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?