I think the characteristic of Medea interrupted that people are selfish when their anger is way more than love. Medea reflects to the type of people who are selfish and brave to do anything to repay a person. In the story, Medea had murdered both the princess and the king of Corinth as well as her two sons because of her anger and enmity on Jason. There was only anger but nothing in Medea’s mind, she had lost her humanity as an evil to kill people in the way she likes. It indicated that people are selfish to themselves when they get hurt or betrayed, they will do anything to make themselves feeling better but not care about the consequences.
In the beginning of the story, Medea is portrayed as a weak woman who get betrayed by husband, Jason. He leaves her and her children behind. Medea grows into a strong character who is plotting revenge for what Jason did to her. I agree that Medea deserves revenge for what has occurred, but the fact that it involves the death of her kids seems like it crossed the line. Although Medea feels guilty for plotting to kill her kids when she says, “Once that’s done, the next thing I must do/ chokes me with sorrow. I will kill the children-/my children” (lines 811-813). This shows that Medea feels guilty for plotting to kill her kids, but her hatred toward Jason overpowers the guilt.
I believe most of you feel horrible about Medea’s evil reactions, however I think she is a very brave woman who has independent thoughts. In the past, men are assumed to have a greater power than women. They are pretended to be the one with capability to take care of women and his family, so women must rely on men even they did not willing to. Women are responsible to obey to their husband, and they never have the right to make decisions. In “Medea”, the unfairness on men and women did not applied on Medea and Jason. Medea had her own thoughts, she decided her life by herself. Doing crazy things, like murdering people, is the way for Medea to express her anger, it is also the way for her to tell Jason that she could live without him. The characteristic of Medea also interrupted that women could be so brave and independent.
I think its a very interesting idea that you pointed out about women’s rights during the time of Medea. I believe that Medea was definitely an independent woman. However, I don’t think she is anything close to a role model for women to follow. Being an independent woman is different from seeking revenge and personal satisfaction. To me, Medea seems as if she has gone through a serious psychotic episode.
I also agree that Medea is definitely an independent and brave women . But like p.vinas said I also don’t believe she was a role model . A role model is someone we look up for good actions but Nedra’s actions are no where near justified. I also like the concept of making women more powerful then later times where men where the main character and the women was just to the side. Now in this story we see women finally taking the main role and doing the killing . Aside from everything this is one of my favorites so far .
I like this interpretation! Medea denied both her roles as mother/caretaker and wife, and put her independent status as woman, specifically individual, above all else. I think Euripides wrote Medea’s character as a symbol for the need of women’s liberation from traditional gender roles.
I totally agree with everything you have mentioned and how different the perception of women is in this piece compared to the social customs. Euripides was known for his very innovative plot twists that would make the audience question the motives. While it seems as if Euripides is attempting to show the role and power of women in the society, he is also acknowledging the audience of the power of all the lower class citizens. He was known to glorify the lower class while almost mocking the elites, as demonstrated by the deaths of the king and his daughter. by creating such character as Medea, Euripides tries to teach the audience to not undermine the power of any individual by showing how a women can destroy not only her husband’s life, but also bring down the whole kingdom.