MedeaMedea

Before, During, and After Before, During, and After Euripides’ Euripides’ MedeaMedea

Medea: Character Profile

SorceressSorceress Priestess of Hecate, Priestess of Hecate,

goddess of goddess of underworldunderworld

Niece of CirceNiece of Circe Granddaughter of sun god Granddaughter of sun god

HeliosHelios Woman of great passionWoman of great passion

Jason

Jason’s uncle usurps Jason’s uncle usurps his throne in Iolchos; his throne in Iolchos; sends Jason on questsends Jason on quest

Jason seeks Golden Jason seeks Golden Fleece in M’s Fleece in M’s father’s kingdom father’s kingdom (Colchis)(Colchis)

Hera (Jason’s Hera (Jason’s protector) gets protector) gets Aphrodite to make Aphrodite to make M. fall for JasonM. fall for Jason

Promises Made M will help J get M will help J get

FleeceFleece J will marry MJ will marry M

M murders own M murders own brother to slow brother to slow father’s pursuit of father’s pursuit of JJJ marries MJ marries M

–They go to IolchusThey go to Iolchus

Promises Kept

Jason’s Kingdom

M tricks J’s cousins into killing their own fatherM tricks J’s cousins into killing their own father J doesn’t get kingdomJ doesn’t get kingdom J + M get driven out of town; flee to CorinthJ + M get driven out of town; flee to Corinth

Euripides’ Medea

J + M have 2 kidsJ + M have 2 kids J has betrayed MJ has betrayed M

– Engaged to Corinth Engaged to Corinth king Creon’s daughterking Creon’s daughter

King Creon banishes King Creon banishes M and childrenM and children

M kills Creon + M kills Creon + daughter, and her daughter, and her own kids in revengeown kids in revenge

M flees to Athens’ M flees to Athens’ King Aegeus in King Aegeus in Helios’ chariotHelios’ chariot

After the Play

M marries, has son M marries, has son with Aegeuswith Aegeus

Tries to poison Tries to poison Aegeus’ first son Aegeus’ first son Theseus (fails; is Theseus (fails; is banished)banished)

Goes back to Colchis, Goes back to Colchis, helps father get helps father get kingdom backkingdom back

Eventually becomes Eventually becomes immortalimmortal

J dies alone, in J dies alone, in obscurityobscurity

Piece of his own Piece of his own ship falls on himship falls on him

Things to Consider

Who would the Who would the ancient Greeks ancient Greeks blame for the blame for the tragedy?tragedy?

Who do you blame?Who do you blame? What is Euripides’ What is Euripides’

opinion of women?opinion of women? What relevance does What relevance does

this story have for this story have for modern readers?modern readers?