Medea (Euripides)

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Category: Literature

Published on Wednesday, 26 October 2016 15:41

Today for our “Culture” we will speak about Medea, one of the most powerful and enduring of Greek tragedies centers on the myth of Jason, leader of the Argonauts. Written by Euripides one of the most famous Greek authors.

 It was staged for the first time in 431 B.C. Medea, is the first part of a trilogy followed by the dramas “Philoctetes” and “Dyctis”. The author got inspired by the story originated from Greek mythology, questioning love and morality in marriage.

After helping her husband Jason and the Argonauts to win the Golden Fleece, Medea moved to live in Corinth, together with her consort and their two sons, leaving his father. After a few years, however, Jason decides to divorce Medea, to marry Glauce daughter of Creon, king of Corinth.
Medea, desperate and furious, decides to takes revenge on Jason.
She sends a gift to the future wife of Jason, a wreath and a poisoned dress.
Glauce dies after wearing the dress. Jason arrives to save at least its offspring, but it's too late, Medea thus deprives Jason of descendants.
In the end, Medea, escapes to Athens to start a new life.

This play is a psychological analysis of a woman who at first felt great, real love which escalated into the uncontrollable madness of revenge, not even sparing her children.