Medea throughout the poem cursed and treated Jason with all the insults she could utter ( loathsome, manless, untrustworthy) because of his treason towards her. ” you are loathsome… That isn’t courage, when you have the nerve to harm your friends, then look them in the face. No is the worst affliction known to man: shamelessness” (Medea 178, lines 472-476). However, from the beginning of the poem, Medea showed her determination to get whatever she wanted no matter the cost, which in itself is not a bad thing. But the manners through which she overcome her thirsts are questionable and despicable. For example, the manslaughter of his own brother to allow Jason and her flee safely. Then we ask, what kind of person kills his own brother? Is not the promise( somehow implied) to protect one’s family members, to stand by them and not to harm them in the name of kinship the most important oath? However, Medea did not care about her promises when it comes to her self-interest. She is not trustworthy. She would kill as she killed her brother, and her sons. She would fail to keep her promises to satisfy her sick desire of vengeance or to show how insanely shrewd she was. There is no denial that Jason was also untrustworthy because of his failure to keep his promise toward his wife. However, my question is to know who is the most untrustworthy between both. Is it Jason whose only fault towards Medea was to marry another woman or Medea who could not keep any promise even towards his children? Upon these shameful acts she committed, did she get to treat Jason as an untrustworthy person?
3 thoughts on “Medea , Jason, who is the most untrustworthy?”
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I completely agree! Everyone is giving Jason all of the blame, saying that he caused Medea to be this desperate and depressed woman, and that she has no blame to take for herself. Meanwhile, Jason has never even laid a finger on anyone, and Medea murder 6 people in this story alone! Yes he did divorce her and go off to marry someone else, but in today’s world that is a VERY common thing. However, you do not hear about any SANE people going off murdering their ex’s new family and the children they share. If that was the case the woman or man would be behind bars or in a mental hospital being watched closely.
I would say that Jason could be trusted more, seeing as though he is more rational than his ex wife.
I also agree. However, I believe both parties were at wrong for their actions. Medea’s behavior was unacceptable. Some people do not think before they react, but Medea had a few days to cool down but she let her angry and her rage to eat away at her soul/moral values. To think about it, I do not think Medea really had moral values by her pass actions. She did not express pain when she explain to Jason that she betrayed her homeland for him. I left she just simply said those “flowery” words to Jason to brain wash him. Women have to power to manipulated a man in order to receive her ways. On the other hand, Jason can be also be untrustworthy . How can he marry a kings daughter? Meaning how did he sneak his way around without the king or the daughter knowing he was married to Medea. Did Jason let Medea stay inside all day without interacting with the other people or families in the community?Or was Medea behavior was not up to par to community standards compare to where Medea used to live?
Medea does and does not have the right to treat Jason that way. She had the write to feel hurt and shameful but her actions were extreme!!
I agree, I can’t take sides with either character, because both characters are in the wrong. However, in Medea case Marriage is something big ( which it should be), which Jason did not commit to the vows of marriage. Even more, Medea sacrificed everything for this man, just for him to leave to her. But in his defense, he only left the marriage, so that he know his family would be alright materialistically/financially. Which I can understand. Medea didn’t agree with Jason excuse, so as a result Medea both of their beloved children, which I definitely don’ t agree with. I believe Medea needed someone to be there for her, which Jason didn’t seem to be. I felt that Medea may have feel alone, which is why she committed so many murders.