Medea Hero

Medea is portrayed as a heroine in Euripides play Medea. In today’s world Medea would hardly be considered a heroine. She may be called evil, cunning, a murderer, or even crazy. However in ancient Greek methodically and literature the hero/heroine normally possessed a sense of being out of the ordinary, had a strong purpose, and did not have to be a particularly good person or the actual hero to make them one. The hero had a tragic flaw. I believe that Medea meets the standards of a heroine in this play. Medea has a quest to seek revenge on her husband Jason because he betrayed her by leaving her for another woman. Medea shows that she is strong willed, and is not willing to accept her husband actions. Medea's pursuit of retaliation …show more content…
Medea’s flaw was loving her husband too much. Her love further fueled her anger. She becomes furious with Jason as she recalls to the chorus how she assisted him, “ before I betrayed my father, before I butchered my brother at home, then dropped him ...piece by piece like bait.” Medea committed these acts of treason because of her love for Jason. She speaks to Jason and reminds him of her acts of love, “ I saved your life when my father challenged you to harness the fire breathing bulls....I killed the insomniac serpent coiled inseparably around the Golden Fleece.... who brought you success instead of death.” However Jason’s betrayal and his excuses that “ to give our sons brothers connected to the throne” enrages Medea. Medea is a heroine because she stands up to society and takes actions because of her plight. During that time period it was not accepted that women would protest the actions of her husband, “Of all creatures that can feel and think, we women are the worst treated things alive.” Medea proves she is a tragic hero by going against what society expects of her. She takes the first step in women liberation and acts upon her feelings rather than what society assumes she will do showing how strong she …show more content…
Her greatness is shown by her many actions and her achievements. She has out smarted her father King of Colchis , fought the serpent, and killed her brother all for the love of Jason, “I became my family worst enemy.” She cleverly schemed and executed the death of Glauce by poisoning her robe which was no easy feat as Glauce was daughter to the KIng Creon and would have had much protection. Medea planned and carried out the killing of her sons and once she made that decision there was no return, “ I gave them life and now I’ll take it. No more wavering, Its settled.” This statement shows how strong willed she was. Medea knew that she was being forced out of the country by King Creon, yet pleaded with him to give her one more day, “ A days reprieve to prepare for exile...I need to plan their future carefully.” Medea fooled the king into allowing her to stay for one more day which allowed her to carry out her murderous