Tragic heroes from Greek tragedies almost always share

similar characteristics. Medea from Euripides's play

Medea and Clytemnestra from Aeschylus's play
Agamemnon display and share tragic traits. They are
both vengeful wives who share similarities in the cause
of their vengeance but have some differences in their
chosen means of revenge; as a result of successfully
exacting their revenge both Clytemnestra
and Medea cause their own downfall.

Both Medea and Clytemnestra seek to hurt their

husbands for betraying them. Medea uses the best
source of revenge ever. She uses Jason's own children
against him. For her own pride, not to look like a fool in
front of anybody, Medea kills King Creon's daughter
Glauce, who is to be married to Jason, and her two
children. She kills Glauce by sending her children with
poisoned clothing for the princess, which also leads to
the murdering of her children. She tells Jason "They died
from a disease they caught from their father" (Medea 2).
Killing her children is the revenge she chose because it
was the best one. A woman cannot take a man's
children away from him. Men become so weak when
they loose their children, especially sons. Medea says
"Never again alive shall he see the sons he had by me,
nor any child by his new bride of his poor girl, who has
to die a wretched death poisoned by me"(Medea9). She
leaves Jason with no one. By killing her sons, there is no
one left to take the throne, or to carry on his name.

Medea and Clytemnestra are two of the most famous and tragic female
characters in Greek literature. They both seek revenge on their husbands who
have betrayed them, but they have different motives and methods for doing so.
Here are some points of comparison and contrast between them:

Medea

Motive: Medea is angry at Jason for leaving her for another woman, Glauce, the
daughter of King Creon of Corinth. She feels betrayed and humiliated by his
infidelity and abandonment. Clytemnestra is furious at Agamemnon for sacrificing
their daughter, Iphigenia, to appease the goddess Artemis before the Trojan War.
She also resents him for bringing home a concubine, Cassandra, the daughter of
King Priam of Troy.

Method: Medea uses magic and poison to kill Glauce and her father, Creon, who
had banished her from Corinth. She also kills her own two sons by Jason, to
deprive him of any heirs and to cause him the greatest pain possible.
Clytemnestra uses deception and a sword to kill Agamemnon and Cassandra, who
had returned from the war. She also has the help of her lover, Aegisthus, who is
Agamemnon’s cousin and rival.

Outcome: Medea escapes from Corinth in a chariot drawn by dragons, provided

by her grandfather, the sun god Helios. She takes refuge in Athens, where she
marries King Aegeus, the father of Theseus. Clytemnestra rules over Mycenae
with Aegisthus, until they are killed by her son, Orestes, who is avenging his
father’s death. Orestes is then pursued by the Furies, the goddesses of
vengeance, until he is acquitted by Athena and Apollo.

Sympathy: Medea and Clytemnestra both have some reasons to justify their
actions, but they also commit horrific crimes that shock the audience. Medea is
more sympathetic because she is a foreigner and a woman who has been
wronged by a man who owes her everything. She also shows some regret and
conflict before killing her children. Clytemnestra is less sympathetic because she is
a native and a queen who has violated the sacred bonds of marriage and family.
She also shows no remorse or hesitation in killing her husband and his captive .

Medea and Clytemnestra, two prominent figures in ancient Greek literature,

share similarities and differences in their characterizations, motivations, and
actions. Both women are complex and powerful, but their stories diverge in
significant ways.

*Similarities:*

1. *Vengeance and Betrayal:* Both Medea and Clytemnestra are driven by a deep
sense of betrayal and seek revenge against those who have wronged them.
Medea is betrayed by her husband Jason, while Clytemnestra is motivated by the
murder of her daughter Iphigenia by her husband Agamemnon.

2. *Manipulation:* Both women exhibit remarkable intelligence and cunning in

their actions. Medea uses her wit to manipulate those around her, orchestrating a
series of events that lead to the tragic demise of her enemies. Similarly,
Clytemnestra employs strategic manipulation to achieve her goals, deceiving
Agamemnon upon his return from the Trojan War.

*Differences:*

1. *Motivations:* Medea's primary motivation is personal revenge and the desire

to inflict maximum pain on Jason. In contrast, Clytemnestra's actions are fueled
by a mix of revenge and political ambition. Her murder of Agamemnon is not only
a response to his betrayal but also a calculated move to seize power in Mycenae.

2. *Method of Revenge:* Medea's revenge is intensely personal and gruesome.

She kills her own children to spite Jason, causing immense suffering to him.
Clytemnestra, on the other hand, collaborates with her lover Aegisthus to murder
Agamemnon and claims the throne for herself, using political intrigue rather than
directly inflicting personal harm.
3. *Sympathy and Justification:* Medea's actions, particularly the murder of her
children, evoke a complex mixture of horror and sympathy. Her desperation and
the injustice she has suffered create a nuanced portrayal. Clytemnestra, however,
is often depicted as more calculating and less sympathetic. Her political ambitions
and manipulation overshadow the tragedy of her personal losses.

In conclusion, while both Medea and Clytemnestra share a common theme of

betrayal and revenge, their motivations, methods, and the emotional response
they elicit from the audience differ significantly. Medea's story emphasizes the
personal toll of betrayal, while Clytemnestra's narrative intertwines personal
vengeance with political intrigue, showcasing the diverse facets of women's
agency in ancient Greek literature.