The Most Tragic Character in Medea by Euripides
Medea is the story of an estranged woman who wishes to seek revenge on
her husband (who has left her for another woman) by poisoning his new
wife. This, however, is made more difficult when the King of the land,
Creon, tells Medea to leave, mainly because he is scared of her. She
appeals to him for one more day to sort things out, and uses
persuasion by making him feel pity for her when she says "This one day
let me stay, to settle some plans for my exile…since their own father
is not concerned to help them. Show some pity: you are a father
too…their fate is very hard".
Medea tells the Chorus, a group of women from Corinth that this one
day is all she needs to get her revenge.
Jason visits Medea and offers to give her money for her and her sons
but she proudly refuses it. He leaves, feeling smug that he has what
he wants.
Aegeus, king of Athens and old friend of Medea's, enters. Aegeus is
childless. Medea tells him of her problems, and asks for shelter in
Athens. She offers to help him to have a child as she has detailed
knowledge of drugs and medicines. Aegeus eagerly agrees. If Medea can
reach Athens, he will protect her. Medea makes the old king vow by all
the gods, which in Ancient Greece meant a promise that would never
ever be broken.
Medea decides to kill Jason's new wife and his father-in-law, (who is
in fact the King, Creon) by sending poisonous gifts. She then also
tells the chorus of her plans to kill her children for two reasons.
Firstly to hurt Jason, and secondly so they would not be killed by the
followers of Creon when they find out he is dead.
...
... middle of paper ...
...fferent kind: dangerous to my
enemies, Loyal to my friends."
Finally, Medea, at the end of the play has killed her own sons,
something that is not only tragic, but somewhat disturbing. In modern
times she may be perceived to be unstable, but perhaps all this
tragedy in her life has caused her to act in such a way. She is left
completely alone by the end of the play; no husband, no family, no
children, and her friends probably do not wish to speak to her. For
this reason I believe Medea to be the most tragic character. She will
be alone for the rest of her life because of her own actions.
Throughout time it has been said that human emotions are such that
they can lead us to commit atrocities. This is certainly true to
Medea's case. Through her actions dire consequences have come about
for her and those around her.
Medea is the story of an estranged woman who wishes to seek revenge on
her husband (who has left her for another woman) by poisoning his new
wife. This, however, is made more difficult when the King of the land,
Creon, tells Medea to leave, mainly because he is scared of her. She
appeals to him for one more day to sort things out, and uses
persuasion by making him feel pity for her when she says "This one day
let me stay, to settle some plans for my exile…since their own father
is not concerned to help them. Show some pity: you are a father
too…their fate is very hard".
Medea tells the Chorus, a group of women from Corinth that this one
day is all she needs to get her revenge.
Jason visits Medea and offers to give her money for her and her sons
but she proudly refuses it. He leaves, feeling smug that he has what
he wants.
Aegeus, king of Athens and old friend of Medea's, enters. Aegeus is
childless. Medea tells him of her problems, and asks for shelter in
Athens. She offers to help him to have a child as she has detailed
knowledge of drugs and medicines. Aegeus eagerly agrees. If Medea can
reach Athens, he will protect her. Medea makes the old king vow by all
the gods, which in Ancient Greece meant a promise that would never
ever be broken.
Medea decides to kill Jason's new wife and his father-in-law, (who is
in fact the King, Creon) by sending poisonous gifts. She then also
tells the chorus of her plans to kill her children for two reasons.
Firstly to hurt Jason, and secondly so they would not be killed by the
followers of Creon when they find out he is dead.
...
... middle of paper ...
...fferent kind: dangerous to my
enemies, Loyal to my friends."
Finally, Medea, at the end of the play has killed her own sons,
something that is not only tragic, but somewhat disturbing. In modern
times she may be perceived to be unstable, but perhaps all this
tragedy in her life has caused her to act in such a way. She is left
completely alone by the end of the play; no husband, no family, no
children, and her friends probably do not wish to speak to her. For
this reason I believe Medea to be the most tragic character. She will
be alone for the rest of her life because of her own actions.
Throughout time it has been said that human emotions are such that
they can lead us to commit atrocities. This is certainly true to
Medea's case. Through her actions dire consequences have come about
for her and those around her.