Introduction to Medea EURIPEDES Euripides Plays Euripides was
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Introduction to ‘Medea’ EURIPEDES
Euripides’ Plays Ω Euripides was born in 480 BC and died in 406 BC. Ω Euripides’ was one of three famous tragic poets of Ancient Greece. The other two were Aeschylus and Sophocles. Ω He often confronted his audiences with new and disturbing interpretations of old stories / myths. Ω Euripides wrote more than 90 plays.
Ω ‘Medea’ is Euripides’ most popular tragedy, Written sometime around 431 BC. Ω The play was not initially successful, but has since become one of his most famous and commonly performed plays.
Genre: ‘Medea’; a tragedy Ω Tragedy is rooted in ancient Greek dramas like those written by Euripides. It influenced later tragic writers such as William Shakespeare. Ω Tragedy typically involves; a protagonist who falls from prosperity to misery, through a series of reversals or changes as a result of a ‘tragic flaw’in their character. Ω The flaws were often ignorance; foolishness; passion and emotion; greed and ambition.
‘Medea’: Why so popular? Ω ‘Medea’ is still popular as themes and ideas that the play presents are as relevant now as they were in 431 BC. Ω It’s about greed, betrayal, revenge, selfinterest, jealousy and murder. These are all common themes of film and literature today. Ω It’s a shocking play for audiences to digest. A woman who kills her children in an act of revenge. Ω Euripides wants to show his audience that tragedy occurs when hate becomes greater than love.
Protagonist and Antagonist Ω Medea herself is something of an enigma. For most people she is a villainous murderer, a child-killer. For others she is a brave, determined and proud woman who refuses to bow to the will of the men who have wronged her. Ω And what of Jason? A self-absorbed womaniser? Or should we pity him?
The play in a nutshell: When the play opens, the Nurse reports that Medea has been deserted by her husband, Jason, who plans to marry Princess Glauce of Corinth to improve his position. This comes as a double blow, because Medea had betrayed her own family earlier and had come with him to Corinth, so she is now isolated. Medea plans to revenge herself on Jason, the Princess and her father, King Creon. She manages to fatally poison the Princess and the King, and to complete Jason’s suffering, she plans to kill her two sons. After much internal debate, she kills them and then, after an argument with Jason, escapes to Athens in a chariot drawn by winged dragons. https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=xv. Osfy. X 5 GF 0
Task: Ω Read the handout, ‘Plot Summary’. Ω Complete the 10 plot-based questions.
Plot-based questions: 1. Why was Medea banished from her own society? 2. Who does Jason leave Medea for? 3. Why does King Creon intend to banish Medea? 4. What secret does Medea reveal to the chorus of Corinthian women? 5. What are Jason’s reasons for marrying another woman? 6. Why does Aegeus agree to shelter Medea in Athens? 7. How does Medea plan to kill Princess Glauce? 8. How does Medea react to the news of King Creon’s unexpected death? 9. Who kills Medea and Jason’s children and why? 10. How does Medea escape Corinth?
