Euripides Medea Introductory Lecture 1202011 Euripides Circa 480

Euripides’ Medea Introductory Lecture 1/20/2011

Euripides �Circa 480 -406 BCE �Last of 3 great Athenian tragedians (Aeschylus, Sophocles) �Noted for: �Strong female characters �Intelligent slaves �Use of heroes from Greek mythology �~95 plays, including Medea (431 BCE)

Medea �Princess of Colchis (East on the Black Sea), niece of Circe (witch), grand-daughter of Helios (sun god) �Betrays her family to help Jason and the Argonauts �Killed her brother (chopped into bits!) �Marries Jason, bears two sons �Medea and Jason end up in Corinth

Euripides’ Medea �Characters �Medea �Jason �Creon �Aegeus �Nurse & Attendant �Chorus of Corinthian Women �Messenger �Non-speaking roles: Creusa, Medea’s 2 children

What’s the story? �Jason is to marry Creusa, Creon’s daughter �Medea grieves the loss of her husband �Many characters fear what this sorceress might do �Creon orders her to be sent into exile �Entrance of Aegeus- agrees to harbor Medea in exchange for helping his wife conceive

Medea’s vengeance �Death to Creon and Creusa! �Poisons golden robes (wedding gifts) �Euripides’ invention: �Kills her own sons- Why? �Medea escapes, with refuge promised in Athens, on a chariot of the sun-god Helios

Questions to Consider �Was Jason wrong to marry Creusa? Any benefits to children/Medea? �Is Medea justified in killing Creon & Creusa? �In killing her two sons? �What does Medea’s murder of her children add? � Other authors had them killed by the angry Corinthians �Does Euripides authorize Medea’s actions by allowing her escape to Athens?