2015 Parenthood is a central theme of Euripides play Medea. Discuss this statement supporting your answer with reference to the play.

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1 Name Medea Outlines 2017 Past Questions 2016 From your study of Euripides play Medea, what do you learn of the differing views of men and women towards marriage at that time? Support your answer with reference to the text. (50) 2015 Parenthood is a central theme of Euripides play Medea. Discuss this statement supporting your answer with reference to the play. (50) 2014 (a) Discuss the view that, in Euripides Medea, Jason s wretched end is largely due to his owncharacter defects. (40) (b) Do you feel any sympathy for Jason at the end of the play? Give a reason for your answer. (10) (iv) Above all else Medea is a brilliant manipulator of people. Discuss this view. Support your answer with reference to Euripides Medea. (50) 2011 (iii) From your reading of the encounters between Jason and Medea in Euripides play, Medea, analyse the aspects of Jason s character that contribute to his downfall. (50) (ii) (a) In Euripides play Medea, summarise Medea s attack on Jason in their first confrontation. (30) (b) Would you agree that Jason s defence of his actions is fair and reasonable? Give reasons for your answer. (20) 2007

2 To what extent is the fact that Medea is a foreign woman from a strange and distant background central to the play Medea? 1995 In her cold-blooded pursuit of revenge upon Jason, Medea uses other people to achieve her goal. Discuss this view with reference to Euripides Medea Can you give a convincing defence of Jason s behaviour in Euripides Medea?

3 1993 Can Medea s vengeance on Jason be justified? Give reasons for your answer, supporting them by reference to the play Medea is a play in which the awful smugness of one half of society is challenged by its despairing other half. Discuss briefly this view In the character of Jason a concern for civilised values is joined with a calculating coldness and unscrupulous want of feeling. (Vellacott in his introduction to the play Medea). In what way does Jason show a concern for civilised values, and how can such a concern be reconciled with his coldness and want of feeling? 1990 Everything that Medea thinks and does, no matter how extreme it is, is completely believable. Discuss this view of Medea s conduct as depicted by Euripides (a) Assess the dramatic significance of the entry of Aegeus, king of Athens, into the play Medea. (b) How do you think the Athenian audience of the time would have assessed the scene? 1988 Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Would you agree that this is the central theme of the play Medea? Give reasons for your answer supporting them with reference to the play Two flaws in Jason lead to disaster, namely, his total lack of insight into Medea s character, and his total lack of respect for her as a person. (a) Briefly discuss this view of Jason as he appears in the play, Medea. (b) Write a brief note on what we learn about Euripides from his treatment of the characters of Jason and Medea in this play Euripides shows a remarkable grasp of the female psychology. Discuss this statement with reference to the play, Medea Medea in spite of her terrible crimes, still has our sympathy. Discuss this statement with reference to the play, Medea.

4 Potential Medea Privilege 2017: 1) In Medea, though they have few speaking parts, children play a vital role in both the action and interpretation of the play. Discuss. (Include Glauce and Aegeus.) 2) Through the rather dubious invocation and intervention of the gods in Medea, Euripides is questioning the morality of his society s understanding of faith and fate. Discuss. 3) Part of Medea s difficulty is due to her status as a foreigner and that she is viewed, perhaps justifiably, as a barbarian in a civilized world. Discuss. 4) It is in the second encounter with Jason that the audience really grasps both Medea s intelligence and her capacity for evil. Discuss. 5) The third encounter between the principal characters reveals Medea at her worst and Jason at his most pitiful. Discuss. 6) We may be horrified by Medea s barbaric actions but some of the attitudes and actions of the civilized Greeks are at least open to criticism. Discuss. 7) We pity Jason at the end of Medea, but we also see where he went wrong. Discuss. 8) ) Jason deserves some punishment, but it is the suffering of the other innocent characters which assures us of Medea s ultimate guilt. Discuss. 9) We are horrifed by Medea at the end of the play, but through her arguments we have gained sympathy for women and exiles. Discuss. 10) Medea gains her objectives but loses the audience s sympathy, while Jason accomplishes the reverse. Discuss. 11) The chorus plays a central role in establishing the moral code of Medea, but their ultimate inability to intervene in the action is also profoundly significant. Discuss. 1. Medea as foreigner /civilization-barbarism 2. negative/positive aspects of Jason /Medea 3. Chorus 4. Aegeus/Creon/kings 5. Medea s crime believable/excusable 6. Second Encounter 7. role of gods 8. First Encounter 9. other characters 11. 3rd encounter 12. children/family/parent 13. Medea as woman/marriage

5 1. Medea as Foreigner/ civilization/barbarism Part of Medea s difficulty is due to her status as a foreigner and that she is viewed, perhaps justifiably, as a barbarian in a civilized world. Discuss. Background: Medea is from Colchis, which is on the eastern shore of the Black Sea. At the time, it is beyond what was considered the civilised Greek world. They speak a different language: ba-ba Greeks called foreign language speakers barbarians : Greeks are unabashed cultural imperialists: We are superior to foreigners but they have their uses.apothecary Medea is used by Jason for her typically foreign/barbarian talents: witchcraft, devious strategy. Includes the murder of her brother and Peleus. Known for her skills and has earned a place but not complete acceptance.. p. 17 Nurse: Coming as an exile, she has earned the citizens welcome How? Her special skills- using guest workers Aegeus expects her to help him with his infertility- foreigners had their uses but not equality in Greek society.. I know certain drugs whose power will put an end to your sterility Aegeus will accept her in Athens: famous for its open door policy? + attract different skills attract some dubious characters

6 Medea aware of her disadvantaged state as a foreigner/exile: p. 24: Still more a foreign woman, coming among new laws and new customs needs the skill of magic to find what her home could not teach her Doubly disadvantaged: woman and foreign p. 30: So you Medea set sail from your father s house and here living in a strange country. Chorus s sympathy. p.34: You are an aging man and an Asiatic wife is no longer respectable Greek wives can be cheated on,, foreign wives can be abandoned She plays on it for sympathy Why did she come? To help Jason.. J: But only because of Aphrodite J 33: That credit solely due to Aphrodite...gods/fate **** Jason is also a foreigner to Corinth but at least he is Greek excuse for Glauce get ahead Her Crime: because she is savage? A barbarian? Vs. civilised Greeks p. 58: Jason: In all Hellas, there is not one woman who could have done it I married you chose hatred no woman but a tiger, a Tuscan Scylla p. 60: Jason in last encounter: Zeus, do you hear rejected by this savage beast Jason s arrogant, logical behaviour shows how the so-called civilized can do wrong (hypocrisy).but Medea s savagery is definitely connected with her foreign/barbarian origins.. But. Could Medea s barbarism be blamed solely for the crime could any other character done it? Probably not.but how about Medea s and Jason s fear about what Creon s relatives will do to the kids maybe we are all capable of such savagery and civility is but a mere veneer.

7 2. negative/positive aspects of Jason/Medea

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9 3. Role of children Gen: Immense importance to the play: the prize, the object of desire. Also, to Greek society: different than us/ (bloodline). Medea s, Jason s with Glauce, Glauce, Aegeus,. I. Play is centred around them though they never speak (only scream!) Symbolic of their importance. Modern play: make them individuals. Classical Greece: more symbolic, the continuation of the bloodline. More important but less personalised/ individuals. Also trouble: Medea s line about worse than battle /cause Chorus: 2 sweet gift of children incessant worry child-killer whose presence is pollution II. Medea s Real love the way she talks to them and almost changes her mind. (children s skin is soft and breath pure) Obviously, tutor and nurse also love and protect them. Nurse and Chorus are horrified when shed decides to kill them: and desert her (abomination) So important, that they become the method of revenge: Even bodies are fought over! III Jason With Medea: absent but claims he is trying to provide for their future to give them brothers and build security for all (children with Glauce) (yet accepts their banishment-blaims Medea) Anti-woman/pro-child If only children could be got some other way At end: see his real love/tragedy- begs for their bodies Let me touch their gentle flesh IV Creon/Glauce Medea appeals to him as father to lift banishment Death scene: emotional horrible death as he grasps her corpse (real love) V Aegeus Helps Medea to get help/ potion to help him have a child enables tragedy Worth it? Do anything to have a child, an heir, continued bloodline..

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11 4. Role of gods/3 rd meeting Through the rather dubious invocation and intervention of the gods in Medea, Euripides is questioning the morality of his society s understanding of faith and fate. Discuss. End of the play: traditional deus ex machine- In Greek drama, literally a crane with a bucket which the gods often appeared in late in the play one of the few pieces of set machinery so it was normal for such a divine intervention..but usually to punish a hero gone wrong here Medea escapes Jason is punished.euripides IS QUESTIONNING THE MORALITY OF THE GREEK RELIGIOUS SYSTEM. Start: From the start, all the characters invoke the gods. Medea and others imply that Jason has done seriously wrong by breaking his marital oath: Medea: Mighty Themis! Dread Artemis! Do you see how I am used despite the great oaths may I see Jason and his bride ground to pieces in their shattered palace Breaking oaths justifies violence? Nurse: And to Zeus, who is the named guardian of men s oaths, it is no trifling matter Chorus: If your husband Zeus will plead your cause : To punish Jason would be just Aegeus also.it IS WRONG! And he uses the oath to the gods by Medea to protect him from the Corinthians gods and oaths to them are used like a charm and not always morally.. Chorus and others abandon her when her plans for her children come out but gods don t! Why? 1) Jason broke oaths very bad, against Zeus in particular (Aegeus) 2) Grand-daughter of Sun-god: family ties matter also Gods use mortals to get their way: Here, Medea reverses it: she uses her connections to get revenge.. HJASON IS WRONG BUT so is Medea. Certainly, children are innocent. Euripides: If there are gods, they do not always enforce a fair moral system. Why do bad/good things happen to good/bad people?

12 5. Third Encounter

13 6) Aegeus/Creon

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15 7) Medea s crime believable/justifiable- Euripides Technique

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17 8) Second Encounter I Build-up: First encounter, she is full of rage but the nurse, tutor, chorus and even we support her 790: I will kill my sons! Everything in Second Encounter must be read aware that she has made this decision Earlier understandable passion and rage but now. Cold, calculating, devious, pre-meditated I loathe your prosperous future, After comments like this how can Jason believe that Medea has changed her tune? II Plays on Jason s naivety/arrogance and blames herself for being woman Forgive my violent temper 870 You were right about providing for our children 885 But we are what we are 888 Almost impossible to believe that Jason would fall. Even: I should have readied your marriage bed.. But not sarcastic. Jason is so blinded by his selfrighteousness Jason believes Medea, because he believes that women are changeable. The folly was all mine. She is cold, lying and acting. D.I. She cries because she will kill her children but makes Jason believe that she is crying because of their imminent exile.

18 III Uses the children as pawns love him as your mother does Dramatic Irony: We know but Jason is oblivious It s ironic because Medea hates Jason. IV To her credit, she turns away with weeping in a premonition of guilt but goes through with it! Chorus: evil! They know why Medea is crying so they too weep and beg Medea not to kill her children. V. Jason s response is so smug and arrogant, we think he deserves some punishment He forgives her and says she is acting now like a sensible woman. I ll provide for them, Cheer up! (The DI of it!) Notices that he is crying; she explains it away. women are women only naturally a woman is angry when a husband marries a second wife, wiser, control, Jason thinks he s being logical and reasonable, in fact his logical approach is what blinds him to the impending doom of his children. Medea s killing of the children is the illogical act. Significance: Jason-intelligent, successful hero but shows the limits of logic and civilized thought: prone to arrogance and naivety Greece? VI. her proposal of the gift Again, Jason lets himself be conned.again, Medea plays on the sexism of the time and of Jason. She will if she is like other women 945 Deeply ironic: To buy my sons from exile, I would give life VII: After Jason leaves: Chorus: Jason is wrong (disregarding right and loyalty) and naïve (so sure of destiny but so ignorant) but Medea is evil (I have no more hope)

19 9) Chorus

20 The chorus usually serves as what? The moral barometer of the play: it represents a contemporary voice about the characters and issues in the play. Chorus is made up of women: already Euripides has disempowered his chorus by making them women in a man s world. Contrast with Oedipal chorus. First: choral song (komnos) is emotional and not very informative. They like Jason and are loyal to his house though are emotionally connected to Medea Second: chorus appeals to Zeus and the gods to help Medea, but they also warn that a husband cheating on her wife is common and she should check her passionate grief. Third: Sympathetic toward Medea. Tell her we were all on her side Number FOUR!!!!! : recalls medeas past Fifth: to punish Jason will be just serving a narrative purpose and support for Medea but like most women and most chorus it s a purely advisory role 6 th 7 th : strongest statement yet. About the deceit of men, a feminist rant (ugh) against the sexist nature of the time: history not herstorying! And exile with no redress The sympathy is for medea as an exile 8 th : L578 you are acting wrongly and thus abandoning your wife 9 th : L658 He shall be no friend of mine L790 Medea I will kill my sons From this point forward the chorus is no longer on medeas side!!! You must not do this..to kill your own children L810 Chorus raises a related issue in its next stasimon

21 10) First Encounter

22 Jason vs Medea I Take one word or phrase from each paragraph of dialogue between Jason and Medea and explain how it reflects the overall intent of the speaker. Enter Jason: I have often noticed ungoverned rage Jason enters and begins to speak in a calm, detached manner, emphasizing that Medea s predicament is all her fault carefully considered Persisting with his logic, offers help You filthy coward! Medea is the opposite: full guns blazing

23 unmanliness interesting, she is portrayed as the typical over-emotional woman while she claims he is unmanly I willingly deceived my father admits her past sins for him! Respect for oaths has gone guilty of perjury important: Jason has broken his oath, protected by Zeus etc Marvellous husband Sarcasm! Chorus: the fiercest anger replaces love (thin line) Good seamanship... Direct contrast to Medea s emotionality, Jason uses sailing as a metaphor for his tactics emphasizing how he thinks so differently to Medea and perhaps how men think to women Your services are well enough Damn by faint praise Jason is making light of Medea s dreadful crimes in his aid Unswayed by passion He is a love-rat in 2 ways, he claims he s not in love As brothers to your children He is apparently doing it all for the whole family If women didn t exist, human life would be rid of all it s miseries Misogynist truism also emphasizes the importance of children Chorus: Jason is logical/plausible but wrong Medea: Glib high-mindedness Medea voices some authentic criticism of Jason s arrogance Medea: Asiatic wife True? Yes: Jason could cheat on a Greek but not commit bigamy Jason: security for us all Jason is insistent that his actions were not as selfish as they seem M: loathe your prosperous future I hate you, yuppie-scum! J: refers to her rage and curses True? Her angry rant was heard by Creon Medea does not relent but curses his house J: letters of introduction How insulting!!

24 11) Medea s Use of Other Characters:

25 Nurse: Milk cow, ice cream, sundae with a banana/ banana split, Tutor: not used (male, unsympathetic) Chorus: Medea keeps them on her side until it s too late The chorus can never act but had they been more perceptive they could have thrown there batmarangs. Creon: Creon s reasonable reaction to Medea s threats are the impetus for the plot. Medea preys upon his naivety but specifically his common bond as a father, show some pity, you are a father too (line 347). Creon s honest love for his daughter leads to his death and she, medea, shamelessly uses her. Glauce: Comes across as being a normal, quite vain princess. Only treats children well after they come with a gift and after being convinced by jason. Doesn t show any spite towards Medea so is an innocent victim. Aegeus: Aegeus is used and uses Medea. Children:

26 12) Medea as woman/ female psyche/marriage 16, 13, 07, 06, 00,

27 2006

28 2007

29 Name Medea: Significant Quotes CS6: Mr. Latvis C: children /family G: gods F: Medea as foreigner I-III: First J/M encounter, V: civilization/barbarism J+-: Jason, positive and negative M+-: Medea, positive and negative W: women O: other characters T: Euripedes s Techniques C: Chorus GM: golden mean 17:12 she has earned the citizens welcome. M+-; F Medea has somehow earned a welcome, probably through her skills as a sorceress/witch. No free lunch. 17:14 to Jason she is all obedience- and in marriage, that s the saving thing W, Nurse giving standard sexist proverbial wisdom. Undercut later? 18:25 Jason s wickedness J- (according to nurse) Jason is wrong. 18:33 which she betrayed and left uprooted from their native land F, M- She chose to leave! But also sympathy for foreigners 19:83 He is guilty What man s not guilty? O, W, J, M Nurse- Tutor: Tutor defends Jason s position (male sticking by male): Husbands philandering is no big deal Medea is over-acting.. Double Standard 20:91 There s something that she means to do O, T: Foreshadowing suspense Dramatic Irony! 20:113 Death take you and perish his whole house! M F Medea to the children, but Nurse does not take it seriously yet? 21:123 The middle way V, M, : reference to aureas mediocritas : the golden mean- The basic Greek philosophical idealnothing in excess. You should not go to high or too low (like Icarus). Medea and Jason have gone too high now they will Fall. 22:154 The thing is common Zeus will plead your cause. Cs, V More advice from Chorus: These things happen, but importantly Zeus is invoked as a protector of oaths hint that the gods may be at least partially on Medea s side 23:182 Tell her we are all on her side Cs, T Chorus states its loyalties. Euripedes may be deliberately compromising the chorus s independence and trustworthiness..how far will they stick with her? 24:236 Still more, a foreign woman W, F, M, V Doubly discriminated against- woman and foreign! 25:255 I have no mother, brother M True but she killed him! Admits crimes but claims she did them for Jason and love (inspired by Aphrodite ) 25:264 To punish Jason will be just J-, Ch, M+- Chorus here gives its judgment. But how far should the punishment go? 26:289 I will act first, then, in self-defence

30 M-, Creon Pre-emptive strike! 1) He should do so! (but does not pity) 2) Are we really that civilized, bound by law? 26:319 A woman of hot temper, and a man the same 27:329 I love my country too-next only to my daughter Creon not a good king: privileges family over civil duty 27:347 You are a father too W/F/M-/+ Medea plays on Creon s sympathy by emphasizing his fatherhood devious Stereotype: femme fatale 28:376 Three enemies I shall strike dead AT this point, Medea is targeting only Jason, Creon and Glauce. 29:408 His father was the Sun-god G lays the stage for for later divine intervention on Medea s behalf (amoral gods?) 30:429 We d counter with our epics against man W: feminism: Herstory 30:440 Honour remains no more G/J: Why? Because of adultery per se but because of vow-breaking. 31:460 carefully considered Jason s first words: logical unemotional 32:494 You are guilty of perjury to me emphasises the vow not the sexual betrayal 32:524 good seamanship repeated metaphor of sailing as representative of logical, calm behaviour: civilized, masculine 33:538 where force yields place to law v: This is civilized Greece! Medea takes advantage But how civilized are they? Would Creon s family take revenge on the children as Medea says? Perhaps we only need a push to go back to being savage 33:542 unless life brings me fame Jason s obsession: hubris! (overbearing pride) 33:550 was not swayed by passion Jason defends his logical adultery 34:574 If only children could be got some other way 35:597 I loathe your prosperous future M+ J-: Medea does not have his goals 35:615 letters of introduction J-: What an insult! 35:618 I call the gods to witness J: Thinks the gods are on his side 37:652 Then to be deprived of your native land M/F: Playing the refugee 37:661 He shall be no friend of mine Chorus is choosing Medea s side..for now.. p.37 You, Medea, have suffered the most shattering of blows; yet neither the city of Corinth

31 nor any friend has taken pity on you.he shall be no friend of mine. p40: O Zeus! O Justice, daughter of Zeus! O glorious Sun! Now I am on the road to victory; now there s hope! M-: planning/pre-meditated He (Aegeus) is a haven where I shall find safe mooring M- Selfish Technique: metaphor of sailing!!!! p41: What makes me cry with pain is the next thing I have to do. I will kill my sons No one shall take my children from me. When I have left Jason s whole house a shambles, I will Corinth a murderess, flying from my darling children s blood. Yes, I can endure guilt, however horrible; the laughter of my enemies I will not endure. M-: Real reason: wounded pride and revenge; Child: house - importance of family line P42: Let no one think of me as humble or weak or passive; let them understand I am of a different kind: dangerous to my enemies, loyal to my friends. p42: I tell you, you must not do this! Chorus : The line has been crossed! p42: No other thing is possible.you have not been treated as I have. p42: But to kill your own children Can you steel your heart? Chorus/Technique: Euripedes is emphasising the limitations on the chorus: only advising passive p42: This is the way to deal Jason the deepest wound. M: revenge (saving children from exile is secondary at best justification) p43: How will Athens welcome you, the child-killer whose presence is pollution? Civ: Is an open door always good? Questions civilised values? Medea we beseech you, do not slaughter your children! Chorus: can only beseech! p44: We women I won t say we are bad by nature, but we are what we are. p44: May the course of evil be checked now, go no further! p46: One of you maids, go quickly, bring the dress and golden coronet. They will multiply her happiness many times.these treasures which my father s father the Sun bequeathed to his descendants. Go! She will find them all that such a gift should be. p. 47: Go quickly; be successful, and bring good news back, that what your mother longs for has been granted you. p47: Now I have no more hope, no more hope that the children can live; they are walking to murder at this moment. The bride will receive the golden coronet, receive her merciless destroyer; with her own hands she will carefully fit the adornment of death round her golden hair. O wretched Jason! So sure of destiny, and so ignorant! (to Medea) You, for jealousy of your marriage bed, will slaughter your children p48: Mistress! These two boys are reprieved from banishment. Isn t that good news? Why do you stand there thunderstruck?...why stand there staring at the ground with streaming eyes? p49: Parted from you, my life will be all pain and anguish. (to children)

32 Oh, what am I to do? Women, my courage is all gone. Their young bright faces - I can t do it. I ll think no more of it..i won t do it. I won t think of it again. What is the matter with me? Are my enemies to laugh at me? Am I to let them off scot free? I must steel myself to it.my hand shall not weaken. Oh, my heart, don t, don t do it! Oh, miserable heart, let them be! Spare your children! p50:..no! No! No! By all the fiends of hate in hell s depths, no! I ll not leave sons of mine to be victims of my enemies rage. In any case there s no escape, the thing s done now. Go! Go away! I can t look at you any longer; my pain is more than I can bear. I understand the horror of what I am going to do; but anger masters my resolve. (to Messenger) p52: Your news is excellent..tell me, how did they die? You ll give me double pleasure if their death was horrible. p55: Happiness is a thing no man possesses. Fortune may come to one man, now to another, as prosperity increases; Happiness never, p55: No cowardice, no tender memories; forget that you once loved them, that of your body they were born. For one short day forget your children; afterwards weep: though you kill them, they were your beloved sons. Life has been cruel to me. p56: Heaven-born brightness, hold her, stop her, purge the palace of her, this pitiable bloody-handed fiend of vengeance! O miserable mother, to destroy your own increase, murder the babes of your body! Stone and iron you are, as you resolved to be. p57: I ve come to save my sons, before Creon s family murder them in revenge for this unspeakable crime of their mother s. p58: Stop! Be quiet. If you have any business with me, say what you wish. Touch us you cannot, in this chariot which the Sun has sent to save us from the hands of enemies. p58: You abomination! No woman, but a tiger p59: You were mistaken if you thought you dishonour my bed and live a pleasant life and laugh at me. Hurl at me what names you please! I ve reached your heart; and that is right. My pain s a fair price to take away your smile. O sons, your father s treachery cost you your lives. p.60: I will bury them with my own hand, to ensure that none of my enemies shall violate or insult their graves. And I will ordain an annual feast and sacrifice to be solemnised for ever by the people of Corinth, to expiate this impious murder. You, as you deserve, shall die an unheroic death, your head shattered from a timber from the Argo s hull. p61: Many are the fates which Zeus in Olympus dispenses; many matters the gods bring to surprising ends.