Medea Critique Essay - 1337 Words

THEA 2040 (039) GSU Dunwoody 9/13/17 Critique of Medea, by Euripides 1. Title: Medea | Author: Euripides | Date Written: 431 BC | Genre: Tragedy | Setting: Mythological Grecian Era, Time of Myth, Corinth Theme: The theme presented in Medea that is the most prevalent and defining is, in my opinion, the idea of female agency and power in a male-dominated society. The locus of the play really lies in Medea’s cunning and clever nature, and her use of it to demolish Jason’s life as he knows it. Many examples of this can be found throughout the play, for instance Medea taking advantage of Aegeus by making him swear to keep her in Athens no matter what happens when she is banished from Corinth, particularly by use of emotional manipulation†¦show more content†¦He is the captain of the Argonauts, an ancient group of heroic Greeks who traveled with him to steal the Golden Fleece, a mythical item of kingship. He is a rather simple man, but deserts Medea in order to marry Glauce, promising Medea that it is for the better of her and the children, that they would be able to live in the lap of luxury and grow to become powerful rulers. He is the unlucky target of Medea’s wra th, although he certainly did bring it upon himself. His relationships with Glauce and Creon and positive, as he wants to marry Glauce and attain Creon’s favor, but according to Medea he was an absent father and clearly a flawed husband. Creon: The king of Corinth and father of Glauce, an understanding man who is killed by Medea’s poisoned gift to Glauce. He is not really characterized too well other than his rather kind demeanor. His relationships are basically established as simply an authority figure for the characters, and are generally positive until Medea decides that he must also face her wrath. Aegeus: The king of Athens, he helps Medea secure a destination for her escape by providing her with asylum in Athens. The only relationship he has is with Medea, and it is not particularly described well as to how they know each other. 3. Plot Summary: The play begins with a Nurse giving us a brief synopsis of the events leading up to the current time, like Medea falling in love with Jason,Show MoreRelatedHow Modern Versions Of Medea ( Euripides ) And Antigone ( Sophocles )1246 Words   |  5 Pagesagainst these restrictions would condemn women to be seen as psychotics, liars, and traitors. Even so many female playwrights recreate these plays today in a modern light to establish a prevailing production. Throughout this essay I will discuss how modern versions of Medea (Euripides) and Antigone (Sophocles) challenge ancient Greek gender stereotypes in order to make a powerful feminist statement about contemporary society. Ancient Athenian society was objectively male dominated. 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