Oppression results in Rebellion A Psychological study of

“Medea” by Euripides.

SUBMITTED TO: Ma’am Nazneen

SUBMITTED BY: IQRA ANDLEEB
ROLL NO:22021702-014
DEGREE PROGRAM: M. PHIL (LITERATURE)
DEPARTMENT: ENGLISH (LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE)
FACULTY: FACULTY OF ARTS
CAMPUS NAME: HAFIZ HAYAT CAMPUS

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Abstract:

“Medea” is a famous Greek tragedy which is written by Euripides. The first time, it is
performed in 431 BC. It reflects the life of a female who revolts against the patriarchal Greek society. In
Ancient Greek society. As she kills her own children along with the murder of Jason’s wife and Creon.
She is portrayed as a woman who is an embodiment of jealousy, and the power of revenge is her greater
trait. Medea’s feelings of sheer anger and jealousy are explicit as a deriving force of her behavior.
Although she is a woman of despair and due to her guilt and cruel nature, She became a symbol of the
oppressed woman. She appears as a representative of other oppressed ladies. Deep analysis and reading
of this Ancient Greek tragedy, is done, extensively influencing the literature of the world of arts, through
a psychological lens. The analysis of the protagonist’s mental state is done with textual quotations
( Morwood J, 2008). Euripides’ description of Medea gives the reflection of an individual’s
psychological plight who is mentally ill and is an example which is called theatrical “madness.” Those
persons who are Medical practitioners should also read this play as they can get an insight from the way
the author depicts Medea’s psychological state. They can expose the madness of theatre and can evaluate
the attitude of the protagonist.

Keywords:

Operation, Rebellion, Disloyalty, Patriarchal norms, psychological trauma.

Introduction:

Euripides, made extensive changes in the conventional setup of Greek society. In this play, the
protagonist appears as “justice to the unjust” At that time, The character of Medea appears quite different
from the other woman of Greek society. She symbolizes change. This play gives rise to a new era in
Greek dramas. Where women are submissive and meek.

Medea has been shown as a heroic figure from the very start of this play. She is the earlier figure in Greek
drama who appears as a voice of the new order. She challenges Athenian Male Oriented society.
(Hendrickson, 2017). States that “she appears as a move to Greek customs which emphasize the idea that
woman should be controlled” As a character, women in Euripes believe in the control of females’
authority, which is directly against the male-oriented society.

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Research Objectives:

To expose the evilness in human nature of patriarchal Greek society.

To analyze the play from a psychological perspective.

To find out how Medea resists in the male dominant society.

Research questions:

1. What are the sacrifices Medea makes for the sake of Jason’s love?

2. How Medea undergoes psychological trauma due to Jason’s disloyalty and

hypocrisy?

Literature review:

Medea appears in this play as an embodiment of grief and anger. Her plight is that of the injured
enemy who cries with anger in pain. Medea’s jealousy is a deriving force in her behavior which shows
her plight as an oppressed woman. The way Euripides describes Medea as the representer of one’s
psychology who is psychologically unfit due to excessive emotions of pride and power and
represents an evident example of female “madness.” (Morwood J, 2008).

(Meneleau 2021) Presents Medea as a symbol of an oppressed woman whose mental state is
described as theatricality of madness. Her actions are due to her agony which she can’t forget in any
way. Jason’s disloyalty is quite unbearable for her. In a state of excessive anger, she commits brutal
acts of murder.

Medea revolts against the existing male dominating pattern of society. Her thoughts and
action reveal that she is not ready, in any case, to go back from her plans. Medea is a woman of
determination. (Delfim,2011) “States that she acts in a masculine way in a male-dominated society.
She is a barbarian who practices sorcery and is about to incur the hideous crime of killing her own
children when the maternal instinct should on the contrary have led her to protect them”.

( Sepali,2015) describes “Medea’ as one such tragedy by Euripides in which he depicts a woman who
came from a far away and exotic land, On a new place she is “the other”, foreign, unknown, savage, and

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superstitious. Her plight in this new land and her fight for survival between the new people, customs,
traditions, and way of life reflect her as a male figure”. Her courage is unshaken and she does not defeat
her emotion in any way. Medea appears as a powerful lady not because she is physically powerful but
also because she is also mentally and emotionally a strong character. Euripides paints the picture of
Medea quite opposite to the woman of the Greek era. This becomes evident in the context of change,
sweeping in society.

(Mills, 1980) highlights the sorrows and sufferings of Medea and their effects on her personality. He
says that her emotions are the outcome of the wrongdoing Jason has been doing to her. As a result, she
becomes furious and in a state of madness she commits brutal acts. She is a true reflection of
psychological tragedy.

“ Medea’s revolt against Jason reflects this play as a domestic tragedy. It highlights the issues of
domestic violence and sexual conflicts” ( Boedeke.1991). By using her supernatural powers she does not
spare anyone. Medea appears as a symbol of destruction. Jason takes her as an Ordinary woman who
should be happy that their financial status is getting higher, no matter if she has to share her husband
with another woman.

As (Stanton,1987) states that “Medea’s emotions are fractured since she has been married to
Jason. The story shows the background of Medea’s life. She is also responsible for her wretched plight as
she has no home to go back to. Medea has already betrayed her father and her brother”. This is a reason
why, it is unbearable for Medea to accept her lover getting into change, involving another woman.

It is a heroic play about the undaunted spirit of Medea. Euripides has added novelty to Greek
tragedies. By representing a character that offers a cross to former tragedies. As Bongie, (1977). States
that “Medea is an innovative play and Euripides has presented female psychology in quite heroic and
powerful manner”.

(Africa, 2016). Describes Medea, as the female figure of Greek society, she is exploited by the norms
andl customs of society. Medea appears as a tragic hero along with striking qualities of her intelligence,
revolt, faithfulness, and excessive pride of power to admit herself as a dependent woman. She faces male
dominance, and her open revolt shows heroism as well as the brutal nature of a woman.

Aristotle (1453) defines “Euripides as the top of the best Greek tragedians “ This goal is achieved by
arousing feelings of pity at the plight of Medea at the end of the play. She belongs to a royal family and
she suffers a downfall from the nobility. Feelings of pity and fear arise at the brutal murder of Jason’s
sons, and his innocent wife .

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Research methodology:

This study uses qualitative methodology as approach and critically analyzes the text and
context of data related to the topic . The primary source of data is collected from the text of the play. As a
qualitative approach the data is analyzed through subjective approach. The data would be in form of
sentences and words. Textual analysis method is used for this research. Lockyer (2008) describes that
textual analysis is a method that focuses on the content, structure, meaning or discourse of a text. He
further explains that textual analysis does not depend upon one interpretation of the text rather its main
focus is the interpretations of text from different perspectives .Several methodologies such as content
analysis ,narrative analysis and genre analysis come under the label of textual analysis . After the
anatomization of data, the results of data analysis will be presented according to the thematic approach of
the text.

Research framework:

This research is an analysis of the selected play “ Medea” by Euripidies. It involves deep
analysis of text through psychological insight of the major characters of play. It also explores that in
Patriarchal Greek society, women are considered as stereotypes. The major conflict of the play is the
woman’s revolt against the set pattern. On one hand, it is the psychological plight of a woman who
appears as a different figure from her contemporary protagonists of other tragedians. And on the other

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side, she is the representative of the old order in a new system. So, this study uses the psychoanalytical
approach through the women’s resistance against male dominant society.

Finding and discussion:

Medea the protagonist of the play is the princess of Colchis. The play starts with a
background myth about the marriage of Medea and Jason. She helps Jason in stealing the Golden

Fleece from her father. It is  also considered a psychological study of the major character i.e
Medea who is exploring abouther lost love, her passion , killing her blood relations, and
ultimately the circumstances that would inspire a woman to kill her own children.

From the very beginning of this play, She is described by chorus as a vengeance lady and
every one is afraid of her, because she is a ‘dangerous’ woman. As the chorus states that it is not
possible for Jason to lead a life as a contented and victorious person who dares to fight with
Medea.

She is a barbarian princess and a witch also. She is habitual in manipulating her power over
everyone. Moreover, as a barbarian, she does not possess the quality of restraints that civilization
urges. Jason is a Greek, who is subject to law, rationality, and practical domination. As a result,
he seems cold and indifferent toward Medea. As a common human being, he is a creature of
passion. However, this is merely a surface appearance. Euripides exposes the inner layers of both
males and females with his unflinching honesty in the course of the play.

In the state of grief, she recalls her home land and her father as she considers herself as a
lonely person in the land of unknowns. She also recalls her brother to whom she has murdered for
the sake of Jason. Her sufferings are the reflection of a universal phenomenon, which can be
experienced by any one suffering from disloyalty.

As a passionate woman, Medea is completely committed to Jason as she owns him . Her
emotions are quite explicit either in love or in hate. When she loves Jason she does not control
herself to kill her brother , She betrays her father and her country. She commits Pelias’s murder
for Jason’s sake. In fact she is completely abnormal in her hate. She is described as a sincere lady
only in the part of her emotions.

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 Her agony is quite evident from her monologues. She is deeply hurt at Jason’s disloyalty .She
says that In this world , “it is not possible to see justice in the eyes of a human being”(249)

Her words are enough to illustrate her inner world that how much she is suffering in the hands
of a human being. She cant forget the attitude of Jason and it results in a rebellion murderer
attack from Medea.

If we look at the superficial level, this play can be characterized as the simplest of all in
Euripides’ tragedies, as basically, it centers on scheming of revenge of the protagonist part.
However, through deep analysis, Medea is a “heroic figure of power and emotion,” who is
bestowed with “psychological manipulation.”

Contrary to Medea, Jason is a person who tries to “establish a new life in a xenophobic part
” with a princess who is the daughter of a king. Medea is not Greek. Both characters belong to
different regions and different cultures. With her attitude and behavior, Medea “revolts against
the gender role as a powerful woman. Her behavior is reflecting more than a creature of
superpower than only a traditional woman. Ultimately, she goes beyond traditional Greek beliefs
social and moral systems. Medea is a tragedy where “Greek confronts Barbarian nature of a
witch, and Man tackles with a Woman”.

(Schapes,2006) states that the character of Medea is also an “embodiment of oppressed

woman,” As her behavior makes it clear. She is also the mouthpiece of those women who
undergoes the same trauma of the patriarchal era in general. Medea is described as a woman who
is extreme in her emotions. She is a devoted lady. Medea raises her voice as a protest in a society
where a female must be obedient to the male. This is an important aspect that is aiding her
shattered psychological state. It takes her toward the cruel action to murder her own sons. Despite
her reason of anger and emotional breakup for revenge, her brutality can not be justified.

The Psychological plight of Medea centers around her thoughts and her mentality. It
“shows human psychology and behavior and manners in which she revolts against the set pattern
of society.

From the very beginning of the play, Medea is seen as taking sympathy from Chorus. She
is crying over her loss, over her broken heart and she mentions the sacrifices she has been
offering for the sack of Jason ’s love. She does not care about anyone as much as she is
considered for Jason.

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 Medea focuses on the paramount power and love relationship. Her problem starts when
she misses the bond of love and respect in her relationship with Jason. As Jason is a greedy man
who concentrates more on material benefits. Due to Jason’s greed for material benefits, everyone
has to suffer in this play.

Medea appears as a character from the splendid past. Contrary to her, Jason lives in the
contemporary society of Athens. Jason's in context of having powerful generation and his wish to
stand with Medea do not seem logical and acceptable. Contrary to Jason is the character of
Medea, in the context of the lives of other women seems to be taken from the position of
ancient Greek mistresses, and the problems of citizenship is related to those of Athenian politics.

Therefore, Medea is the mouthpiece of feminism as a whole, who leads the role of a woman
by taking on the bravery and power of the man. Her role can be regarded as a male dressed in
females. The resultant conflict that appears due to the incompetent ability of women's presence
in the Greek city and the role of women in the reproduction of its citizenship creates a standard
scenario of a tragic tragedy.

Certainly, the character of Medea centralizes this theme along with the different institutions
that deal with it. In Medea, Euripides uses a narrative mainly around the central character Medea.
Her relationship with Jason shows and her dialogues show her intelligence, magical powers,
social standing as an alien, and her homicidal tendency. She is considered as ‘other’ and non-
identical.

Euripides describes Medea’s exoticism through her complete divorce from her motherland.
As Medea is “cut off and separated forever” from her homeland, she begins to be an outsider
during a renewal of land without a desire to return. She also suffers from the problems of exile
and dislocation. Medea’s shattered will leave her entirely disentangled from her. Away from her
motherland, She is cheated by Jason , which causes Medea’s cruelty, anger and her second time
bond to the household she created with Jason-“turning Medea into a fugitive who is incomplete
without Jason (Lauber, 2018). Through depicting Medea’s origin, remembering her ancestry, and
the process of her journey to Corinth, Euripides manifests the journey of Medea from her past to
present and her desire for revenge.

Conclusion:

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 Euripides ‘play Medea is a play of revenge by a restricted female in a society that is male-oriented
that gives us highlights the role of female in Greek society. As she has been wronged by her husband.
She suffers from psychological conflict. In the madness of anger, she commits the murder of not only
Jason’s wife and her father but also commits the brutal act of murdering her own sons. Her actions show
the agony of a woman under male domination voice is the voice of oppression in a man-made society.
Through Medea, Euripides depicts the plight of a woman who revolts against the operation. Medea, as a
representative of Greek society who is exploited by social customs and norms. Ultimately, Medea appears
as the tragic hero through the combination of her intelligence, manipulation, and her unwillingness to
accept her doom as a woman silently.

References:

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2016, pp. 101–22.

Boedeker, D. (1991). Euripides' Medea and the Vanity of ΛΟΓΟΙ. Classical Philology, 86(2), 95-112.

Euripides.Medea and other plays. Morwood J, translation. Hall E, introduction. New York: Oxford

University Press; 2008

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Delfim. 2011, In defense of Medea: a legal approachtoEuripidesVL43TYBOOKLauber, MadisonSkye. The

Murdering Mother: The Making and Unmaking of Medea in Ancient Greek Image and Text. 2018.

Mills, S. P. (1980). The sorrows of Medea.  Classical Philology,  75(4), 289-296.

Bamunusingh, Sepali 2015 Euripides’ Portrayal of Medea: The Other’ of the Greek Soil

Stanton, G. R. (1987). The End of Medea's Monologue: Euripides, Medea 1078-1080. Rheinisches

Museum für Philologie, 130(H. 2), 97-106.

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