Euripides

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Medea

Persons in the DramaThe drama is set in the Greek City of Corinth Euripides

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Medea –originally from Colchis Jason – Medea’s husbandKing Creon -king of CorinthGlauce- the young daughter of CreonThe Chorus of Corinthian womenThe Nurse –nurse to the boysThe Tutor –teacher of the boysKing Aegeus of Athens, (passing by

Corinth)The two sons – young boys, sons of

Medea and Jason

Map of Ancient Greece – Corinth is in the province of

Achaia

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Jason

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Jason was born in Iolcus. His uncle Pelias stole the throne from Jason's father Aeson.

In fact Pelias wanted Jason killed at birth but his mother pretended he had died by mourning for him. She snuck him away to be brought up and educated by Chiron the Centaur.

Years later Jason returned to Iolcus to claim the throne that had been stolen from his father. Pelias sent him on a mission, full sure that he would fail.

If he could retrieve the golden fleece then he could claim the throne. The problem was that the golden fleece was in Colchis, this was the prized property of king Aeetes, king of Colchis, who was unlikely to let Jason take it from him.

What was the Golden Fleece?

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The Golden Fleece was the fleece, (coat) of a ramWhilst fleeing their homeland, Phrixus and Hells, two young

children were given a ram, by the gods, with a golden fleece to take them away to safety.

The two were about to be sacrificed by their own people.The ram flew them away to safety, but on the way the girl

died. She fell off and drowned in the sea.Phrixus arrived safely in Colchis. King Aeetes welcomed him

and gave Phrixus his daughter in marriage.The ram was sacrificed and its fleece was hung up in a

sacred grove, protected by a serpent who never slept.Jason was sent on a errand to retrieve the fleece by Pelias.

No body expected him to achieve his goal and bring it back to Iolcus.

Jason

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Jason persuaded the Argonauts to join him on his quest to get the golden fleece. A special ship was constructed for the journey.

When the crew arrived at Colchis, King Aeetes was in no mood to relinquish the golden fleece to him.

He said if Jason could harness the fire breathing bulls, sow and reap a field of harvest in one day then he could have the golden fleece. With the help of Aphrodite, king Aeetes’ daughter Medea, fell in love with Jason.

Her help was to be vital in Jason's successful attempt to acquire the golden fleece.

Medea’s help

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Medea gave Jason some ointment to protect him from the bulls fiery breath. He smeared this over his body. This also protected him from the sharp brass feet the bulls had. These brazen hooves could slice a man in two as he walked among them trying to harness them to the plough.

When Jason had completed the job of sowing an reaping the harvest he was directed to the golden fleece.

However the fleece was guarded by a serpent, whose eyes were always watching it. Medea made the serpent go to sleep, (another one of her potions) and Jason was able to take the golden fleece from its resting place.

He and Medea sailed away from Colchis on the Argo, (his ship).

Medea’s Crimes.

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Before Jason and Medea sailed away, they took Absyrtis, her younger brother, with them. King Aeetes pursued the Argo frantically. He did not want the pair to get away.

Medea decided to kill her brother and chop him up into parts. The boys body was thrown behind the Argo. Aeetes had to stop to pick up the different parts of his sons body, so he could give his boy a proper burial. This slowed him up and allowed the Argo to get a way.

When Jason and Medea arrived at Iolcus, she restored Jason's father to his youthful self.

Medea slit his throat and poured a potion into him, he came back to life as a younger man.

Medea offered to do the same for Pelias, Jason’s uncle, but when his daughters killed him, Medea did not give them the potion to restore him again. The daughters fell for Medea’s treachery and Pelias remained dead.

Jason and Medea had to flee Iolcus – they arrived at Corinth. The city gave them refuge. They were both exiles from their homelands.

The Medea and Jason story would have been known to the Greek audience. Before you read the drama, you must know about the myth. Several time in the play Medea refers to the Golden Fleece and the help she had given to Jason.

“Jason has betrayed my Lady”Medea and Jason had been in Corinth for some years as, “exiles”. The drama opens with a nurse declaring that she rues the day the pair ever set foot in the city of Corinth.In lines 1-10, we find out that Medea helped Jason retrieve the Golden Fleece, but she also committed a crime – she incited Pelias’ daughters to kill their father. The erstwhile lovers have ended up in Corinth.However, Jason has “betrayed my lady and his own children for a princesses’ bed, he has married the daughter of Creon, “ruler of this land”. The nurse tells us that Medea is distraught, “melting each passing hour with tears”, wondering why Jason has broken his marriage oaths to her and acted dishonourably. Medea has shunned company and food. She cannot understand why Jason has betrayed her.

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“a man who now treats me with contempt”

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As well as wallowing in self pity, “O father dear my country my homeland I have betrayed” L31 – the nurse also says that Medea hates her children and “ takes no pleasure in seeing them”.

More ominously the nurse declares, “My fear is she will hatch some unheard of scheme”, for Medea is no ordinary woman, “no one making an enemy of her will win an easy victory” L41.

Meanwhile, the tutor comes along with the two young boys. The young sons are oblivious to Medea’s torments, “their mother troubles don’t enter their heads”.

He had being tutoring the boys at he market place, where he had also over heard the older people gossiping about recent events

The Tutor and Nurse scene

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The tutor and the nurse talk about Medea. The tutor declares, “you mean the poor lady continues with her laments” L58. He lets it slip, that Medea is in for more bad news, (the nurse persuades the tutor to tell her what he knows about what is to happen to Medea).

He overheard a conversation between some “old fellows” who were playing games by “Pierene’s holy springs” –that Medea and her children are to be banished, driven out of Corinth, by King Creon.

The nurse wonders if Jason will tolerate this treatment of his children L71. The tutor declares that the old affections Jason has had, (Medea and his children) have given way, “this house has no claims on that mans heart now” .L77

The tutor ask the nurse to keep this news (about Medea’s banishment) a secret. She is also disgusted at the thought that Jason would allow his own children to be treated in this way. “Where he should be showing love, he’s proving to be a traitor” L85. The tutor says that Jason loves himself more than anyone else –and the children have lost their father’s love because “he now loves elsewhere” .L89

“your mother has a troubled heart and an angry one too”

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The nurse orders the children inside and ask the tutor to keep them out of sight, she says “I’ve already seen her, (Medea) glaring at them like a bull”. She says that the boys must be on the look out, considering Medea’s savage temperament.

The nurse says that Medea’s anger is like a gathering raincloud that will burst in a storm.

The nurse wonders, “What action will she take then, that proud, impassionate soul, so ungovernable now that she has felt the full sting of injustice”. L110

The nurse has quite insightful things to say about Medea’s dark personality

“I want you to die with your father, and all the house go to ruin”

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Medea, who is inside the palace and off stage, but can be heard by the spectators, utters the above phrase and this unnerves the nurse, who declares, “Oh you poor dears, (the boys), I’ve a terrible fear in my heart that you’ll come to some harm” L118.

The Chorus of Corinthian women arrive on stage chanting. They ask the nurse has Medea “softened”. They say they have heard her laments. They also say that they get no pleasure out of Medea’s misfortunes for they have chosen to “give it,(Medea’s household), their “loyal friendship”.

The nurse tells the chorus that Medea’s house has broken up, Jason is “captive of a princess’ bed” and “Medea pines her life away”, refusing to allow any friends to comfort her. L140

Medea screams off stage asking for her life to end – “oh to die and so find rest, leaving behind loathsome life”. L148

“If your husband worships a new bride do not let his faults in him vex you the Chorus says to Medea

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The Chorus say aloud that Medea, should not worry about Jason's betrayal, “Zeus will aid you in seeing justice”. L158

Medea can be heard inside saying that she wishes to see Jason and his new bride utterly ruined. She prays to Themis and Artemis. She says she had forsaken her own home land Colchis, “when I took my own brothers life”. L169

The chorus tell the nurse to bring Medea out to meet them. They hope that their support will calm her anger, “tell her we also wish her well and lose no time, before she does harm to those inside” .L182

The nurse says she will do as she is asked, weary of the fierce look that Medea throws at the servants who approach her.

The Chorus an Medea –L205-270

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Medea come out of the palace to meet the chorus –She says “there is no justice in the eyes of men”. She says that this unexpected blow, (Jason's betrayal) has wrecked her confidence. She declares, there is no pleasure left in life and that she is she is finished. She yearns for death.

“The man who was the world to me..has proved to be the foulest of traitor, my own husband”! L229

She tells the Chorus that women are “most miserable specimens”. When a man gets bored with married life he can go outdoors and find relief to his “frustration”. But women can only have one partner. Women, men say, live a sheltered life indoors –free from danger, while men “wield their spears in battle”.

Medea tells the Chorus that she is her husbands “cruel plaything” that he brought back with him from a foreign land. She vows to make her husband pay for causing her this suffering. She says that while women might be “cowards at the sight of steel, (swords, battle, etc), “but wrong a woman in love and nothing on earth has a heart more murderous” L265

The Chorus agree that “it is just that you should take revenge on your husband”. They say that Creon is approaching with news of a “fresh decision.”

Medea and Creon

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Creon arrives on stage an orders Medea with “her sullen looks and angry feelings against her husband”, out of Corinth, along with her two sons. Medea, who declares, “I am ruined, utterly ruined” asks the king why is she to be banished from the land.

Creon replies, “I fear you..will do some harm to my daughter” L.284. He says that she (Medea) is a sorceress and is “no stranger to dark knowledge”.

Creon tells her, that he knows, the loss of Jason has also vexed her. More importantly, however, Creon tells Medea that he has heard that she has threatened to do him, his daughter and Jason some “harm”.

Creon says that he will protect himself and his family before this happens. He declares, “better for me to be hateful now in your eyes, than to be talked around by you and regret it bitterly in the future” L.290

“have no fear of me Creon, my circumstances at present do not encourage me to offend kings” L305

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Medea assures Creon that she means him no harm, she says that Creon merely gave his daughter’s hand in marriage to the man of his choice, “my hatred, (Medea says) is reserved for my husband”. She declares that Creon has every right to pursue his plans and prays that the new marriage will be blessed, along with his house.(note that Medea is being utterly insincere here).

Creon says he has misgivings about her words, “in your heart you are hatching some terrible plan” L308. This makes him even more suspicious. Creon fears a hot headed woman who can “hold her tongue”.

Creon, who is losing patience with Medea, informs her to get out of the city – her “skill with words will not keep you in our company, when you are my enemy”. L 320

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Medea begs Creon not to be banished, in the “name of your daughter” she adds, “do you mean to drive me out and show no respect for my prayers” L326.

Creon impatiently says to Medea, “out you foolish woman and rid me of my troubles”. He even threatens to have his servants “bundle” her out.

Medea goes to her knees begging Creon to reverse his decision.Medea finally asks Creon to allow her to stay for a day -she has

her children to cater for. You are a father also – she, cleverly reminds Creon, “my little ones should stir some kind thought in you”. L344

Creon, who is aware that he is making a mistake and admits this openly, “I see my own error” – agrees to grant Medea her wishes. Medea has one day to make her preparations. Creon says that if she is found inside the kingdom by the next morning, “you shall be put to death”. Creon then exits the stage.

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The Chorus ask Medea what will she do, where will she go?Medea tells them that the newly weds and Creon have “trials to

face” . She informs the Chorus that she intends to have this flattery, (which she has just shown to Creon) pay off. Medeas declares that on this day she will make corpses of her enemies, “father, daughter and husband, my husband”. She makes her intentions openly clear now –it is revenge she is after!

Medea wonders if she should set fire to the bridal chamber or steal into the palace and strike a sharpened “sword through their hearts”. She decides not to pursue these ideas because if she is caught inside the palace, she would be apprehended and her plans will fail leaving her enemies to have the last laugh.

Medea decides to use poison, which she is a “particular expert in”.However Medea does wonder what city will give her refuge if she

does kill her enemies, - nevertheless she vows to kill all of the enemies who have vexed her, - “we are women guite helpless in doing good but surpassing any master craftsman in working evil”. L 409

Jason and Medea L445-620

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Jason arrives on stage and rebukes Medea. She should accept the decision of those in power, especially those who have welcomed her into the city, “you speak your foolish mind and for this, exile is to be your reward” L450.

Jason says he can understand why she is angry at him, but with her harsh words against the royal house, she should “count yourself lucky that banishment alone is your punishment” L455.

Jason says that he has come “looking for her future” – while Medea may hate him he says he “could never wish her anything but good”, L465

“You unspeakable wretch.. You have come to face me as my worst enemy L468”

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Medea, (who is very angry with Jason) outlines what she has done for him. She informs him “you owe your life to me”. She helped him harness the fire breathing bulls, -she helped him retrieve the Golden Fleece from the serpant who was guarding it, she betrayed her father and her family to go with Jason to Iolcus, (his homeland). She also had a hand in the killing of Pelias, (Jason uncle who had stolen his fathers throne).

Medea wonders why Jason has betrayed her – he is the father of their children too. Medea also wonders how he can honour the marriage so badly?

Medea asks Jason where she is to “turn to” now – in the light of her banishment. She cannot go back to Iolcus or her own land Colchis. She tells Jason that she is “hated” by the very people who should love her, because she has done things to “please Jason”.

Medea asks why she and the boys are to “be cast into exile without a friend to help” her, “a splendid reproach to this new bridegroom, that your children and I who saved you should wander the world as beggars”. L-514

Jason says to Medea, “in saving me you gained more than you gave”

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Jason replies to Medea, declaring what she has also gained from her marriage with him.

Jason tells Medea that he has brought her to a civilized country, (Greece), where she has come to know, “Justice and the use of law” rather being subject to force.

He also says that her “special gifts” became known to all the Greeks and that her name is renowned, (had she remained in Colchis these gifts would not have been known widely).

Jason also says that his new marriage will also allow them (Medea and the children) to “live comfortably and not go without anything” L-560.

Having produced brothers for his sons, (through this new marriage) – this would result in the two families being put on a equal footing and the marriage would guarantee Jason's “prosperity”.

Jason concludes: “there should have been some other means for mankind to reproduce itself, without the need for the female sex, this would rid the world of all its troubles” . L-577

When the Chorus had listened to Jason's arguments for his new marriage they say, “you have betrayed your wife and are behaving unjustly”.

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Medea retorts “spare me your courteous looks and polished words now” –she says that Jason should have informed her openly about this new marriage pact instead of keeping it a secret. Jason asks Medea would it have made any difference if he told her about this marriage, would she have supported it? Medea says that Jason was ashamed of being married to a foreigner, (i.e., herself). This marriage to her would “detract” from that great name of his as “old age grew near”.

Jason replies that the new marriage was to have children that would become related to his existing children thus “providing security for my family” .L586

When Medea informs Jason that he has a secure home while she has not, Jason informs her that this is her own fault and that there is no point blaming anyone else. Medea tells Jason, what did she do, “I took you for a husband, did I betray you”.

Jason tells Medea that he is willing to provide financial help to her or direct her to people who owe him favours. Jason advises Medea that she would be mad to reject this help. Medea replies that she would be mad to receive any help fro Jason. “Gifts from wicked people bring only harm” L618.

Jason concludes that Medea is only adding to her misfortunes by rejecting the help of those who only wish her well, “This is why your pain is all the greater”.

Medea tells Jason to return to his new bride, “you are wasting valuable time here outside the house, don’t disappoint her” L-624. Jason then departs

Medea and king Aegeus

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In the next scene, we meet King Aegeus of Athens. He arrived in Corinth, while on his way to Trozen, having come from Delphi, (the oracle of Apollo). He and Medea give each other a friendly welcome.

Medea asks him “where have you been, that you should visit this land” L667.

Aegues tells Medea that he was visiting the oracle of Delphi to find out, “how I might father offspring”, (he was childless), even though he tells Medea that he is a married man.

Aegeus informs Medea that the oracle gave him an obscure message - something about uncorking wineskins which he did not understand - so he was on his way to see his friend King Pittheus of Trozen.

This man might be able to explain the oracles’ prophecy to him, “he is a man of wisdom who has experience of such matters” . L686

Medea wishes him every success in this mission. Medea then talks to Aegeus about her troubles.

Medea and king Aegeus

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Medea tells Aegeus that she has been “wronged” ,by her vile husband. She tells him that Jason has taken a new wife. Aegeus cannot believe that he has done something so “shameful”.

Medea tells Aegeus that Jason has fallen in love with another woman. She tells Aegeus “loyalty” is not Jasons trademark. Aegeus replies, “Good riddance, then, if he’s a bad lot as you say”. L699

Medea says that Creon “gave his daughter” to Jason. Further more Medea declares that she is ruined, having been banished from the

country by Creon. Aegeus cannot believe that Jason has “allowed this”. Medea pleads with the king to receive her into his country i.e. Athens. She tells the king that she will “give him the power to father children” – she knows

“charms” to do this. Aegeus promises to give her a home in Athens after her banishment – but she has to

manage her own departure. Aegeus does not want to offend his “friends”. The implication here is that he does not want to cause trouble between himself an Creon.

Medea asks him to swear an oath, (much to his surprise) that he will not allow anybody to drag her from his land, after she has sought refuge there.

She gets Aegeus to swear to the gods that he will “not expel”, Medea from his land, L751. After swearing this oath to the Gods Aegeus departs, Medea concludes, “I will come to your city, once I have carried out my intention and achieved my wish” L755.

“I will triumph gloriously over my enemies” L755

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Medea’s tone changes completely, having secured a new home for herself, Medea tells the Chorus about her plans. She will sent a servant to fetch Jason. When he comes she will use “honeyed” words to persuade him that his new marriage is for the best and is “well thought out”. She will use “trickery” to kill the king’s daughter.

She will send the boys with gifts of a woven dress and a coronet. When Glauce puts these on “she shall perish horribly” because Medea will anoint these gifts with poison.

She then divulges that she will “kill her children”. She will wreak havoc for Jason and then quit the land. Medea declares that she will not “tolerate” her enemies mocking her. As for Jason, “never shall he see children born of me, (Medea) living in the years ahead, never father a child by his newly won bride, since she must meet a foul end through my poisons” .L805

The Chorus beg Medea, “do not do this thing”. They wonder if she will have the heart to kill her own children. Medea tells them, “by doing this ..I shall hurt my husband the most” L805. The Chorus say that in doing this act, “no woman will know greater misery”. A servant goes to fetch Jason.

The Chorus conclude this conversation by noting, “How will you look upon your children and in the act of slaying them refrain from weeping? When your children fall down to beg for mercy you will not be able to dip your hand in blood with a heart that does not falter”. L861

Jason and Medea’s second encounter L865-975

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Jason arrives and tells Medea that he is willing to listen to her new “request”.

Medea asks forgiveness for her earlier mood, she says, she rebuked herself for the harsh things said earlier and reproached herself for viewing as enemies those who were doing the best for her. She says she has realized the extent of her “folly”. She tells Jason that he has showed “good judgement” in making this new match with Glauce. Medea says she has come to a better “understanding of my situation”.

When the children arrive on stage Medea calls them over and asks them to say goodbye to their father assuring the boys, she has made “peace” and the “bitterness, (between her and Jason) is gone” L899.

Medea weeps as she takes hold of her children's hand, pretending that she is crying “with tears to think my quarrel with your father is finally over” L995

Jason falls for the act –”your heart has changed for the better now and at last you have come to a superior way of thinking” L910.

He also address the children saying that he has been thinking about them, he hopes that they will “be foremost in this land of Corinth”. He hopes to see them “reared in the proper fashion” etc. Medea temporarily has broken down, weeping. Jason is surprised and wonders why her cheeks has turned “pale”. Medea says she had been “thinking about the children”.

Medea asks Jason to get Creon to reverse the banishment to the boys. –Jason does not know if he can persuade him.

Medea says she will send the boys with wedding gifts to Glauce, “finery” given to her from her grandfather “Helios”. The boys will be given the gifts to present to Glauce.

Jason cannot understand why Medea has given away such fine gifts, “keep them for yourself” –Medea says that the presentation of these gifts might save the boys from exile.

Glauce might “entreat” her father Creon to let the children stay in Corinth, after receiving these gifts.

Jason and the boys depart

Medea with her two boys

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The Chorus chant aloud, noting that the sight of such fine gowns will persuade Glauce to try them on and that she will fall into the “trap”. They also declare that the all “un-knowing” Jason is bringing all this destruction about, “wretched man you are indeed deceived in your destiny” L989.

They also grieve for Medea “who will shed your children's blood to avenge your bridal bed” L1000.

The tutor arrives on stage and tells Medea that the children have been saved from banishment, (her plans have worked).

Medea declares “Oh misery”. The tutor cannot understand why she is not delighted with the news. Medea sends the tutor inside –she then turns to her boys.

Medea with her two boys.

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Medea address her sons saying that they will live for ever without a mother –her fate is “exile”. She will never see them grow up and get married etc.

Medea wonders why she went through the pains of labour.-never to see them take care of her in old age, or dress her grave with tender loving hands when she is dead.

For a moment Medea agonises as her boys look at her. In a moment of pity she says, “I cannot do it”, (i.e. kill them). She says she will bring her boys to Corinth, “goodbye to my plans”, (to kill the boys).

Then Medea rebukes herself for being weak, she will not have her enemies laugh at her, “to think I could have been so weak”. She adds “I shall not weaken my hand” .L1045

I will not leave my children to the mockery of my enemies”. In any case she says the deed with Glauce is already done, i.e. the poisoned gifts etc.

Medea takes the hands of her children and says, “you have lost this world thanks to your father. Medea sends the boys inside, unable to look at them any longer, because her sorrows “overwhelm” her.

Medea finally says she is well aware of the crime she is about to commit, but her “passion is master of her reason” L1080.

The Death of Creon and Glauce

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A messenger arrives from Glauce’s quarters. He urges Medea to flee the land because the princess and Creon have been killed by Medea’s “poisons”.

Medea replies, “this is a welcome piece of news”. Medea says she will count this messenger as a “friend” from this day on.

The messenger responds to her, “are you sane”, and wonders if she has no “fear of the consequences”. L1130

Medea instructs the messenger to tell the story of how they “perished”. She would be “twice as happy” to know if “they died in agony”.

The messenger describes the death of Creon and Glauce. He begins by describing the wide-spread delight that Medea and

Jason had solved their problems, (this is how it appeared). When Jason came to her with the boys, she initially turned away from them when she saw the sons. Jason persuaded her to not to “regard my family as your enemies”.

He asked Glauce to accept the gifts they were bringing, and “entreat your father, to spare my sons the penalty of exile for my sake” L1115

The death of Creon and Glauce

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When Glauce saw the gifts she “agreed to everything her husband said”. After Jason and the boys left, she put on the dress and coronet, admiring

herself in the mirror, arranging her hair this way and that way, and twirling about the room, delighted with her new garment.

However what followed was a “horrific sight”. The colour left Glauce’s face and she stumbled to the floor.

A woman servant who witnessed this, thought the gods had “attacked” Glauce’s “wits”. However, when the woman saw Glauce get up, cry out, and saw foam trickling over her lips, her eyes tolling and sticking out, and a “bloodless pallor” invade her flesh - the servant uttered a cry of “lamentation”.

Another servant rushed out to fetch Creon. Everybody was running about the palace- there was commotion all around.

However Glauce’s torments were just beginning. The garment and cornet “began to consume the wretched girls white flesh” . L1188

Medea twisted and turned attempting to get the garments and cornet off her.

But these efforts only increased her torments, “the flame burned twice as fiercely”

The Death of Creon and Glauce

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Eventually Medea sank to the floor, she lost her healthy “bloom”, blood mixed with fire was “dripping from her head”. The poison had done its job, her flesh had melted away. “She was dead”.

Creon arrived and flung himself on Medea’s body, kissing and caressing his beloved daughter. “Who has stolen you from me”. L1210

When Creon tried to separate himself from Glauce, whose body he was holding, “his aged frame.. stuck to her fine dress”. The more he struggled to free himself from his daughter, “he tore the withered flesh from his own bones” L1219

Eventually Creon died, “Together they lie in death, old man and young daughter”. L1120

The messenger concludes his speech by saying that punishment is in store for Medea. The men of reason, the thinkers of this world are “fools”. No one in this life “knows happiness”, etc.

Medea kills her children

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After hearing this news, Medea informs the Chorus that she is going to “kill her children”. She must do so without “delay” and then “quit the land”.

She urges herself to act quickly and “grip the sword” for the children “must die”. She says they she will have time later on for “weeping”. Medea then goes inside the house.

The Chorus pray to the gods to stop Medea from carrying out this act, “hold her back, drive her from the house”. L1260

Inside the boys cry for help, “Where can I escape my mothers hands”. The second son shouts, “We are to die”. Cries of “save us” come from inside.

The last word from the boys declare “for heaven sake save us”, “ we stand already in the shadow of the sword”.

All this action takes place off stage –we cannot see the murders but we can hear the boys.

Jason declares “does she, (Medea) suppose, she can shed the blood of this land’s king and of his daughter, and then escape scot free herself from the house” L1300

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Jason arrives on stage looking for Medea. He knows she has killed Creon and Glauce. Jason declares he is worried for his children. He thinks the king’s enemies may seek revenge on his family, for Medea’s “impious act of murder”, (although he is not too concerned for Medea). He says he is “here to save them from harm”. L1304

The Chorus tell Jason that he has no idea of the “depth of your misfortune”. Jason responds to this by wondering does Medea intend to “kill me as well”.

The Chorus tell Jason, “your children are dead by the hands of their mother” L1300.

The Chorus tell him that he will find his dead sons inside the house, where Medea has murdered them.

Jason orders the doors of the house to be opened.

Medea’s escape

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Medea wonders why the doors of the palace are shaken. She tells the servants, that they will never “lay their hands” on her. Her grandfather, the sun-god, has given her a chariot, “to keep [her] from [her] enemies.

Jason shouts at Medea, calling her an “abomination” – she, the mother who plunged a sword into her own sons and “robbed me of life as well as sons”. L1322

He wonders why he brought Medea from a barbarous land to Greece. He refers to her previous crime, i.e. killing her own brother on board the Argo.

He tells Medea that she killed her own children, “because I chose to leave your bed” L1340.

Jason finally says that his insults “would not touch Medea’s conscience”.

The end of the play

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Jason summarises his present condition, “Now I must bemoan my fate, no joy for me in the marriage lately made, no words of greeting from my sons I fathered and raised up, they were alive but now are lost to me”. L1350

Medea responds to Jason that he and his new bride were not going to “trample on my love and live a life of pleasure, laughing at me” L1355. Nor was she going to let Creon, “who made this match of yours” cast her out of the land “without regretting it”.

When Jason tells Medea that she will also feel pain, and will share in his “suffering”, Medea replies, “my pain is cancelled now that any mockery of yours is silenced”

The end of the play

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Medea tells Jason, “O my sons, your fathers wickedness has caused your deaths”, his lustful heart and that “new marriage” of his.

Jason cannot believe that his sons were killed because “he loved another”. He declares the gods know the “rottenness of your, (Medea’s) heart”.

Medea says she is tired of listening to Jason’s “whining”.Jason asks Medea to allow him to bury and weep for his boys.She replies, “never”, she will bury them herself in the temple

of “Hera of the Cape”. She will not have her enemies mocking her dead sons or violating their tombs.

She says that she will hold a ritual “to atone for this impious bloodshed”. She will then go to Athens. Medea also prophesises the ignominious death of Jason, who will be struck on the head by part of his own ship, the Argo.

The end of the play

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Jason prays that Medea will be struck down by the “curse” of her avenging children.

Medea tells Jason that no God will listen to him, who is “a breaker of oaths”.

Medea tells Jason to go inside and bury his wife. She tells him, “you do not know lamentations yet, wait until you are

old”. L1394 He cries out “my dear children”, Medea responds she killed them to

cause Jason, “pain”. Jason says he longs to kiss his children goodbye, he asks to be

allowed to “touch their soft skin”. Medea tells him that this cannot be, “your words are utterly in vain” .

Jason asks the Gods to witness this, (i.e. not being allowed to say goodbye to his boys). He says he wished he never fathered children to see them later destroyed.

Medea disappears taking her boys with her The Chorus conclude the play by declaring that the gods have their

own way of doing things. They allow the unexpected to happen, and this is what has “turned out here today”.

Questions1. Summarise the first Medea and Jason

scene. Focus on what Medea tells Jason and his defence/reasons for marrying Glauce.

2. Summarise the deaths of Creon and Glauce and comment on Medea’s reaction to this.

3. Summarise the third encounter between Jason and Medea.

4. Why is Medea allowed to escape?

Themes for Higher Level

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Was Medea “Justified” in killing her boys?

The theme of kingship, particularly looking at Aegeus and Creon.

The three scenes involving Medea and Jason, particularly looking at Jason's defence for his remarriage, and Medea’s change of heart in the 2nd encounter.

The scene between Medea and Creon.

The role of the Chorus in the drama.

The role of children, (Glauce, the boys) and how they are used in the play.

The end of the play! Is is unsatisfactory, given that Medea escapes unpunished.

Be able to describe the death of Creon and Glauce.

Medea as an outsider – i.e., reference to her dark arts, her past crimes, her foreign origins etc.

The psyche of women –what does this play say about the position of women in Greek society.

Medea a woman who hates and loves in equal measure.

Sympathy for Jason?

Scenes for Ordinary Level

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How did Medea help Jason before they arrived in Corinth?

What is Medea’s reaction to his new marriage.

Why does Creon want her banished.

How does Medea persuade him to allow her to stay for another day.

The 1st scene between Jason and Medea –what does she say about why she has given Jason.

How dies Jason defend his new marriage.

Describe the scene between Aegeus and Medea, why is he in Corinth, what does she tell him, and how does she persuade him to let her stay in Athens.

How has Medea changed in her attitude to Jason, what does she say she is going to do –the second scene with Jason.

What does she give to Glauce, why does she do it and how are the gifts presented.

Describe in detail the deaths of glauce and Creon.

Be able to describe the final scene between Jason and Medea

What is the Chorus reaction to Jason.

What is the Chorus reaction to Medea when she tells them that she is going to kill the boys.

Was Medea right to kill her boys to get revenge on Jason – did Jason deserve this?