“Medea explores the tension between reason and passion”. Discuss
It is within the very nature of humans to isolate the polarised forces of reason and passion, yet within his Greek tragedy Medea, Euripides demonstrates the “fatal results” of possessing a predisposition for either frame of mind. Indeed, the antagonistic relationship between Medea and society best contextualises the gripping antithesis between maintaining an acceptable outward demeanour and laying bare our inner impulses respectively, however, at its core, this rupture is also self evident on an intrapersonal level as observed in Medea’s character. In presenting the consequences of the oppressive culture of Greek society, as well as the extent of destruction entailed with Medea’s …show more content…
There exists between Medea and the Greek society a fundamental disjunction in the beliefs that they maintain throughout the entirety of the play. The state of Corinth concerns itself with preserving a façade of orderliness derived from rationality and order; on the contrary, Medea, “who left a barbarous land to become a resident of Hellas” is the embodiment of excess that the civilised world fears, ruled by passionate anger in her lust for revenge. She is forthright in that the emotions in her outward demeanour are aligned with her inner impulses. Euripides constructs Medea in a manner, uncharacteristic of the archetypal Greek woman founded upon pragmatism, who is commonly considered quiet, powerless and purposely unintelligent, Medea is a manipulative, conniving and “clever woman” and assumes a reserved exterior, whilst stifling her own emotions. In her commitment to revenge, Medea defies the expectations of Greek society and the role of women, transforming from the passive Medea, who is “scorned and shamed”, “[lying] collapsed” from the reins of reason imposed by society, into “a woman of hot temper”, who yields to the temptations of raw emotions. Moreover, the male characters in the play, who are unadulterated representations of society’s rationality and …show more content…
As hailed by the Nurse, “the middle way” which is neither great nor mean is best by far”. Euripides develops the Nurse as an embodiment of the symbiotic relationship between reason and passion. Despite the brevity of her appearance in the first scene, the Nurse fluctuates between outrage on behalf of womankind, and a passive acceptance of the sensible order of the patriarchal society. While the Nurse harbours the belief that “every thankless man [should] be destroyed”, she is not entirely moved by her impulse to inveigh against manhood; similarly, while the Nurse considers reason, she does not submit entirely to the order of society. The Nurse’s carefully constructed artless countenance betrays the extent of her knowledge. Moreover, the Chorus, a moral compass in the play and its eventual appeal for Medea to not “slaughter [her] children” subverts the afore held sympathy of the audience. Although the Chorus emphasises the need for emotions to guide us, its ultimate subversion of Medea’s deliberations reveals the dangers of being consumed by heedless emotions. Although Euripides seems to suggest it is essential that we draw upon this passion within us, it is equally important that an element of rationality and order cultivates our unchecked emotions, lest our unchecked emotions lend themselves to “fatal
It is within the very nature of humans to isolate the polarised forces of reason and passion, yet within his Greek tragedy Medea, Euripides demonstrates the “fatal results” of possessing a predisposition for either frame of mind. Indeed, the antagonistic relationship between Medea and society best contextualises the gripping antithesis between maintaining an acceptable outward demeanour and laying bare our inner impulses respectively, however, at its core, this rupture is also self evident on an intrapersonal level as observed in Medea’s character. In presenting the consequences of the oppressive culture of Greek society, as well as the extent of destruction entailed with Medea’s …show more content…
There exists between Medea and the Greek society a fundamental disjunction in the beliefs that they maintain throughout the entirety of the play. The state of Corinth concerns itself with preserving a façade of orderliness derived from rationality and order; on the contrary, Medea, “who left a barbarous land to become a resident of Hellas” is the embodiment of excess that the civilised world fears, ruled by passionate anger in her lust for revenge. She is forthright in that the emotions in her outward demeanour are aligned with her inner impulses. Euripides constructs Medea in a manner, uncharacteristic of the archetypal Greek woman founded upon pragmatism, who is commonly considered quiet, powerless and purposely unintelligent, Medea is a manipulative, conniving and “clever woman” and assumes a reserved exterior, whilst stifling her own emotions. In her commitment to revenge, Medea defies the expectations of Greek society and the role of women, transforming from the passive Medea, who is “scorned and shamed”, “[lying] collapsed” from the reins of reason imposed by society, into “a woman of hot temper”, who yields to the temptations of raw emotions. Moreover, the male characters in the play, who are unadulterated representations of society’s rationality and …show more content…
As hailed by the Nurse, “the middle way” which is neither great nor mean is best by far”. Euripides develops the Nurse as an embodiment of the symbiotic relationship between reason and passion. Despite the brevity of her appearance in the first scene, the Nurse fluctuates between outrage on behalf of womankind, and a passive acceptance of the sensible order of the patriarchal society. While the Nurse harbours the belief that “every thankless man [should] be destroyed”, she is not entirely moved by her impulse to inveigh against manhood; similarly, while the Nurse considers reason, she does not submit entirely to the order of society. The Nurse’s carefully constructed artless countenance betrays the extent of her knowledge. Moreover, the Chorus, a moral compass in the play and its eventual appeal for Medea to not “slaughter [her] children” subverts the afore held sympathy of the audience. Although the Chorus emphasises the need for emotions to guide us, its ultimate subversion of Medea’s deliberations reveals the dangers of being consumed by heedless emotions. Although Euripides seems to suggest it is essential that we draw upon this passion within us, it is equally important that an element of rationality and order cultivates our unchecked emotions, lest our unchecked emotions lend themselves to “fatal