Medea

[QueenDemetria]

Hi everyone!

Can someone please help me unpack this prompt... "Euripides suggests that the events in Medea can be attributed to forces outside human control. Do you agree?

I'm not sure how I could structure this essay and what key ideas I could use for my body paragraphs. Can someone please help me

Thanks guys!

[clarke54321]

Hi everyone!

Can someone please help me unpack this prompt... "Euripides suggests that the events in Medea can be attributed to forces outside human control. Do you agree?

I'm not sure how I could structure this essay and what key ideas I could use for my body paragraphs. Can someone please help me

Thanks guys!

Hey!

Well firstly you have to consider whether divine forces (elements beyond our control) or conscious human actions precipitated the actions of the play. You may well argue that events are a product of both. However, I'd recommend that you establish one predominantly strong interpretation.

Think about Jason's comment: 'I hold that credit for my successful voyage was solely due to Aphrodite, no one else divine or human'
A consideration of Greek gods/goddesses is very important for this topic.
You might want to weigh up this assertion with Medea's rebuttals- Is Jason being unreasonable? Ignorant?

Also: Are Medea's actions motivated by the gods?  It doesn't seem this way. She consciously plans and schemes to carry out her machinations.You can include, however, the final deus ex machina and create some discussion around the meaning of this.

After some brainstorming and teasing out of ideas, the planning of the essay will come much easier

[lovelyperson]

Adding on to clarke's advice...

Something else worth considering is the very existence of divine justice, and by extension the gods, within the play. Does Euripides challenge their existence? The answer to this (doesn't have to be straight yes or no) should form the base of your essay, cause if they don't exist, then who can humans blame for stuff happening or rely upon when needed? And if they do exist, to what extent are humans responsible for certain things happening? 

Also, do note that "forces outside human control" doesn't necessarily mean divine forces (i.e the gods). You could possibly discuss the idea of thumos and spiritedness, which could then allow for connections to the sociopolitical context of the play, in particular the Peloponnesian war.

[TSEtuition]

Hi everyone!

Can someone please help me unpack this prompt... "Euripides suggests that the events in Medea can be attributed to forces outside human control. Do you agree?

I'm not sure how I could structure this essay and what key ideas I could use for my body paragraphs. Can someone please help me

Thanks guys!

Hi Queen Demetria!

In Medea, there's almost constant mentioning of the gods but they contribute very little to the action of the play. Why do you think that is? Is it because the gods are ineffective or unjust or that they couldn't case less about the humans? Or is it that the gods are somehow working in ways that cannot be seen? Is Medea acting of her own accord, outside the influence of the gods, or is she somehow, unwittingly, enacting justice for the gods? Your answers or thoughts about that will be what should form your body paragraphs.

Hope that helps! =)