Theme Of Manipulation In Medea

Medea is an Ancient Greek play written by Euripides, which is set in Corinth. Medea appears to be the heroine of the play (partially indicated by the fact that she is the eponymous character), which was uncommon in the time it was written; male characters were usually the protagonists. Medea is not native to Corinth or even Greece; her difficulty in conforming to Ancient Greek societal expectations is in fact a significant theme in the play: she is not Greek, she is not passive, she is not traditionally maternal, which is a combination expressed in a way that makes her almost masculine. This is evident in the way she navigates certain scenes. She exhibits several skills (relating in particular to those of analysis, intellect, composure and …show more content…
This is an impressive display of manipulation; Creon enters the stage already demanding she leave the city for fear of his daughter’s safety. Creon knows she had been “scowling rage against” Jason, and may be aware that she “called down wicked curses on the King and his house” (as Jason claims), and has almost certainly heard that she has divine supernatural powers that she has previously used homicidally – this would be in the context of her role in Jason’s quest for the Golden Fleece. However, despite being scared of the “plots” Medea “may be nursing deep within” her heart (which would not be expressed externally), she is still able to convince him to let her stay in Corinth for one day. Medea does this by exploiting Creon’s familial values; he has already claimed he “loves” his country “next only to” his daughter, a fact that aids Medea in emotionally manipulating him. She requests time to “make provision” for her sons, and that he as a father “should feel kindly towards them,” (making him directly culpable for their fate). Creon even claims that he is “foolish” for following his “soft heart” and indulging Medea. The time she has had to “beg” for is used instead to carry out her “schemes;” this she criticises Creon for, as she thinks he is a “fool” for believing she would have “fawned” for any reason other than to “gain” her …show more content…
Family was crucial in Ancient Greece, particularly for men who were concerned with their lineage (which was most). Creon is not the only character with a weakness for family. In manipulating Aegeus, Medea threads together several different techniques. The fact that they are “old friends” is given weight in the play; their dialogue is comfortable and familiar; Aegeus has no problem sharing his plights. It is possible that she is aware he will be sympathetic to her predicament because she knows him, and therefore purposefully prompts him to ask her if she is well. He asks her why she looks “pale and wasted,” and we know that Medea is capable of appearing composed: the stage directions for when she first appears, after we have only heard her suicidal and histrionic weeping, state that she “exits looking cool and self-possessed.” It is possible to infer from this that Medea alters her appearance to gain sympathy from Aegeus, knowing that she can. However, this is only one facet of her manipulation; after requesting that she find refuge in Athens with him, she immediately says he has “luck” as she knows “certain drugs whose power” can “put an end” to his “sterility;” the implication is that if he allows her sanctuary, she will solve his problem. He admits that she’s given him “hope” of having children. Whether or not she will indeed help him does not matter; he agrees to help her, despite