Hi guys,
Could someone please read my Medea essay. Thanks
Prompt: ‘Medea has no choice but to seek revenge.’ Do you agree?
Euripides’ ancient Greek tragedy Medea, follows the journey of its titular character as she seeks vengeance upon her husband. This desire for revenge stems from Medea’s hubristic and passionate nature, which dominates her actions. Further, the social injustice Medea receives as a “barbarous” woman forces her to seek justice by her own means. Similarly, Medea receives divine approval in her fight for justice as the Gods support her actions.
Medea’s emotional and excessively proud nature dominates her actions throughout the play. The Nurse highlights the sorrow that Medea suffers as she “dissolve[es] the long hours in tears”. Jason’s betrayal has “hurt her where her affection runs deepest”, which is her love for Jason. Thus her melancholic reaction to the news of Jason’s decision demonstrates her passionate nature. This sorrow transmutes into “fierce and intractable” hatred for Jason. Hence she has “fierc[e] anger… rag[ing] in place of dearest love” for Jason. Further, it is this transformation of affection that precipitates her plan to “deal Jason the deepest wound” by “reach[ing his] heart”. Therefore Medea passionate nature drives her to avenge her betrayal by killing the royal family and her own sons. Similarly, Medea’s hubris causes her to seek revenge. Having “the mind of a queen”, Medea doesn’t wish to face “the laughter of [her] enemies”. She cannot bear to be belittled by other people, even wishing death on her sons rather than to “leave sons of [hers] behind for [her] enemies to insult”. Thus Medea has excessive pride, for which reason she cannot let her betrayal be forgotten easily. Subsequently, she is compelled to “punish [her] enemies” in order to defend this pride. Thus her actions are controlled by her emotion and pride. Therefore Medea’s hubristic and passionate nature causes her to seek revenge on Jason.
Society’s treatment of Medea forces her to deal justice on her own. The patriarchal society that Euripides portrays in Medea gives little heed to her problems. Society views women with intelligence as “ignorant”, disliking such a trait in women. Thus Medea is viewed as an “evil woman” because of her intelligence and her skill in magic. Creon views Medea as a threat for these reasons, which is why he decides to exile her from Corinth. Furthermore, women in ancient Greek society have no rights in marriage as they are “forced to look to one man only”, expected to be obedient and “yield to” their husbands. Jason’s misogynistic opinion that “without women, human life would be rid of its miseries” echoes the misogyny in ancient Greek society. Thus Medea is not taken seriously, for which reason she is unable to find justice in the eyes of society. Medea instead proves herself as “of a different kind”, contrary to the social perception that women are “weak… humble [and] passive”. She wishes to stand up for herself, as well as for the other oppressed women in Greek society. Similarly, Medea’s position as a “barbarous” woman leads to her unfair treatment in Corinth. Jason rebukes Medea after the death of his sons, believing that a “Hellene woman” would not have done as she did. Medea is viewed as an outsider by Greek society, for which reason Creon exiles her without protest. She therefore has fewer rights than a Greek citizen. Thus the perception that society has of Medea prevents her from receiving justice. Hence Medea is forced to deal justice herself.
The gods approve of Medea’s actions, supposedly sympathizing with her as they help her in her pursuit of justice. Medea constantly calls on the gods to help her in the midst of her troubles. She “invokes Themis” and “Zeus who is named keeper of men’s oaths”. Medea calls on “the mighty Sun” her grandfather. Thus she seeks divine justice while she may not have social justice. As events unfold, Medea has her desires fulfilled as “the will of heaven brings down on Jason justice and calamity”. Thus it is evident that the gods approve of Medea’s actions, especially as they do not protect those she seeks to harm. This is further evident in the end as Helios sends Medea a dragon chariot to “keep [her] from the hands of her enemies”. Hence the gods, being absolute symbols and dispensers of justice, vindicate Medea. Their approval of her fight for justice does not give her a choice; it merely encourages her course of action, as she must ultimately deal it herself. It is thus that her actions were pre-ordained, “many are the fates which Zeus on Olympus ordains”, giving her no choice in her fate. Thus it is ultimately not up to Medea to seek revenge, for the gods had “set her course” beforehand. Therefore Medea’s battle for revenge was pre-ordained by the gods, giving her no other choice.
The hubristic and emotional nature of Medea causes her to seek vengeance for her betrayal by Jason. Similarly, the societal injustice that she receives, stemming from society’s perceptions of her, gives Medea no choice but to seek revenge. Further, Medea’s journey to seek revenge on Jason was pre-ordained by Zeus, thus not giving her a choice.
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