medea one condition for sanctuary, ''Medea'' must come to Athens on her own will.  Aigeus swears an oath to all the gods at ''Medea'' appeal that he will not turn her over to her enemies no matter what.  Reassured ''Medea'' sets her scheme for vengeance in motion.  ''Medea'' tells the Chorus of her plans.
Medea anxiously waits for news from the palace. The [[Messenger]] enters surprise Medea is hanging around. The Messenger tells Medea to run. The Messenger brings news that the royal princess and king Kreon are dead. Medea glories in the details as the Messenger tells her of the anguish deaths. Jason’s bride and king Kreon die an awful, torturous death with suffering as well. The golden diadem burst into flames sitting upon the royal princess head burning her body and the woven dress sloughs the flesh from her bones. As king Kreon cradles his daughter dead body the poison consumes him as the poisonous woven dress adhered to his flesh.  
 
 
''Medea’s'' scheme of murder is coming together.  ''Medea'' has a safe haven once the murders are complete. As her scheme unfolds, ''Medea'' realizes she must also murder her own children to completely avenge Jason’s dishonor.  ''Medea'' wants to hurt Jason deeply and she cannot risk anyone who does not love her children hurting them.  The Chorus begs ''Medea'' to reconsider murdering her children.  ''Medea'' says,” No compromise is possible” (803).
 
 
''Medea'' sends for Jason.  ''Medea'' uses an assuaging attitude with Jason. ''Medea'' apologizes for her angry and tells Jason he is right to have married king Kreon’s daughter.  ''Medea'' pretends to be submissive like Jason expects a good wife to be. After “''kissing up''” to Jason, ''Medea'' sends her children along with Jason and the Tutor to the bride with gifts of a poison woven dress and a golden diadem. 
 
 
The Tutor returns with the children and tells ''Medea'' the royal princess will let the children stay in Corinth. The Tutor is baffled by ''Medea’s'' melancholy behavior. ''Medea'' exhibits tenderness and cold-heartedness as she cries and talks to her children preparing herself to murder them. When ''Medea’s'' children smile at her she considers relinquishing her murderous scheme. The fury ''Medea'' feels at being betrayed by Jason conquers her resolve.  ''Medea'' is compelled to finish what has already been started.
 
 
''Medea'' anxiously waits for news from the palace. The [[Messenger]] enters surprise ''Medea'' is hanging around. The Messenger tells ''Medea'' to run. The Messenger brings news that the royal princess and king Kreon are dead. ''Medea'' glories in the details as the Messenger tells her of the anguish deaths.   Jason’s bride and king Kreon die an awful, torturous death with suffering as well. The golden diadem burst into flames sitting upon the royal princess head burning her body and the woven dress sloughs the flesh from her bones. As king Kreon cradles his daughter dead body the poison consumes him as the poisonous woven dress adhered to his flesh.  
   
   
 
Jason returns looking for his children to protect them from the angry Corinthian mob after he finds out his new bride and father-in-law have been murdered by Medea. The Chorus tells Jason his children have been murdered by their mother’s hand. Jason is appalled and looks for Medea. Medea has hung around to gloat. Medea appears above the place in a chariot drawn by dragons provided by her grandfather, [[Helios]], the sun god. The children bodies are on the chariot. Jason begs for the children’s bodies, but Medea cynically laughs at him refusing to give his the honor of burying the children dead bodies. Jason desperately wants to kiss his dead children and bury them, but Medea refuses to give him the satisfaction. Jason insults Medea by telling her a Greek woman would never do the things she has done. Medea and Jason blame each other for the children’s death. Medea prophesies Jason’s death. Medea and Jason argue violently as the play comes to an end. The Chorus closes the play reflecting on capricious nature of gods’ will. Medea succeeds in revenge and Jason is lonely and tormented. Jason has lost his financial security, his status, and children to carry on his name. Jason is left without distinction. and Medea’s revenge is achieved.
Jason returns looking for his children to protect them from the angry Corinthian mob after he finds out his new bride and father-in-law have been murdered by ''Medea''. The Chorus tells Jason his children have been murdered by their mother’s hand. Jason is appalled and looks for ''Medea''. ''Medea'' has hung around to gloat. ''Medea'' appears above the place in a chariot drawn by dragons provided by her grandfather, [[Helios]], the sun god. The children bodies are on the chariot. Jason begs for the children’s bodies, but ''Medea'' cynically laughs at him refusing to give his the honor of burying the children dead bodies.   Jason desperately wants to kiss his dead children and bury them, but ''Medea'' refuses to give him the satisfaction. Jason insults ''Medea'' by telling her a Greek woman would never do the things she has done. ''Medea'' and Jason blame each other for the children’s death. ''Medea'' prophesies Jason’s death. ''Medea'' and Jason argue violently as the play comes to an end. The Chorus closes the play reflecting on capricious nature of gods’ will. ''Medea'' succeeds in revenge and Jason is lonely and tormented. Jason has lost his financial security, his status, and children to carry on his name. Jason is left without distinction. ''Medea’s'' avenge is achieved. Passionate love turned to passionate hate.
 
 
Additional Reading
 
http://www.pantheon.org/articles/m/medea.html
 
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu


== Themes and Motifs ==
== Themes and Motifs ==
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== External Links ==
== External Links ==
* [http://www.pantheon.org/articles/m/medea.html Medea]


== Works Cited ==
== Works Cited ==
 
* “Athenian Democracy.2005. Wikipedia. 8 April 2005 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athenian_democracy#Citizenship_in_Athens>.
<U>Athenian Democracy.</U> 2005. Wikipedia. 8 April 2005 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athenian_democracy#Citizenship_in_Athens>.
* Buxon, Richard. ''The Complete World of Greek Mythology''. NY: Thames & Hudson. 2004.
 
* Crystal, David. ''The Cambridge Biographical Encyclopedia.''  Press Syndicate of the University of Cambridge. New York. 1995.
Euripides. ''Medea.  The Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces''. Eds. Lawall, Sarah and Mack, Maynard. 7th. NY: W.W. Norton & Co., Inc., 1999. 642-672.
* Easterling, P.E.  “The Infanticide in Euripides’ ''Medea''.” ''YCS'' 25, 1977.
 
* Ferguson, John.'' A Companion to Greek Tragedy''. TX: University of Texas Press. 1972.
Ferguson, John.'' A Companion to Greek Tragedy''. TX: University of Texas Press. 1972.
* Graves, Robert. ''Greek Myths''. NY: Penguin Books. 1981.
 
* Grimal, Pierre. ''Larousse World Mythology''. New Jersey: Chartwheel Books Inc. 1973.
Lattimore, Richard. ''The Poetry of Greek Tragedy.'' MD: John Hopkins Press. 1958.
* Lattimore, Richard. ''The Poetry of Greek Tragedy.'' MD: John Hopkins Press. 1958.
 
* McDermott, Emily A. Euripedes’ Medea: The Incarnation of Disorder. University Park, PA. 1989.
Rassidakis, Kristina. The origins of love, hate, and retaliation in Euripides tragedy; Medea: a psychodynamic approach. Changes: International Journal of Psychology and Psychotherapy 15, 1997.
* Melchinger, Siegfried. ''Sophocles''. New York: Frederick Ungar Publishing Co. 1974. 35-42.
Pucci, Pietro. The Violence of Pity in Euripides’ Medea. Cornell University, 1980
* Pelling, Christopher. ''Greek Tragedy and the Historian''. Oxford, 1997.
Pelling, Christopher. Greek Tragedy and the Historian. Oxford, 1997.
* Pucci, Pietro. ''The Violence of Pity in Euripides’ Medea''. Cornell University, 1980.
Ober, Josiah and Strauss, Barry. Drama, Political Rhetoric, and Discourse of Athenian Democracy in Winkler, John J. Athenian Drama in Its Social Context. Princeton, 1990.  
* Ober, Josiah and Strauss, Barry. “Drama, Political Rhetoric, and Discourse of Athenian Democracy.” ''Drama in Its Social Context''. Ed. Winkler, John J. Athenian. Princeton, 1990.  
McDermott, Emily A. Euripedes’ Medea: The Incarnation of Disorder. University Park, PA. 1989.  
* O’Higgins, Dolores M., Sourvinou-Inwood, Christiane, Johnston, Sarah Iles, and McDonald, Marianne. ''Medea:  Essays on Medea in Myth, Literature, Philosophy, and Art.'' Princeton:  Princeton University Press, 1997.
Easterling, P.E.  The Infanticide in Euripides’ Medea. YCS 25, 1977.
* Rassidakis, Kristina. “The origins of love, hate, and retaliation in Euripides tragedy ''Medea'': a psychodynamic approach.''Changes: International Journal of Psychology and Psychotherapy'' 15, 1997.
 
* Vandiver, Elizabeth. ''Greek Tragedy''.  The Teaching Company.  Course # 217.  Lectures 1-24.
O’Higgins, Dolores M., Sourvinou-Inwood, Christiane, Johnston, Sarah Iles, and McDonald, Marianne. Medea:  Essays on Medea in Myth, Literature, Philosophy, and Art.  Princeton:  Princeton University Press, 1997.
 
Buxon, Richard. ''The Complete World of Greek Mythology''. NY: Thames & Hudson. 2004.
 
Graves, Robert. ''Greek Myths''. NY: Penguin Books. 1981.
 
Crystal, David.  ''The Cambridge Biographical Encyclopedia.'' Press Syndicate of the University of Cambridge.  New York.  1995.
 
Vandiver, Elizabeth. ''Greek Tragedy''.  The Teaching Company.  Course # 217.  Lectures 1-24.
 
Grimal, Pierre. ''Larousse World Mythology''. New Jersey: Chartwheel Books Inc. 1973.
 
Melchinger, Siegfried. ''Sophocles''. New York: Frederick Ungar Publishing Co. 1974. 35-42.


[[Category:World Literature]]
[[Category:World Literature]]
The story of Medea is one of the best known and widely translated Greek tragedies. Euripides starts this tragedy with the nurse telling what has happened up to this point.  He opens a new outlook to tragedy by showing Medea as woman and foreigner, which have almost no rights at all, which is out to avenge her husband Jason for leaving her for another woman.
Medea was the daughter of Aeetes, King of Colchis. Medea fell hopelessly in love with Jason, the commander of the Argonauts, who came to Colchis in search of the Golden Fleece. In return for Jason’s pledge of everlasting love and to take her back to Greece with him.  With Medea’s magic she deceived her father to help Jason obtain the Golden Fleece. Medea and Jason sail from Colchis to return to Greece, but to escape Aeetes; Medea kills her brother, Apsyrtus and scatters his remains over the sea.  When Aeetes stops to gathering up the remains of Apsyrtus, Jason and his crew manage to escape.
In Greece Jason finds his parents are killed by Pelias.  To avenge the death of his parent, Jason asked Medea to help him with her magic.  As always Medea grants his wishes and brings about Pelias’s death by a cunning trick. She tells the daughters of Pelias that they could help their aging father to become young again.  Medea cuts up an old sheep and boils it, then says a magic spell and a young lamb jumps from the pot and runs away.  This convinces the daughters of Pelias that they could make their father young again.  So, Medea gave Pelias a sleeping potion, and the girls began to cut their father up but Medea disappeared without saying the magic spell to bring him back to life, thus causing the daughters to killing their father.
After this Medea and Jason escaped to Corinth, where they had two sons.  They were living very happy until Jason fell in love with the daughter of King Creon of Corinth.  Jason left Medea and was going to marry the Kings daughter to make more wealth and power for him and his sons. But Medea was devastated, and she mourned for Jason and their life together.  Medea was going crazy and crying out of control and people around her home began to hear her and word got back to the king.  King Creon was worried about the emotional state that Medea was in and what she could do to him and to his daughter.  He told Medea that she had to leave the city and take her children with her.  So to get her revenge, Medea kills the daughter with a poisoned robe, which kills the daughter and the King.  Soon after their death the messenger comes to Medea kills her to sons so that Jason will have to suffer a long a painful life, without the Kings daughter and his two sons.  Medea escapes from Jason by leaving Corinth, flying to Athens in a chariot from Helios.
Bates, Alfred.  "The Dram: It's History, Literture and Influence on Civilization", vol 1. 1906
COllier Michael. "The Virginia Quarlerly Review." Charlottesville: 2004.