Maybe some of you might think Medea is justice, maybe none. Anyway, I think both her action and thought are evil. Even though Jason betrayed Medea first, but Medea’s action is crueler. She even wants her innocence children die as well, and the reason is just because the children are son of Jason. Medea was carried away by evil mind, and she couldn’t think properly of what’s right and what’s wrong.
Then what should be consider as justice? I don’t feel like there’s justice, it is just the idea of people who rationalizes his or her behavior. I think Medea done it on the same way. She thought her action is bring justice to Jason’s betrayal. But, at the moment she killed the people, she is just a murderer.
Another thought about the Medea. I think the author wanted to emphasize the unfair treatment between men and women. Usually, women were ruled under men; they listened to whatever men said, they couldn’t do nothing but took care of house. However, Medea told us that women were not burden, Medea helped Jason on his quest ad princess granted Jason the royal power. The text reflects that women are important in society, they can do whatever men can do. Women should be at the same position as men.
I think the most important purposes of the text are informing unfair between men and women, and consider what is justice mean to you.
I agree that an important purpose of this text was difference between men and women. I feel it was significant that Jason was willing to help Medea after leaving her and their children for a new women, yet Medea wanted nothing to do with him. This represented Medea’s ability to be an independent woman and to be able to support herself after being exiled.
I agree that Medea’s actions aren’t justifiable. In the beginning, many people were probably on her side because she was the victim of the relationship. But throughout the play, she transformed into a person that there was no way I could feel sympathetic for. How can any sensible person be able to murder innocent children? Especially if they were her blood relatives. In lines 261-263, Medea claims that she has “no mother, no brother, and no blood relatives to help her get through the disaster”, but she was the one that was unwilling to let them help.
I agree with both of you that Medea’s actions aren’t justifiable. After reading everything I decided I to be on Jasons side. I know him leaving his wife and two kids seems wrong but he is just looking out for his kids. What i think is that If he would have told her his plan in the first place she would have ruined his plan. But i also think that communication in the relationship is key , so that was his first mistake. I also understand she wanted to hurt him but what do the kids have to do with anything? I believe she’s just so obsessed with him that she doesn’t care who she hurts in order to feel a bit better knowing he left her. I think when Medea said “no mother, no brother , and no blood relatives to help her get though the disaster” ,as David pointed out. she probably felt like she devoted herself to her husband and felt she deserved the same but she didn’t get that in return.
I agree that Medea’s reactions are too evil, she shouldn’t have the thought of killing or hurting her own son even she was betrayed. The one who should take the responsibility is Jason but not their son, they are innocence. If Medea killed the kids, she killed her blood-related son. This is a horrible thing. And I agree the statement about the unfair treatment on men and women. The old society see men have the power and capability to take care of women and a family, totally underestimated women. In the story, Medea and Jason reflect a typical couple in the old society., women stay at home and men go to work.
I agree with you that Medea’s actions did not bring justice. Her response was certainly not an eye for an eye. Jason left her for another woman; then Medea killed the king, the king’s daughter, her children, etc. Definitely not justifiable in any way. Just crazy.
I really agree with the whole comparison of men and women. I think the text highlights the unfair gender roles which are assigned to women, and maybe Medea’s actions are her way of defying those roles.