Power In Medea

Medea is without a doubt one of the most powerful women in literature, redefining femininity in a male-dominated environment, becoming a symbol of passionate revenge in history. Author Euripides creates interchangeable roles as a relentless heroine and inversely as an immoral antagonist within Medea, making it difficult to pinpoint the exact source of her expansive power; regardless we see Medea’s protagonist, time and time again, rise above her oppressors in a display of her mighty influence and undeniable cunning. Medea seems to attain her well known power, not through wealth or status, but through her presence as an outsider, her intelligence and knowledge in drugs and witchcraft, and her underestimated role as a woman in patriarchal, often …show more content…
The play introduces the idea of "other", being people who do not hold the benefits of the dominant culture and government, which in this case is fully applicable to Medea. This label gives her much power over the people of Corinth who have no idea of what she is capable of, as she does not adhere to local customs and this frightens and intrigues the people of Corinth. In the same way, Ancient Greeks were very suspicious of foreigners, often perceiving them as barbaric and ill-intentioned. It is interesting to see Euripides force Medea into a situation as an outsider, but also makes her the smartest person in the play, tearing down the prejudice instilled in Greek society. Adversely, one could argue that Medea eventually validates the ill perception of “outsiders” through her vengeful and murderous actions, however, when it comes to the reality that this “other” position in the play gave her a powerful influence over the people of Corinth in itself is