EuripidesEuripides

(480-406) Wrote 92 plays

Characteristics of his plays: Represents mythical heroes as normal peopleWorks led the invention of comediesFocused on inner lives and motives of charactersWrote about women (NEVER done before)Questioned religion of the godsCharacters confronted personal issues not just issues

of the state. Uses Deus Ex Machina (God in the Uses Deus Ex Machina (God in the

machine) to get his characters out of machine) to get his characters out of trouble/play.trouble/play.

Reading MedeaReading MedeaGreeks v. BarbariansGreeks v. Barbarians

Greece was occupied by small city-Greece was occupied by small city-states and islandsstates and islands

No country of GreeceNo country of Greece Who is barbarian?Who is barbarian?

Greek speakers = goodGreek speakers = good All other speakers = badAll other speakers = bad

Greeks were enlightened and Greeks were enlightened and intelligent; all others are ignorantintelligent; all others are ignorant

Reading MedeaReading MedeaGenderGender

Ancient Athens – well-born women stayed at Ancient Athens – well-born women stayed at home in specially designated women’s home in specially designated women’s quarters.quarters.

Marriages were arrangedMarriages were arranged Women were not citizens, could not vote, Women were not citizens, could not vote,

and could not speak in assemblyand could not speak in assembly Medea feels she is Jason’s equal and refuses Medea feels she is Jason’s equal and refuses

to be submissiveto be submissive She negotiated her wedding contract She negotiated her wedding contract She uses rhetoric which was seen as She uses rhetoric which was seen as

masculinemasculine Defies the Greek definition of a female role Defies the Greek definition of a female role

modelmodel

Reading MedeaReading MedeaWitchcraftWitchcraft

Mythology – Medea is a witchMythology – Medea is a witch Witches in Greek mythology used Witches in Greek mythology used

poison and drugs poison and drugs Turned to specific deities for help like Turned to specific deities for help like

Hecate, goddess of the crossroadsHecate, goddess of the crossroads Not very different from Greek religion Not very different from Greek religion

which employed curses, prophecy which employed curses, prophecy and entrails from sacrificesand entrails from sacrifices

SettingSettingCorinthCorinth In front of Medea’s houseIn front of Medea’s houseCharactersCharactersNurse – Medea’s servantNurse – Medea’s servantTutor – teacher and children’s nannyTutor – teacher and children’s nannyMedea – formerly princess of Colchis, Medea – formerly princess of Colchis,

wife of Jasonwife of Jason Jason – hero and the captain of the Jason – hero and the captain of the

ArgoArgoAegeus – King of AthensAegeus – King of AthensMessengerMessenger

Mythology of JasonMythology of Jason Son of Aeson - King of IolcusSon of Aeson - King of Iolcus

Son - JasonSon - Jason Pelias overthrew AesonPelias overthrew Aeson Jason grew up and came back to claim the throneJason grew up and came back to claim the throne Gained Hera’s favorGained Hera’s favor Sends him on a quest for the “golden fleece” to get Sends him on a quest for the “golden fleece” to get

the throne backthe throne back Jason gets a boat, The Argo, and assembles a team of Jason gets a boat, The Argo, and assembles a team of

heroes including Hercules, Castor and Pollux, etc.heroes including Hercules, Castor and Pollux, etc. Saves Phineas from the Harpies and Phineas tells him Saves Phineas from the Harpies and Phineas tells him

the Golden Fleece is on Colchisthe Golden Fleece is on Colchis Colchis’s King Aeetus tells Jason he must perform Colchis’s King Aeetus tells Jason he must perform

three tasks.three tasks. Aphrodite makes King Aeetu’s daughter fall in love Aphrodite makes King Aeetu’s daughter fall in love

with Jason and she helps him to complete the tasks with Jason and she helps him to complete the tasks and take the fleece.and take the fleece.

Mythology of Jason – cont.Mythology of Jason – cont.

Medea gave him a potion to defeat the Medea gave him a potion to defeat the dragon that guarded the golden fleece dragon that guarded the golden fleece knowing she would have to leave Colchis knowing she would have to leave Colchis and go home with Jason.and go home with Jason.

Medea kills her own brother to help them Medea kills her own brother to help them escapeescape

They arrive in Iolcus but Pelias will not They arrive in Iolcus but Pelias will not give up the throne.give up the throne.

Medea tricks his daughters into killing Medea tricks his daughters into killing him so they must fleehim so they must flee

They end up in Corinth (a Greek city-They end up in Corinth (a Greek city-state)state)

Prologue and ParadosPrologue and ParadosBeginning to pg 20, ll 219Beginning to pg 20, ll 219. .

1.1. What background facts do we learn from the What background facts do we learn from the Nurse's opening speech?Nurse's opening speech?

2.2. What new trouble has the Tutor heard of?What new trouble has the Tutor heard of?3.3. Why does the Nurse fear for Medea's children?Why does the Nurse fear for Medea's children?4.4. Why does the Nurse say she prefers not to be Why does the Nurse say she prefers not to be

great?great?5.5. Whom do the members of the Chorus represent?Whom do the members of the Chorus represent?6.6. What excuse does Euripides use to bring Medea What excuse does Euripides use to bring Medea

out in front of her house?out in front of her house?7.7. What role did women play in ancient Greek What role did women play in ancient Greek

society? society? 8.8. How is Medea's situation worse than it would be How is Medea's situation worse than it would be

if she were a native of the city? if she were a native of the city? 9.9. What promise does Medea ask for and receive What promise does Medea ask for and receive

from the Chorus? from the Chorus?

Scene 1 pg. 20, ll 220 - pg. 20, ll 220 - pg. 27, ll 471

10.10.What new misfortune does Creon bring What new misfortune does Creon bring to Medea?to Medea?

11.11.According to Medea, no sensible person According to Medea, no sensible person would want clever children. Why? would want clever children. Why?

12.12.Why is Creon's love for his home and Why is Creon's love for his home and family especially bitter to Medea? family especially bitter to Medea?

13.13.What one request of Medea's does What one request of Medea's does Creon grant? Is he really being Creon grant? Is he really being merciful?merciful?

14.14.What does Medea resolve to do? What does Medea resolve to do? 15.15.Who was Medea's grandfather?Who was Medea's grandfather?

Scenes 2 and 3Scenes 2 and 3pg. 28, ll 471 – pg. 43, ll 878pg. 28, ll 471 – pg. 43, ll 878

16.16. According to the Chorus, which sex is cruel and According to the Chorus, which sex is cruel and deceitful toward the other? Why have poets said deceitful toward the other? Why have poets said otherwise?otherwise?

17.17. Whom does Jason blame for Medea's sorrow? Whom does Jason blame for Medea's sorrow? 18.18. What has Medea done for Jason?What has Medea done for Jason?19.19. What justifications does Jason offer for his actions? What justifications does Jason offer for his actions? 20.20. How do Medea and the Chorus respond to Jason's How do Medea and the Chorus respond to Jason's

defense?defense?21.21. What does the Chorus say about what makes love What does the Chorus say about what makes love

desirable or not desirable?desirable or not desirable?22.22. Who swears to help Medea IF she comes safely to his Who swears to help Medea IF she comes safely to his

land? (Why would this part get special attention from land? (Why would this part get special attention from the play's original audience?) the play's original audience?)

23.23. What terrible plan does Medea reveal to the Chorus? What terrible plan does Medea reveal to the Chorus? Why will she do it?Why will she do it?

24.24. Why does the Chorus praise Athens?Why does the Chorus praise Athens?

Scene 4Scene 4Pg. 43, ll 879 – pg 51, ll 1139Pg. 43, ll 879 – pg 51, ll 1139

25.25.What are Medea and the Chorus What are Medea and the Chorus thinking of in ll. 915-922? Does thinking of in ll. 915-922? Does Jason understand? Why are his next Jason understand? Why are his next words ironic? Why does Medea weep words ironic? Why does Medea weep again?again?

26.26.What struggle occurs in Medea ?What struggle occurs in Medea ?

27.27.According to the Chorus, the According to the Chorus, the childless are more fortunate than childless are more fortunate than those who have children. Why?those who have children. Why?

Scene 5 Scene 5 Begin on pg. 51, ll 1140Begin on pg. 51, ll 1140

28.28. How do Medea and the audience learn about How do Medea and the audience learn about the fate of Creon and his daughter? (Compare the fate of Creon and his daughter? (Compare this with the way we learn of Antigone’s and this with the way we learn of Antigone’s and Haemon’s death in Haemon’s death in AntigoneAntigone.).)

29.29. How is the death of Medea's children staged?How is the death of Medea's children staged?30.30. Why is Jason's speech in lines 1363-1383  Why is Jason's speech in lines 1363-1383 

ironic? ironic? 31.31. What satisfaction does Medea find in her What satisfaction does Medea find in her

horrible deed? (See lines 1403.) horrible deed? (See lines 1403.) 32.32. What final comfort does Medea refuse to allow What final comfort does Medea refuse to allow

Jason to have?Jason to have?33.33. How does the play end? Does this suggest How does the play end? Does this suggest

that the gods approve of Medea's actions?that the gods approve of Medea's actions?

DiscussionDiscussion

1.1. Is Medea a tragic hero? Explain Is Medea a tragic hero? Explain using the definition of a tragic hero?using the definition of a tragic hero?

2.2. How does Euripides use Deus Ex How does Euripides use Deus Ex Machina at the end of Medea? Why Machina at the end of Medea? Why do you think he chose to do this?do you think he chose to do this?