Medea

Before, During, and After

Euripides’ Medea
Medea: Character Profile

 Niece of Circe  Sorceress

 Granddaughter of sun  Priestess of Hecate,
god Helios goddess of underworld
 Woman of great passion
Jason
 Jason’s uncle usurps his
throne in Iolchos; sends
Jason on quest
 Jason seeks Golden
Fleece in M’s father’s
kingdom (Colchis)
 Hera (Jason’s
protector) gets
Aphrodite to make M.
fall for Jason
Promises Made
 M will help J get
Fleece
 J will marry M

Promises Kept
M murders own
brother to slow
father’s pursuit of J
J marries M
–They go to Iolchus
Jason’s Kingdom

 M tricks J’s cousins into killing their own father

 J doesn’t get kingdom
 J + M get driven out of town; flee to Corinth
Euripides’ Medea
 J + M have 2 kids
 J has betrayed M
– Engaged to Corinth king
Creon’s daughter
 King Creon banishes M
and children
 M kills Creon +
daughter, and her own
kids in revenge
 M flees to Athens’ King
Aegeus in Helios’
chariot
After the Play
 M marries, has son with  J dies alone, in
Aegeus obscurity
 Tries to poison Aegeus’  Piece of his own ship
first son Theseus (fails; falls on him
is banished)
 Goes back to Colchis,
helps father get
kingdom back
 Eventually becomes
immortal
Things to Consider
 Who would the ancient
Greeks blame for the
tragedy?
 Who do you blame?
 What is Euripides’
opinion of women?
 What relevance does
this story have for
modern readers?