Medea lines Flashcards
opening scene 0 - 271
Introduces the motif of the children, invokng pathos from the audience. The nurse and tutor lament over Medea and her kids. Medea enters and makes a speech on her misery and the misery of women. The fact her speech was preceded by minor characters increases the effect. This scene also gives context to the main conflict. Creates tension through speculation, which is increased by the use of foreshadowing in this scene.
Creon and Medea
272 - 357
Creon enters and tells medea that he wants to banish her, because he is afraid of her intelligence and wrath - that she might hurt his daughter. Medea supplicates him by grabbing his hand, forcing a connection and manipulates him into giving her 24 hours to leave. Showing how clever she is, and demonstrates that alot of the time she is acting. Despite creon anticipating manipulation she still succeeds showing her power.
Medea and the chorus 1
358 - 445
she rejoices in her success at supplicating creon, and reveals that she plans to kill him, his daughter and Jason but is worried what place will take her after, and that she is prepared to die for revenge. The chorus then laments medeas misfortune.
medea and jason no.1
446 - 663
Medea confronts Jason, and they both argue over who is at fault. theme of sexually slighted women. Jason believes he has the rational argument, and that he is supirior and correct. His concern is how he is presented to others, hers is distraught over the betrayel. Note, Jason would have had time to prepare his speech, medea has just been exiled and is not in the emotional state. Choral ode on exile
Medea and Aegeus
664 - 865
Medea goes from having no definite plan to having one, Aegeus is the only man to act friendly to medea. She supplicates him and gets a place of refuge unconditionally. Her second address to the chorus is more sinister as she reveals her plan to kill her children. Her talk with Aegeus and promise to give him heirs, makes her realise that this is the worst way to hurt a man, remove heirs. The chorus show fear for the future of Athens.
Jason and Medea no. 2
866 - 1120
Convinces Jason the kids must stay, makes him allow them to give gifts to the royals, Medea is seem to appeal to Jason’s way of thinking, by her saying he’s right - him believing that will believe her. Medeas tears are both real and act, the context of the conversation she is not, put is mourning for her children. She uses the children to further evoke pathos and get what she wants.
The deaths and ending
1121 - end
Medea reflects on what is about to happen, compared to ino who was sent mad and killed herself and her children - Medea will be different because she is same. The play progresses rapidly after this. When she confronts Jason he is more a picture of petty rage. He did not care until his children were dead and untouchable. Roles have swapped, Jason is now begging. Her chariot suggests she has been accepted by the gods and actions deemed justifiable. She has cut all ties to her mortal life
Plays ending.
The ending scene brings a breathless feeling of overwhelming tension that never gets resolved, the play has no catharsis but does evoke a reaction from the audience. In this sense the play is not conventional because it is a revenge tragedy so evil vs evil has to win (so cannot be conventional) and by burying her children in a sacred place Medea will become free of guilt.
