Medea Quotes Flashcards
“[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.”
- nurse regarding Medea/ during prologues
m= dutiful wife & devoted to serving J.
M provides J with 2 sons= seen as exemplary
W identity revolves exclusively around loyalty and obedience to husband.
J rob M of identity by betraying her after everything she has done for him.
W are expected to carry burden of marriage by keeping it strong and functioning.
” he tore the withered flesh from his own bones”
-messenger describing Creon’s death
Messenger exposes M socery physically devours C’s body/ reinforces her animalistic capacity for violence.
Weaponisation of C’s love for Glance and he dies trying to protect her.
” what are you to suffer if you prove false to this oath?” M
“ the fate awaiting mortals who offend against the gods” A
“ Aegeus, You have a noble heart” C
A= faithful, respects the will of gods, understands imp. of acting inline with principle of sophrospyne and not hubris.
Implies A won’t break his oath to M, unlike Creon and Jason.
“ noble heart” = balanced, moderate, ideal role model for aud, respectful and kind.
” It’s clear that this anger will grow, soon enough her grief like a gathering cloud will be kindled by it and burst into a storm”
- nurse reg. Medea
Use of simile suggests violence release of anger and grief is inevitable.
“storm” = gathering momentum
“burst” depicts the violence, instability and danger.
” 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 it’s troubles”
- Jason to Medea during Agon
reveals patriarchy support for removing most basic aspect of femininity b/c annoyed that their power 7 control doesn’t extend to W body.
“ rid world of troubles” = arrogance b/c ignorant to recognise own privilege and power.
” all this I have done for you and yet you have betrayed me you unfeeling monster” M to J
“ He says he objects but he is prepared to tolerate it”
M to A
J’s lack of feeling + empathy combined with willingness to “ tolerate” his son’s exile justifies M’s anger.
“ unfeeling” = callous, cold, heartless.
“ monster”= lack of emotion, dehumanising.
J has too little feelings for others = great harm
” uphill flows the water of sacred rivers; nature and all things are overturned”
-chorus
chorus guide audience reaction + exp. state E’s values and views.
Action of men have far reaching consequences
Betrayal of oath causes a misaligned nature and unnatural phenomenon which threatens society.
consq= widespread, altering nature by defying gods, indiscriminate.
” In heaven’s name, let me touch my children’s soft skin”
- Jason to Medea at the end of the play
J= completely bereft, grieving for lost children
Transformed from man of logic to capable of strong emotions.
Pleading/ regretful/ longing/ pathetic/hollow/weak
desperate for limos/ status but taken away from him instantly.
J= eradicated, alone and his legacy destroyed.
W/a M once begged C in a position of helplessness & subordination, J now mirror M + other W, lack of agency.
” 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”
-j to m
seasoned= experiences
helmsman= captain of ship
J seeks royal oikos and status
J is not guilty or have lack of concern, feels safe and secure after he broke oath
M= ‘ Noisy protestations” = unreasonable, childish, implies women are ruled by their emotions.
” what men expect does not happen; for the unexpected, heaven finds a way”
- exodus speech/ ch. final message
Gods are in control of everything + mortals can’t predict what they will do.
Humans need to respect the power of the gods b/c if they don’t they can cause chaos.
” if 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” M
“ I will do as you ask, Medea, It is just that you should take revenge upon your husband.” C
C endorse M’s quest for revenge b/c they share feelings of social exclusions to oppression within patriarchal society.
M= recruit C as conspirators, calculating and cunning to win their support.
” Medea suddenly appears above the stage in a chariot drawn by dragons. Visible also to the audience are the corpses of her children”
- stage directions
Above the stage = position usually reserved for the gods, M= Demi god so position shows her power.
Gods approve of her actions
“ chariot” = a gift from G.F helios which allowed for her to escape.
M+J’s roles are now reversed J is emotionally crippled and abandoned, whilst M is escaping.
” I have shown wisdom, yes, and prudence and further that I have acted like a true friend to you and to my children”
- j to m
” wisdom and prudence” = care, caution, good judgement.
J tries to justify leaving them + his lack of concern or emotions
Claims marriage will boost Son’s fortunes and status.
” 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 by a husband, taking a master to play tyrant with our bodies ( this is an injustice that crowns the other one)”
-M to Women of Corinth
Men play tyrant with women’s bodies and present women as the helpless poverty of cruel + powerful men/ contrast what a real relationships should be
M ability to transition through extreme emotions challenges the stereotypes that women are subordinated and subjugated/ dominated by men is every aspect of society. Not escape injustice, leading voice to those disenfranchised and long silenced.
” I am well aware of how terrible a crime I am about to commit, but my passion is master of my reason”
- Medea in prep to kill children
Master = enslave, dominant, overruling, powering
tones= helpless, desperate
feelings of rage but also logic and morality
desire to revenge of J = stronger than her maternal love for her children.
allows herself to be controlled by emotions to commit this barbaric act of filicide.
” 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 ever way we beg you to not murder your children”
Chorus guide aud. reaction + explicitly state E’s values + views
M’s extreme plan to seek revenge against J = not endorsed by Chorus.
Chorus have supported M until now, considered acts as ‘ Just’ but ref. to filicide as it would break mankind’s laws.
tones= employees, desperate, powerless
