Supervised Writing- MEDEA
Prompt 1: How is the Chorus the vehicle of social comment and cultural values?
→ Medea is a mythical ancient Greek tragedy about a sorceress Medea and her revengeful and jealous intentions against her husband Jason as she thinks Jason has betrayed her by marrying the princess of Corinth. It’s a heavy play in terms of broken vows and treachery, leading to a powerful peripetia in the play. There is an ongoing conflict throughout the play on many levels- be it oikos or patriarchy (the role of women was subdued in ancient Greece). The portrayal of the character of Medea has become an archetype- from murdering the princess to committing infanticide; Medea has the pivotal role in the play that attracts many audiences. The role of Medea gives the sense of excess; there is an excess of emotions as well as there is an excess of actions.
“Medea: Oh, what misery! […] Cursed sons, and a mother for cursing! Death take you all – you and your father […]
Nurse: Why make the sons share in their father's guilt? (20-21)” …show more content…
Euripides has very creatively designed the characters of Jason and the servants, who basically serve as informants in the play and do not have any transformative power. The Chorus has always been an integral part of any Greek Tragedy. The Chorus conveyed to the audience what main characters could not say. It usually provided advice to the other characters in the play. As Medea initially addresses to them as ‘women of Corinth, it emphasizes that the chorus consists of the reputable citizens of the city. In Medea, Euripides portrays the chorus in the form of fifteen Corinthian women. Medea is deceit and is able to conceal her mal intentions from every character in the play. Only the chorus is fully aware of her murderous intentions. In fact, in the beginning of the play the chorus advises Medea and tries to uplift her from her
Prompt 1: How is the Chorus the vehicle of social comment and cultural values?
→ Medea is a mythical ancient Greek tragedy about a sorceress Medea and her revengeful and jealous intentions against her husband Jason as she thinks Jason has betrayed her by marrying the princess of Corinth. It’s a heavy play in terms of broken vows and treachery, leading to a powerful peripetia in the play. There is an ongoing conflict throughout the play on many levels- be it oikos or patriarchy (the role of women was subdued in ancient Greece). The portrayal of the character of Medea has become an archetype- from murdering the princess to committing infanticide; Medea has the pivotal role in the play that attracts many audiences. The role of Medea gives the sense of excess; there is an excess of emotions as well as there is an excess of actions.
“Medea: Oh, what misery! […] Cursed sons, and a mother for cursing! Death take you all – you and your father […]
Nurse: Why make the sons share in their father's guilt? (20-21)” …show more content…
Euripides has very creatively designed the characters of Jason and the servants, who basically serve as informants in the play and do not have any transformative power. The Chorus has always been an integral part of any Greek Tragedy. The Chorus conveyed to the audience what main characters could not say. It usually provided advice to the other characters in the play. As Medea initially addresses to them as ‘women of Corinth, it emphasizes that the chorus consists of the reputable citizens of the city. In Medea, Euripides portrays the chorus in the form of fifteen Corinthian women. Medea is deceit and is able to conceal her mal intentions from every character in the play. Only the chorus is fully aware of her murderous intentions. In fact, in the beginning of the play the chorus advises Medea and tries to uplift her from her