Medea Flashcards
Nurse re: Medea / during Prologos
‘[Medea] seeks to please her husband in all she does. This is what keeps a marriage intact more than anything, when a husband can count on complete support from his wife.’
M = dutiful wife + devoted to serving J
Also provided him w/ sons-> position in society seen as exemplary
Medea to WoC / during Ep 1
‘Of all creatures that have life and reason we women are the most miserable of specimens! In the first place, at great expense we must buy a husband, taking a master to play the tyrant with our bodies (this is an injustice that crowns the other one).
Women of Corinth = low status / creates image of dehumanisation + despair
Men play ‘tyrant’ with women’s bodies - presents women as the helpless property of cruel + powerful men / image of women being held hostage
M believes that women give over all power to men via marriage + in return are abused + mistreated
Jason to Medea / during Agon
‘It seems I must prove myself a capable speaker indeed, my lady, and, like a seasoned helmsman, I must trim the edges of my sail to run before the tempest of your noisy protestations…’
Seasoned = experienced/ helmsman = captain of a ship
J = seeking royal oikos
J feels safe & secure even though he’s broken oath
J = ‘seasoned helmsmen’ calm, rational + capable of controlling tides of M’s emotions
M’s ‘noisy protestations’ make her seem unreasonable + childish / implies women are ruled by their emotions
Jason to Medea
‘I have shown wisdom, yes, and prudence, and further that I have acted like a true friend to you and to my children.’
J = lack of love + affection to M & children
Claims his new marriage will raise his sons’ fortunes
Lack of concern at parting w/ family
Boasts about clever decisions
Jason to Medea / during Agon
‘There should be some other means for mankind to reproduce itself, without the need for the female sex; this would rid the world of all its troubles.’
reveals that patriarchy would support removing most basic aspect of femininity b/c annoyed that their power + control doesn’t extend to women’s bodies
J holds women responsible for all problems in world / certain world would be better w/o women
demonstrates patriarchal arrogance b/c refuses to recognise own privilege + power
Chorus to M / as M reveals her plan to murder the children
‘I tell you, from a heart that wishes you well yet would not break mankind’s laws, do not do this thing.’
‘No, at your feet, by every means, in every way we beg you not to murder your children!’
Chorus guide audience reaction + explicitly state E’s views + values
M.’s extreme plan to seek revenge against J is not endorsed by Chorus
Ch. have supported M. unwaveringly up until now + considered her acts against J. and Cr. ‘just’ but refuse to support filicide as it would ‘break mankind’s laws’
Medea / Ep 4 as she prepares to kill the children
‘I am well aware how terrible a crime I am about to commit, but my passion is master of my reason’
M. wrestles with her decision to kill her sons
Feelings of rage override logic + morality-> filicide
Desire to get revenge against J. = stronger than her maternal love + allows her to commit barbaric act
Chorus
‘uphill flows the water of sacred rivers; nature and all things are overturned’.
Chorus guide audience reaction + explicitly state E’s views + values
Ch. explain that J has broken an oath that was made b4 Zeus-> disturbed the proper order
Ch. signal to aud. that the actions of men have far-reaching consequences
Stage directions / Ep 4
‘Medea suddenly appears above the stage in a chariot drawn by dragons. Visible also to the audience are the corpses of her children.’
‘mechana’ = crane
above the stage = position usually reserved for the gods / M. = demi-god so position shows her power
also implies that the gods approve of M.’s actions
Chariot drawn by dragons = gift form M.’s grandfather = sun god, Helios / he has sent M. an escape route
M. + J.’s roles reversed / J overpowered by emotion + M getting away with her crime
Medea: What are you to suffer, if you prove false to this oath?
Aegeus: The fate awaiting mortals who offend against the gods.
Chorus: Aegeus, you have a noble heart.
implies Aegeus won’t break his oaths / opposite of Cr. + J.
A. is deeply respectful of the gods + won’t go against them
Chorus declare he has a ‘noble heart’ – tells aud. that A. is doing the right thing + worthy of admiration
Exodus speech / Chorus’ final message to audience:
‘What men expect does not happen; for the unexpected heaven finds a way’.
‘What men expect does not happen’ = mortals’ lives can be changed easily
‘unexpected heaven finds a way’ = the gods are in control of everything + mortals cannot predict what they will do or who they will favour
Key idea: humans need to respect the power of the gods b/c if they don’t it can cause chaos.
Jason to Medea
‘In heaven’s name, let me touch my children’s soft skin’
J is completely bereft / grieving for lost children
Transformed from man of logic to man of feeling
Too little, too late
Medea
‘And so there is one small kindness I ask of you, if I devise some way of making my husband pay for this suffering of mine: your silence’
Chorus
‘I will do as you ask, Medea; it is just that you should take revenge upon your husband.’
Chorus endorse M’s quest for revenge b/c they share her feelings of social exclusion + oppression w/in patriarchal society
Medea to Jason
‘All this I have done for you and yet you have betrayed me, you unfeeling monster’
Medea to Aegeus
‘He says he objects, but he is prepared to tolerate it’.
J’s lack of feeling + empathy combined with willingness to ‘tolerate’ his sons’ exile justifies M’s anger
Too little feeling for others-> great harm
The Messenger describes Creon’s death:
‘he tore the withered flesh from his own bones’
M’s sorcery physically devours C’s body / reinforces her animalistic capacity for violence
