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Euripides and Medea

Even though Medea exemplifies a strong woman, she falls victim to her environment

and the pressures of society. Although some audience members might have pitied Jason at the

end of the play, Euripides intends for the audience to feel sorry for Medea, as she exemplifies a

helpless victim throughout the play, falling prey to Jason's betrayal and the gods' indifference.

Euripides writes Medea into the play so audiences may identify with her as a victim of

Jason's betrayal. Then, in her monologue, she stresses the wrongfulness of Jason's actions: “O

children, your father's faults have brought your death. “yet, it was not my hand that cut them

down” (12). Euripides elicits sympathy for Medea from the audience by emphasizing the tragedy

of the situation. The audience is moved by the fact that Medea is being forced to confront the

consequences of her actions, yet she has no control over what has happened. The contrast

between her helplessness and the gruesome outcome of her actions creates a sense of empathy

and pity for Medea. Her words also suggest a deep sense of guilt, which adds to the audience's

sympathy for her. By expressing her sorrow and regret directly and heartfeltly, Euripides can

draw the audience in and create a robust emotional response.

Medea's predicament is initially shown when she must escape Colchis for her safety.

Jason, her husband, mistreats her by abandoning her for another woman. Medea expresses her

disappointment that Jason "considered it fitting to bring in a new woman to share his bed, and to

forget his oaths and all the favors I had done for him (77)." Euripides elicits sympathy from the
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audience in this statement by highlighting the broken trust and feelings of betrayal experienced

by the speaker. He emphasizes the deep emotional hurt caused by the character's actions, which

makes the audience sympathize with the speaker. The language used to describe the character's

actions ("forget his oaths and all the favors I had done for him") emphasizes the magnitude of the

pain inflicted, and the audience is likely to feel a sense of injustice towards the character for their

selfishness and lack of loyalty.

Additionally, Euripides paints a picture of a vulnerable character who has been taken

advantage of and disrespected, thus further increasing the audience's sympathy. Adding insult to

injury, Medea's family has abandoned her and her children. Medea clarifies that her brothers

despise her and threaten to kidnap her children because of her children: "My father drove me out

with insults." (170). This rejection adds to Medea's sense of being cast out and alone, deepening

the tragedy of her situation.

Euripides portrays Medea as a mistreated lady who was neglected and abandoned by the

gods so that the audience will feel sorry for her. The gods have mistreated Medea by abandoning

her at her most vulnerable. For example, (243), when Medea cries, "Oh, what a horrible

existence I lead!" Not a single deity has any pity on me. I can't seem to get away from the

sadness. The audience's empathy for Medea is piqued by the gods' abandoning her; it highlights

the uniqueness of her suffering in a world where everyone has harmed her. For the audience to

feel compassion for Medea, Euripides skillfully portrays her as a victim of the gods' indifference.

Medea pays a heavy price for Jason's adultery and egotism. Euripides paints Medea as

sympathetic, devoted, and suffering while portraying Jason as ungrateful and self-absorbed.

Euripides presents Medea as a victim through her harsh words to Jason (463): "O children, your
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father's mistakes have caused your death." Euripides implies that Jason's insensitivity to Medea's

sorrow led to the death of her children by making this assertion.

Just as Euripides paints Jason as a hapless fool, Medea is portrayed as the helpless victim

of Jason's blundering. Medea adds, "Yet it was not my hand that slaughtered them." (466). Not

your adoration or desire for your new husband, Medea. Because of Jason's actions, Medea's

children suffered and ultimately died. Jason's refusal to admit fault highlights Medea's position

as a victim.

Through Medea's words, Euripides emphasizes how much of a victim she is. Your pride

and arrogance have slain them, your shamelessness and lack of compassion," Medea says (467).

The harsh language Euripides uses to describe Jason is another way he emphasizes Medea's

oppression. By employing such strong words to condemn Jason, Euripides hopes to evoke in the

audience a sense of sympathy for Medea and an awareness of the injustice she has suffered.

In conclusion, Euripides portrays Medea as someone the audience can relate to, thanks to

his skilful use of tragic language. Through the play, he accomplishes this by emphasizing

Medea's suffering. Throughout the play, Euripides emphasizes Medea's pain and suffering as she

copes with the death of her children, her husband's betrayal, and her exile from Thebes (894).

The author emphasizes Medea's courage and fortitude in the face of disaster by quoting her

assurance to Jason: "No, it was your lust, and your new marriage" (890). Euripides shows that

Medea has a strong sense of justice by having her avenge her unjust exile at the hands of Jason

and Creon (814). The combination of these characteristics allows Euripides to create a complex

heroine that the audience may root for, despite her bad behaviour.
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Work Cited

Luschnig, Cecelia AE, and Chorus Corinthian Women. "Euripides' Medea." (2014): 439-445.