Research Paper on Medea Mythology

Introduction

The "The Medea" is the most popular but controversial play by Euripides. It is classical work written in 431 B.C.E which the playwright illustrates one's cleverness and desire for revenge can turn out to be disastrous. The main protagonist is Medea, who is surrounded in the society that oppresses the women, and hence she develops negative perception towards the men dominance. However, all turned to be the opposite when she met Jason whom together they fell in love. Medea fought for Jason to ensure that they both live together. Medea went to an extent of betraying her immediate family members including her father, and went further to murdered her brother Absyrtus. Medea fled her native land Colchis to live with her new husband Jason, in Corinth. The climax of the play is when the cleverness and need for revenge resurfaced. Medea learned that she has been betrayed by his lover, who wants to marry Glauce, who was the king's daughter, something that triggered revenge in Medea. Medea's heart which was violent and unbalanced, previously dedicated to Jason, now is set on his destruction. The following paper will seek to discuss major element as described by the major theme of hearted and love in the Euripides' play "The Medea".

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Medea did not believe in love and firmly criticized the male-dominated society of its time. Medea states that "Of all creatures that can feel and think, we women are the worst treated things alive (Funk and& Wagnalls 5731)." The quotation given by Medea shows the injustices and oppression that befall women in the Greek society. Women are viewed as subordinates to men, is complex from the very core of social order in Greece. Even in the Euripides' literature work, Medea is not precisely portrayed as the feminist role model. What are dominant throughout the literature work are the difficulties that befallen women, but there is no single virgin heroines. Instead of having feelings towards the opposite sex, Medea turns to be rebellious even to his father and further killing his brother Absyrtus. Medea did not have affection towards the male sex until when Hera convinced Aphrodite or Eros to influence Medea's feelings to fall in love with Jason.

Medea standard for feminine revenge was seen to be heroic but also terrifying. Jason said, "Oh, I married a tigress, not a woman, not a wife, and yoked myself to a hater and destroyer (Funk and& Wagnalls 57204)." Through her action, Medea inspired both fear and admiration, leaving the audience sympathizes with her oppression and applauded for her strength and intelligence. Through the threat against the feminine, Medea became more passionate in the pursuit of vengeance. As a woman, she is driven by the right and wrongs were done to her, and she is ready to sacrifice everything to satisfy her revenge, including her children (Wasson n.p). Medea shows the strength of a woman in the society and the horror that can happen when it comes to letting the desire for revenge rule her life. As a woman, revenge was invertible considering the threat Medea was facing being exiled by the king. Medea represent a number of women in Greece who had a wish to revenge on the oppression that they are facing in life.

Medea plotted to kill Jason together with his new wife princes Glauce because she felt that Jason had betrayed her love which she had sacrificed everything to be with him. The compassion of hate and revenge can be identified through her talk. Medea said to Creon "lets me stay one extra day, to make three enemies corpses: Ha! father, daughter, and my husband" (Funk and& Wagnalls 57). As shown by the direct quotation, Medea was determined to have not only Jason and his wife Glauce dead, but also the king who is Glauce's father. The passion for vengeance was increasing within the heart of Medea especially when she reflects on how she betrayed her father's wish and killed her brother who was stopping her from fleeing with Jason. Medea was not in a rush to leave even after the king's command. She wanted to collide with Creon who will be one of the masterminds of his plan to have the princes killed together with any of princes' associates, whereby the King felled to be a victim after touching her daughter's corps (Guerber 237). Towards the end of the play, Medea was able to achieve her goal of revenge against her lover and new wife.

To wind up, the different element has resurfaced in the climax of the play which shows love and revenging for betrayal. Medea did not believe in love, she was the benchmark for feminine revenge and she always desired to revenge her husband Jason for his betrayal despite having children with him. The children become casualties of revenge, and by killing them, it signified revenge against Jason who became sorrowful after realizing that the children died due to relationship wrangles. Euripides portrays major themes in society by showing the extent the woman can go when she feels threated and oppressed. Medea represents many of the women in the society who have gone to an extent of committing murder or suicide as a way to revenge against enemies.

Works Cited

Guerber, H.A. Greece and Rome. Bracken Book, 1985. P 236

Funk & Wagnalls "Medea." New World Encyclopedia, February 25, 2019, EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=funk&AN=me076300&site=ehost-live Accessed 14 February 2019.

Greek Gods & Goddesses. "Medea." 25 February 2019, greekgodsandgoddesses.net/myths/medea/. Accessed 15 February 2019.

Wasson, Donald L. "Medea." Ancient History Encyclopedia. 14 February 2018, www.ancient.eu/medea/. Accessed 25 February 2019.