Sympathy for Medea Essay

Essay Question: The real interest in Medea is that Euripides can make Medea so appalling without losing our sympathy for her. Discuss

The novel Medea written by Euripides is an ancient Greek tragedy. The novel and play is based upon the myth of Jason and Medea, and was first produced in 431 BC. The plot revolves around a love tragedy, and the revenge and jealousy of a woman betrayed by her husband. Medea is a novel which demonstrates the foundation of revenge, passion, rage, betrayal, pride and love. Euripides successfully intertwines these issues into the plot through the main characters, also managing to touch on the issues of marriage and sexism. The story of Medea was destined for destruction. Medeas strong passion for Jason, whether love or hate is what evokes the readers sympathy for her, but as the book progresses the readers sympathy wears thin. She is portrayed both as a victim that has been wronged and as a cold hearted monster. The strong love and hatred that Medea had for Jason and the actions of betrayal from Jason were the tragedies that set off a train of other misfortunate events.

Medea begins her marriage as the ideal loving wife who sacrificed much for her only love and husband, Jason. I am finished, my friends, and any pleasure I took in life I now renounce; its death I want. In Jasons quest for the Golden Fleece, Medea assists him in multiple ways. She causes the death of her own brother, kills King Creon and the princess, and even kills her own children, all due to Jason. At the very start of the novel, the chorus, nurse and tutor undergo emotions of sympathy for Medea, and the reader is made to despise Jason. Jason has betrayed his two sons, my mistress, for a royal bed. At this stage of the book, the reader cant help but to feel sympathy towards Medeas situation. Even more sympathy is felt when the reader discovers that Jason has betrayed Medea because of his material values. It is not for the sake of any woman that I have made this royal marriage, but, as Ive said to ensure our future. He claims that he is doing this for them, when the real reason is for a better social status. Jasons justification is weak, loveless and selfish. Jason is power hungry and wants to better himself in society. He is willing to abandon his loving wife and two children in the process. However as the novel progresses the reader will soon find their sympathy for Medea wearing thin, this is due to her extreme behaviours and emotions, committing unspeakable acts on his behalf. The Chorus sings that love in excess brings no joy, but to love in moderation is blissful. Medea loved not in moderation but in excess, her love for Jason was too passionate. As soon as Jason removed himself from their love, her passionate love for Jason was transformed into rage. It is as though Medeas strong rage and hatred for Jason drove her into a state of madness, an urgent need to punish her husband for the betrayal. The nurse warned that Medea would not stop ranging until she had struck the person in target, immune to the help and advice from others. It had been Medeas reckless heart that made her perform the unthinkable. Medea is a woman of passion and is strongly guided by her feelings; she is wholly committed to Jason as the object of her emotional life, wether in love or hate. This factor of passion is the main point which contributes to the readers sympathy towards Medea, but hatred disguise as passion is also the main point in letting the reader feel a dislike emotion for Medea.

Revenge is a reoccurring theme in the novel. Medeas quest for the revenge of Jason is followed throughout the storyline. As the novel progresses the necessity for Medea to seek vengeance also builds inside of her. She shows her necessity for revenge when she says Anyone running between me and my justice will reap what no men wants. Medea did so much for Jason; because of him she had murdered and is left without a home, a family, friends, and love. She is driven by a passionate desire to right the wrongs done to her and sacrifices even her own children in the pursuit of satisfaction. Medea presents the reader with the horror that can come when an individual lets the desire of revenge rule their life. Medeas strong sense of revenge blocked everything out of her life, her eyes only on one goal. Another factor which contributed to Medeas revenge was her pride, she repeatedly hinted in the novel that she would not let her enemies have the last laugh; she always wanted to be one step ahead of them. But even though what Medea did was wrong, it was not all her fault. Medea killing her children was a cold hearted act of revenge. Yet the act was passionate, regretful and full of love. Medea didnt want to murder her children, but it was the only way to deal Jason the deepest wound. They must be killed; there is no other way I will take their life, I who gave them life. Medea murdered her children before her enemies could; she did it out of love and passion. She is a courageous woman who doesnt back down easily. Jason cruelly betrayed Medea; after all she had done for him. Is Jason really the hero he is made up to be? Jason has only gotten so far because of Medea; she did all the dirty work for him. But instead he repays her by running off and marrying the princess, all for a better status. Medea knows she was responsible for Jasons status in life I gave him success and fame; I saved him his precious life I betrayed my father for him, killed my brother to save him. this arrogance of Jason is to blame for Medeas strong rage. The reader experiences passionate admiration and disbelief for the bold painful actions she must execute. Jason has indeed wronged Medea, but her strong passion and uncontrollable emotions are what define her as a cold hearted monster. She is truly governed by her emotions, making her carry out monstrous acts.

Medeas response to Jasons betrayal was passionate, histrionic and lacked reason. She coolly calculates her monstrous deeds to create maximum injury to Jason. Her passionate love melts into passionate hatred. Towards the end of the novel the chorus discontinued to feel sympathy for Medea, as her scheme for revenge becomes increasingly outrageous. Her actions were slightly psychotic and showed extremity in every emotion; these emotions were what lead her to carry out the murder of her children. Her passion is what evokes the readers sympathy; it is also what labels her as a monster. She feels a greater passion for Jason, which was the ultimate factor which out weighed her passion for her children, therefore leading her to sacrifice them.

Medea was the monster and the victim, these are not two separate entities; they are one central figure. The chorus and reader start off having emotions of sympathy towards Medea, and emotions of despise towards Jason, but as Medeas monstrousness scheme is revealed, the sympathy directs itself to Jason and the despise towards Medea. Jasons acts of betrayal makes her the victim, her monstrous pride fuelled scheme for revenge, that she executes, makes her the monster.