Analysis of Euripides, Medea.
Analysis of Euripides, Medea.
In this paper I will analyze and dissect the written play Medea, and give direct supporting evidence of my interpretation, from the play and my knowledge of the Greek theatre acquired in chapter 3 and 11 in The Enjoyment Of Theatre. Euripides great tragedy Medea, although written in 431 B.C. is a very true to life story in today’s world. It is about a woman betrayed by her husband, and how her jealousy and overwhelming pain drive her to seek revenge on her husband and his new family. What intrigues me most about this play is that a story with an idea of woman’s revolt, would be written in a society and time in which it was unheard of for a woman to up rise and defy her authorities in such a way as Medea did. I also enjoy the language in which it is written, being a much easier read than any other play of this time. This play is a tragedy from the beginning. We begin by learning of Medeas troubles and the pain she is enduring because of her husband’s betrayal. Her husband Jason leaves Medea and their two sons to marry Creons daughter, who is of royal blood. This causes Medea to become, by Aristotle’s definition, “the great tragic protagonist”(pg.182). She dwells on her sadness, which with the addition of her banishment by King Creon, sadness turns into hatred and the need for vengeance. Although warned by a group of Corinthian women who state “ and if your husband devotes himself to some new bed, why get angry over that? Zeus will plead for you in this. Don’t waste your life away, with too much wailing for your husband.”(Line 181) Medea becomes more enraged and dark and we the reader start to see the beginning of this tragic downfall. Medea really goes from antagonist to protagonist very quickly as she starts to give up on life and loses all joy, she comes to the conclusion of what she must do to make everything right in her mind. In order to move on she cannot live knowing her enemies are living well and she
In this paper I will analyze and dissect the written play Medea, and give direct supporting evidence of my interpretation, from the play and my knowledge of the Greek theatre acquired in chapter 3 and 11 in The Enjoyment Of Theatre. Euripides great tragedy Medea, although written in 431 B.C. is a very true to life story in today’s world. It is about a woman betrayed by her husband, and how her jealousy and overwhelming pain drive her to seek revenge on her husband and his new family. What intrigues me most about this play is that a story with an idea of woman’s revolt, would be written in a society and time in which it was unheard of for a woman to up rise and defy her authorities in such a way as Medea did. I also enjoy the language in which it is written, being a much easier read than any other play of this time. This play is a tragedy from the beginning. We begin by learning of Medeas troubles and the pain she is enduring because of her husband’s betrayal. Her husband Jason leaves Medea and their two sons to marry Creons daughter, who is of royal blood. This causes Medea to become, by Aristotle’s definition, “the great tragic protagonist”(pg.182). She dwells on her sadness, which with the addition of her banishment by King Creon, sadness turns into hatred and the need for vengeance. Although warned by a group of Corinthian women who state “ and if your husband devotes himself to some new bed, why get angry over that? Zeus will plead for you in this. Don’t waste your life away, with too much wailing for your husband.”(Line 181) Medea becomes more enraged and dark and we the reader start to see the beginning of this tragic downfall. Medea really goes from antagonist to protagonist very quickly as she starts to give up on life and loses all joy, she comes to the conclusion of what she must do to make everything right in her mind. In order to move on she cannot live knowing her enemies are living well and she