MEDEA BACKGROUND INFO JASON AND THE GOLDEN FLEECE
MEDEA BACKGROUND INFO
JASON AND THE GOLDEN FLEECE • “Golden Fleece” – A gold colored ram. Sent from the gods. Very long story. It’s very far away from Greece. • A man named Pelias stole the crown from his brother – is told by an oracle that a kinsman with one sandal will kill him. • Pelias’s nephew, Jason, comes into town…wearing one sandal, and he says that he’s come to take his place on the throne. • Pelias says that he’ll willingly give up the throne if Jason retrieves the Golden Fleece, thinking that he won’t be able to do it.
JASON AND THE GOLDEN FLEECE, CONT. • Jason and his crew (The Argonauts…because their ship is named the Argo) have a lot of adventures on their way to the Golden Fleece. • Jason meets the person currently holding the fleece, King Etes. • Etes says that he can have the fleece, but only after he does a seemingly impossible task that he believes will result in his death. • Meanwhile, Hera and Aphrodite arrange for Cupid to make Etes’s daughter, Medea, fall in love with Jason…for reasons… • Medea gives Jason a potion to make him invincible for the day. He survives and finishes his task.
JASON AND THE GOLDEN FLEECE, CONT. • Etes doesn’t give up the fleece, Medea helps steal it and the two of them leave for Greece. • Medea protects Jason the entire time. Kills her brother to help him escape, etc. • When they arrive in Greece, Medea arranges for Pelias to be killed by his own daughters. • Jason and Medea are exiled as murders, and settle in Corinth, which is where this play takes place.
MEDEA CHARACTERS • Medea – main protagonist. Barbarian and sorceress. Is married to and in love with Jason. Gets stuff DONE. • Jason – Former adventurer. He is ambitious, but kind of whiny. • Children – Jason and Medea’s kids. They have no idea what’s going on. • Creon – The king of Corinth. (Same dude as in Oedipus Rex) • Glauce – Daughter of Creon. Young, beautiful, and totally silent throughout the play. • Aegeus – King of Athens. Passes through Corinth after visiting the Oracle nearby. Really wants kids. • Messenger – Has really bad news. • Nurse – knows something bad is going to happen and DOES NOTHING TO STOP IT. • Tutor – not important • Chorus – made up of the women of Corinth. Commentate on the action. They are totally on Medea’s side…mostly.
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