Episode 5 Flashcards
How does the tutor come in, why
comes in cheerful (poignant irony)
The children are no longer to be exiled, it is all peace for them
why are you sad, “aren’t you glad to hear what I have just said?” (Jason said this)
“One of these days your children will bring you home” (to the underworld?)
Medea’s response to the tutor
Medea “I shall bring others to peace before I” sinister
Tutor’s response to MEdea
Tutor “since we are human we must bear our troubles lightly”
Medea addresses the children, talks as if there is still hope for them
“O children,children” you have a city and a home. I shall go into exile before I can see you prosperous and witness your marriage.
What had she hoped for from the children
I trusted once that you would care for me in my old age and wrap my body in my shroud when I died, an enviable lot for mankind (they wanted them to outlive them as it meant they would be assured proper burial rites which would admit them to the underworld).
Deprived of her children (as they are able to remain in Corinth)
Deprived of you I will live a life full of grief and pain. You will never look on your mother with loving eyes an longer when your way of life has been changed.
She cant kill her chidren
I can’t do the deed, my plan is changed.
By paining their father, I will suffer twice as much agony myself. I will not do it (we are relieved, but due to myth we are especially scared)
Why does she then believe she must kill her children
What is wrong with me? Do I want to make myself ridiculous by letting my enemies go unpunished? Shame on my cowardice, these are weak thoughts.
A sacrifice
“Those for whom it is not right to be present at my sacrifice- that is a matter for them” (grim and horrific, she twists the formula that proceeds a ritual, warns unsuitable persons to keep away. A blasphemous distortion of the real nature of this act of vengeance, to view the murder of her children as a sacrifice)
Can’t decide what to do
“do not my heart do not do this, poor heart -spare the children” (the heart wants to save them), they will make you happy in Athens (selfish?) but I will leave my children to be insulted by my enemies, there’s no alternative- they must die (the Corinthians will kill them, but they are innocent, Jason could protect them).
She believes they will die anyway
Since they will die, I who gave them birth shall kill them
The thing is done, the princess will not escape, she is already dying, I know it well.
Hands
give me your right hands children to kiss, O dearest of hands
MAy they find peace elswhere there is no happiness here, blames jason
may you find joy but elsewhere (underworld, but never a chance to get to the Elysian Fields without A life such as Jason had imagined)
Your father took away your chance of happiness here (this is flawed logic)
Fury
My fury against Jason is stronger than my counsels of softness
It is fury that leads to the greatest evils for mankind (she realises she has become evil, a giant humanity)
