Medea: BP3

Question 1

TS

Answer 1

Euripides asserts that disorder and instability within society can stem from both hubristic actions as well as the corruption and destruction of love, so we should focus on abiding by the principle of sophrosyne in order to maintain a steady balance between impulse and reason.

Question 2

Evidence 1

Answer 2

By utilising the Nurse’s speech in the prologos, Euripides is able to draw his audience’s attention to the safety that stems from having humble and prudent expectations. During her speech, the Nurse warns that ‘where love was once deepest, a cancer spreads.’

Question 2

Analysis 1

Answer 2

Here, the nurse foreshadows the sheer devastation and disproportion that can result from ambition, passion and ‘love,’ spreading endlessly and uncontrollably like a cancerous disease infecting society.

Question 3

Evidence 2

Answer 3

Additionally, Ageus further reinforces the need to abide by the principle of sophrosyne by living a pure, modest life with a ‘noble heart’, as any means of rebellion is considered an ‘offence against the gods.’

Question 4

Analysis 2

Answer 4

Through this, then, Euripides emphasises that living a ‘noble’ life of moderation and reason will preserve the harmonious balance between emotional instinct and logic within society.

Question 5

Evidence 3

Answer 5

The chorus also proclaims that ‘What men expect does not happen, for the unexpected always find a way’

Question 6

Analysis 3

Answer 6

Euripides continues to elucidate the futility of behaving with selfish ambition, as an individual’s fate will never change regardless, and is pre-written by the gods, furthermore, he advocates for his Athenian audience to balance compassion with logic and reason in order to make rational decisions.