Medea
Summary
Medea’s husband has left her for another woman. The daughter of King Kreon. She despises him for doing so, and curses him and his father. King Kreon has allowed her to stay in Corinth one more day, as long as she doesn’t do any evil. Jason was trying to tell Medea he was doing it for her and the children. Marry into prosperity. Then they would have brother and sisters of royalty. Medea says it is still evil to betray your wife in that way. Jason offers her some alimony, child support, and contacts with his friends that will help her once she and the kids have left the city. Medea refuses to take anything from him. Her friend Aigeus visits Medea. She asked him to make an oath to the gods that if she escapes her city on her own will; he will keep her with him safely and will not turn her over to her enemies (Jason & Kreon). Medea plans to kill the bride with poison. Medea sends the children with Jason to the bride with the poison dress and crown. She and her father die an awful death with suffering as well. Medea then kills the children, even though the chorus told her not to do so. Jason returns looking for Medea. She is on a chariot built by her father, and ready to flee to Aigeus. Jason desperately wants to kiss his dead children or even bury them but Medea refuses to give him the satisfaction. Medea succeeds in her plan and Jason is lonely and tormented.
Themes and Motifs
Historical Context
Feminist Concerns
Characters
Medea is the princess of the Isle of Colchis.(642) She falls in love with a man named Jason when he reached the land of Colchis in pursuit of the Golden Fleece.(642) Medea falls in love with Jason, helps him steal the Golden Fleece from her own country and leaves with him.(642) She eventually marries Jason and has children with him as they have moved to live in exile in Corinth.(643)
Medea learns Jason has been dipping his noodle in the King of Corinth’s daughter.(643) She learns he has intentions of marrying her and leaving Medea and the kids to fend for themselves.(647) Kreon, King of Corinth, hears of Medea’s anger with Jason and the king’s daughter.(648) Kreon approaches Medea and sentences her to exile.(648)
Nothing like a woman scorned as Medea in her angered state plans for the demise of her husband, his new bride to be, and her father.(658) Medea first covers her base by finding a safe place to live in exile. (656) King Aigeus, King of Athens, agrees that if she can find her way to his doorstep she can stay forever and be safe.(656)
Now Medea plans the way to kill Jason’s bride to be and anyone who touches her.(658) She plans to poison two bridal gifts for Jason’s new bride and have the children hand deliver them to her.(659) Jason falls for the plan and takes the children to his bride to be where she receives her gifts and puts them on falling to her death.(664) The children return to Medea where she kills them right before Jason returns to find out what dastardly deed she has done.(669) Medea escapes Corinth with her dead children on a dragon drawn chariot given to her by Helios, her father’s father to protect her from her enemies.(670) She escapes to live in Athens and Jason never sees his children again.(670)