Medea

Question 1

Who is the author?

Answer 1

Euripides

Question 2

Who are the main characters?

Answer 2

Jason (from Iolcos), Medea (from Colchis), Creon (from Corinth), Creusa, Aegeus

Question 3

What are some themes in the story?

Answer 3

Misogyny, Xenophobia, Sophistry

Question 4

Explain the background of the play

Answer 4

• centered around a wife’s calculated desire for revenge against her unfaithful husband
• Play is set in Corinth
• King Creon of Corinth asks Jason to marry his daughter Creusa

Question 5

What is the premise of the story?

Answer 5

• Medea is upset at Jason for his betrayal who is marrying Creusa because she is noble and royal and not a barbarian like Medea
• Fearing Medea’s wrath, Creon sends Medea into exile
• Medea asks for one extra day to prepare for her departure
• Medea then speaks with the King of Athens (Aegeus)
• He tells her all about his inability to have children to which she replies that he will give him something to treat his infertility if she is able to seek refuge in Athens
• Medea then returns to plotting the death of Creon and Creusa and is finding ways to cause the most pain to Jason
• She calls Jason one last time to apologize and to give gifts prior to her departure
• The gifts (golden robes given by the sun god Helios) are actually soaked in poison and are worn by Creusa leading to her death. As Creon came in contact with it, he also dies
• After sealing their fate, Medea decides to kill her sons whom she had with Jason in hopes of causing more pain
• she then appears above stage with her children in the chariot of the sun god Helios to escape to Athens.