Episode 3 Flashcards
How does Aegeus begin
“Greetings” as this is the Best way to start a conversation with Friends
What device is used
Stychomythia- friendliness, questioning to extract information
Where has Aegeus come from
Back From Phoebus’ oracle as he wanted to know how to beget offspring (importance of children)
He is married
Phoebus’ words were too clever for a mere man to interpret, Medea asks if she can know, he responds that a clever brain is certainly needed.
What did the Oracle say
“Not to loose the wineskin’s hanging foot” before He returns to the hearth of his fathers
Medea responds to why her eyes are dull and her skin wasted
Medea, he has a woman who supplants me as mistress of his house (sexually slighted woman, maybe Jason’s arguments were right)
Now I am being driven out
MEdea uses supplication
Medea uses supplication “I beg you by this your beard and your knees” receive me in your country at the hearth of your palace, I will put an end to your childlessness, through me you will beget children, I know the medicines for this (witchcraft?)
Aegeus agrees as long as
Agrees as long as Medea leaves on her own initiative, I want to be without blame in the eyes of my guests and my hosts alike (Creon is currently his host, Medea will be his guest)
How does Medea make sure that Aegeus sticks to his promise
Why does he agree
Medea asks him to swear oaths to the gods so he can’t hand her over to Creon or the house of Pelias. (Importance of oaths)
Argued does not refuse, safer for him to have some pretext to offer her enemies, he is convinced by her prudent argument)
Medea asks him to swear by the land of the Earth, her grandfather the Sun, and every God in addition. (A heavy oath)
never to cast me out of his land himself, to hand her over willingly to her enemies. To suffer the fate which falls on impious mortals.
The Chorus’ reaction to Aegeus
In their judgement he has appeared a noble man
Who does Medea pray to
to Zeus and Justice (thinks they are on her side) and light of the sun, my freinds
What does Medea think she will do
I shall win a glorious victory over my enemies
Ending of the nautical imagery
I will fasten my stern cable to Aegeus (this nautical imagery now ends, that of hand enters, she has abused the key Greek concept of appealing to the ties of friendship through supplication, she is no longer adrift, her worldly worries now focus solely onto her hands) by going to Athens
Reveals her plan to the chorus
Don’t expect to hear my words with pleasure (she knows the chorus will be appalled)
she plans to trick Jason and win him over, but ask that the children stay. plans to kill the Kings daughter, as the children will bare gifts in their hands (delicate robe and a golden garland) she will die horribly (doesn’t plan to kill Creon)
I shall kill my own children as she doesn’t want anyone to take them away from her, she knows this to be the unholiest of deeds (family is sacred). I will wreck havoc on the house of Jason
Why will she carry out her horrific deeds
Laughter from my enemies is not to be endured. Jason will never see his sons alive again and will have no sons by his newly wed bride
How does she want to be seen
Let no one thing of me ass weak and submissive. Think of me as a woman of a very different kind: Dangerous to my enemies and good to my friends (D.L Page calls this Moral excellence in Ancient Greece consisted of no less)