Medea Flashcards
Jason to Medea/ during Argon
“It seems i must prove myself a capable speaker indeed, my lady, and, like a seasoned helmsmen i must trim the edges of my sail to run, before the tempest of your noisy protestations”
-J represents those who claim to value justice+ integrity but in reality are greedy, dishonest + vengeful. royal
oikos
-Noisy protestations sugg M = wild+inferior barbarian
- J X living by principle of sophrosyne -> punished
-Aud = encouraged to reflect on own actions + Q if actions=match values
-] views himseif as natually superior
Medea/ 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 monster to palsy tyrant w our bodies (this is unjust that crowns the other one)
-WOC= Low status / creates image of dehumanization -> despair
-Men=play ‘Tyrant’ w women bodies
-Present women as the helpless property of cruel+ Patriarchal men+ image of women being held hostage powerless/ power = lies w husband
Nurse re: Medea/during prologue
‘[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
-M= provided him w sounds=Position in society is seen as exemplary for M
Nurse about Medea
“ its clear this anger will grow; soon enough her grief like a gathering cloud will be kindled by it and burst into a storm”
-Simile sugg. Violent release of anger+grief is inevitable
-‘storm’ shows gathering momentum+v. ‘burst’ shows violence, instability inevitability->danger
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 prefared to tolerate it”
-J’s lack of feelings+empathy combined w willingness to tolerate his sons exile justifies M’s anger
-too little feelings for others->great harm
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 endorses M’s quest for revenge b/c they share her feelings of social exclusion+oppression w/in patriarchal society.
Jason->Medea/@ end of the play
“In heaven’s name, let me touch my children’s soft skin’
-J=completely bereft/grieving for lost children
-Transformed=man of logic->man of emotion
-Too little, Too late
Exodus speech/ Chorus final message to aud.
“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’=Gods in control of everything+mortals cannot predict what they will do or who they will
-Key idea: Humans need to respect the power of the Gods b/c if they don’t it can cause chaos
Medea: “what are you to suffer, if you prove false to this oath?
Aegeus: The fate awaiting mortals who offend against gods
Chorus: Aegeus, you have a noble heart
-A=x break oath=opposite of C+J
-A= deeply respectful of the Gods+x go against them
-Chorus=declare A=‘noble hear’=implies to aud. doing the right thing=worthy of admiration
“Medea suddenly appears above the stage in a chariot drawn by dragons, visible also to the aud. Are the corpses of her children”
-Above stage=position reserved for Gods/M=Demi-god=shows her power
-Implies Gods=approve M actions
-‘Chariot drawn by dragons’=gift from Helios sun God+M’s grandfather/sent escape route
Chorus
“Uphill flows the water of the sacred rivers; nature and all things are overturned;”
- Chorus guide aud. reaction + explicitly sate E’s views+values
-Chorus exp. J= broken Oath=made b4 zeus-> disturbed the proper Order
-Chorus=signal aud. Actions of men=far-reaching consequences.
Medea/EP4 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 w her decision to kill her sons
-feelings of rage override logic+morality->filicide=kill her children
-Desire to get rev. On J=stronger than material love+commits barbaric act
Chorus->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 aud. reaction+explicitly state E’s views+values
-M’s extreme plan to seek rev. Against J x endorsed by Chorus
-chorus supp. M unwavering until now+considered acts against J+CR=‘just’ but x support filicide as it ‘breaks mankind’s law’
Jason to Medea/During Agon
“There should be some other means for mankind to reproduce itself, without the need for the female sec; this would rid the world of all its troubles.’
-reveals that patriarchy would supp. Remaining most basic aspect of feminity b/c annoyed that their power+control x extended to women’s bodies
-J=women respons. For all problems in world/ better w/o women
-demo. Patriarchal arrogance b/c refuses to recognize own privilege+power
Jason to Medea
‘I have shown wisdom, yes, and prudence, and further that i have acted, like a true friend to you and my children.
-J=lack of love+affection to M+children
-Claims his new marriage=raise his sons fortunes
-Lack of concern at parting w family
-Boasts about clever decisions
