What is Medea’s main conflict, how is it tragic, and why does she escape unpunished? I SHALL ARGUE THAT Medea’s main conflict IS that she must try and reclaim her honor, after Jason disgraced her. Her conflict IS tragic because Medea tries to reclaim her honor by committing evil, and with full knowledge. She escapes unpunished because Euripides wanted a woman to win in his play, something uncommon in ancient Greek works.
As the play begins, we immediately learn that Jason betrayed his wife, Medea, and abandoned her and their two children, so that he could marry the princess of Corinth (16). Devastated, she constantly cries and has her eyes always fixed on the ground (24). Medea also enters a sea of rage, as she even expresses hate for her own children (35). Despite her anger and sadness, we learn from Medea’s nurse that Medea will not simply allow herself to be made a fool of (38). The nurse even establishes that she fears that Medea may do something rash, such as kill the royal family (39). Initially, Medea decides that she will kill three people, the king of Corinth, his daughter, and Jason (375). However, as the play progresses, Medea decides that she should kill the princess of Corinth (783), as well as her innocent children (792). In Medea’s eyes, Jason …show more content…
This play provides us with a unique plot because just cannot be found; the murderer gets away. Medea escapes because Euripides sympathizes with Medea and wanted the women to win for once, despite Medea’s crimes. Along with that, Euripides also wanted those that went to see the play to feel sorry for Medea as well, thus making the end of the play feel acceptable. We can see that Medea commits these acts because she feels that Jason cheated her, and that murder can put her on top. By taking matters into her own hands, Medea challenges the play’s status quo that women must live under
As the play begins, we immediately learn that Jason betrayed his wife, Medea, and abandoned her and their two children, so that he could marry the princess of Corinth (16). Devastated, she constantly cries and has her eyes always fixed on the ground (24). Medea also enters a sea of rage, as she even expresses hate for her own children (35). Despite her anger and sadness, we learn from Medea’s nurse that Medea will not simply allow herself to be made a fool of (38). The nurse even establishes that she fears that Medea may do something rash, such as kill the royal family (39). Initially, Medea decides that she will kill three people, the king of Corinth, his daughter, and Jason (375). However, as the play progresses, Medea decides that she should kill the princess of Corinth (783), as well as her innocent children (792). In Medea’s eyes, Jason …show more content…
This play provides us with a unique plot because just cannot be found; the murderer gets away. Medea escapes because Euripides sympathizes with Medea and wanted the women to win for once, despite Medea’s crimes. Along with that, Euripides also wanted those that went to see the play to feel sorry for Medea as well, thus making the end of the play feel acceptable. We can see that Medea commits these acts because she feels that Jason cheated her, and that murder can put her on top. By taking matters into her own hands, Medea challenges the play’s status quo that women must live under