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Euripides’ Medea. Introductory Lecture 1/20/2011. Euripides. Circa 480-406 BCE Last of 3 great Athenian tragedians (Aeschylus, Sophocles) Noted for: S trong female characters Intelligent slaves Use of heroes from Greek mythology ~95 plays, including Medea (431 BCE). Medea.
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Euripides’ Medea Introductory Lecture 1/20/2011
Euripides • Circa 480-406 BCE • Last of 3 great Athenian tragedians (Aeschylus, Sophocles) • Noted for: • Strong female characters • Intelligent slaves • Use of heroes from Greek mythology • ~95 plays, including Medea (431 BCE)
Medea • Princess of Colchis (East on the Black Sea), niece of Circe (witch), grand-daughter of Helios (sun god) • Betrays her family to help Jason and the Argonauts • Killed her brother (chopped into bits!) • Marries Jason, bears two sons • Medea and Jason end up in Corinth
Euripides’ Medea • Characters • Medea • Jason • Creon • Aegeus • Nurse & Attendant • Chorus of Corinthian Women • Messenger • Non-speaking roles: Creusa, Medea’s 2 children
What’s the story? • Jason is to marry Creusa, Creon’s daughter • Medea grieves the loss of her husband • Many characters fear what this sorceress might do • Creon orders her to be sent into exile • Entrance of Aegeus- agrees to harbor Medea in exchange for helping his wife conceive
Medea’s vengeance • Death to Creon and Creusa! • Poisons golden robes (wedding gifts) • Euripides’ invention: • Kills her own sons- Why? • Medea escapes, with refuge promised in Athens, on a chariot of the sun-god Helios
Questions to Consider • Was Jason wrong to marry Creusa? Any benefits to children/Medea? • Is Medea justified in killing Creon & Creusa? • In killing her two sons? • What does Medea’s murder of her children add? • Other authors had them killed by the angry Corinthians • Does Euripides authorize Medea’s actions by allowing her escape to Athens?