Medea: Study Questions Flashcards
- Why does the play begin with the speeches of secondary characters?
The Nurse and Tutor set the stage, providing background on Medea’s suffering and foreshadowing her revenge, building tension before Medea appears.
- How is a feeling of tragic inevitability established?
Prophecies, Medea’s vengeful nature, and the chorus’ warnings all suggest that disaster is unavoidable, reinforcing the play’s tragic trajectory.
- What is the significance of ‘exile’ in the play?
Exile symbolizes Medea’s isolation, powerlessness, and loss, fueling her rage and justifying her extreme actions against Jason.
- What is the attitude of the chorus of women towards Medea and her plight in Corinth?
Initially sympathetic, they understand her suffering but later recoil from her extreme vengeance, particularly her decision to kill her children.
- What is the significance of Medea’s ‘sorcery’ and her connections with the supernatural? Are these attributes seen as positive or negative by the other characters in the play?
Her magic grants her power and autonomy, but other characters fear it as dangerous and unnatural, reinforcing her outsider status.
- What is her attitude to her children? Why does she destroy them?
She loves them but sees their death as necessary revenge against Jason, ensuring he suffers ultimate pain.
- What is Creon’s function in the play?
Creon represents patriarchal authority and political power; his fear of Medea’s cunning leads to his downfall.
- What motivates Jason?
Jason seeks social advancement and stability, justifying his betrayal of Medea as practical rather than cruel.
- What is the effect of the Messenger’s detailed description of the death of Creon’s daughter?
The vivid, gruesome imagery heightens horror and reinforces Medea’s ruthless power, making her revenge feel both triumphant and monstrous.
