Medea by Euripides | Episode 4

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Course Hero Literature Instructor Russell Jaffe provides an in-depth summary and analysis of Episode 4 of Euripides's play Medea.

Euripides's classic tragedy Medea delves into the consequences of betrayal and revenge as few other plays do.

The title character, dumped by her husband, the adventurer Jason, in favor of a newer, younger woman, does not take her dismissal lightly. Rather than slinking into the shadows to recover her lost dignity, Medea enacts a vicious and dramatic revenge plot that ends in the death of her own children by Jason.

Her cruel but effective ploy has enshrined her in the pantheon of figures from Greek myth as a cautionary figure: the woman who is not content to accept her fate at the hands of men.

Medea is not to be trifled with and her reactions to Jason's disrespect constitute some of the most memorable scenes in all of theatrical history.

Did you know? The Medea Syndrome, also called spousal revenge, refers to a parent who murders their children as a way of getting revenge on the other parent. It is often sparked by a divorce or another extreme life event.

Euripides is considered one of three great Greek tragic dramatists, and his play Medea was first performed in 431 BCE. He wrote nontraditional plays that captured universal emotions while exploring new topics, such as strong female characters, thinking slaves, and satirical heroes. Today, his character Medea has become synonymous with the spurned woman in popular culture.

This Greek tragedy contains many powerful symbols, including the poisoned crown representing Jason’s ambition and Medea’s revenge, cries within the marriage house representing the pain of betrayal, and the golden chariot representing Medea’s pride, victory, and divine nature. Other themes explored include betrayal, passion, and revenge.

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