Name:

Alexis Perry

Date: 10/19/13

Class:

English 10

Period:

MAJOR WORKS DATA SHEET

Title

The Medea

Author

Genre
Greek tragedy

Euripides

Date of Publication 431 BC

Historical Information

Greece was not a nation at the time, making

the city-states become allied with one another
Peloponnesian War began which was the war
between Athens and Sparta in Greece
Power and prosperity were large issues of the
time

Characteristics of the Genre

This play has a lot of events that are unusual
and have a large impact on others. Medea kills
her family and other just for revenge of one
person, instead of killing that one person.
Authors Biography
He grew up about 50 miles from where the
play takes place (This is usual for most plays
written in this time period.)
Euripides had two wives, relating to Jason who
also had two wives in the play

Plot Summary

Medea fell in love with Jason, which betrayed her family.

Medea gave up the Golden Fleece to Jason and left her homeland with him.
Medeas father sent a search party for the stolen Golden Fleece, Medea murdered her brother, which slowed
the search party down to allow more escaping time.
Medea wanted power, so to get it she persuaded the daughters of Jasons uncle to kill their father, which
would allow Jason to gain power.
Medea and Jason were exiled to Corinth because this killing didnt go as planned.
Jason meets the daughter of Creon in Corinth, which is who he marries after divorcing Medea.
Medea becomes suicidal and very vocal about her hatred towards the king, the daughter of Creon, and Jason.
Creon is afraid for their lives, so he exiles Medea and she begs for one day to make arrangements for her and
her children.
She uses that one day to plan the killing of the king, the daughter of Creon, and Jason.
Poisons the daughter and the king. To seek revenge on Jason, Medea kills her own children and refuses to
allow him to see them or touch them.

Describe the Authors

Style..
Euripides has a very emotional way of writing

He uses a lot of his own opinions in his way of

writing and is further progressed than other
from his time

..and provide an example to demonstrate the

style
This is shown through how Medea talks to
many different characters about her issues and
how she vents to them very dramatically
Euripides believes that women are more than
just toys, which is a different view than what
others believe and he shows this through how
Medea is powerful and not just a nobody

Memorable Quotes
(at least 10)
Number and write each quote... .....and explain the significance of the quote
1. Medea: You have the skill.
1. Euripides writes these lines in thought that women are more than
What is more, you were born a
just ragdolls, and have a real point in life. He gives his opinion threw
women, and women, though
this quote that women are entitled to as much as men are.
most helpless in doing good
deeds, are every evil the
cleverest of contrivers. (407409)
2.

Jason: Here I will prove that,

first, it was a clever move,
Secondly, a wise one, and,
finally, that I made it in your
best interests and the
childrens. Please keep calm.
(548-550)

2.

Jason says this quote to assure Medea that he was making the best
decision for all and that he was making an important decision. This
is where Medea realizes that she must take revenge on Jason and all
that are involved; this is where she starts her killings.

3.

Chorus: Jason, though you

have made this speech of yours
look well, still I think, even
though others do not agree,
you have betrayed your wife
and are acting badly. (576578)

3.

These group of women are making a wise statement by telling Jason

that he is in the wrong, and almost siding with Medea and backing
her wrong doings up.

4.

The messenger tells Medea in his one appearance that she had just
committed a horrible crime and the only way for her to live was to
escape. This quote also gives an insight to what is coming next,
because the messenger gives the clue about the chariot.

4.

Messenger: Medea, you who

have done such a dreadful
thing, so outrageous, run for
your life, take what you can, a
ship to bear you hence or
chariot on land. (1121-1123)

Characters
(all major and at least one or two significant minor characters)
Name
Medea-

Role in Story
Main character

Significance
protagonist

Adjectives
Thief, killer, power
hungry, manipulative,
tricky, sneaky

Jason-

Husband of Medea and

daughter of Creon

Snob, self-interested, jerk,

insensitive

Creon-

King of Corinth, exiles

Medea

Suicidal,

Daughter of Creon-

Marries Jason after

Medea, killed by Medea

Young, beautiful,

Children-

Medea and Jasons

children

Oblivious, innocent,
nave, tricked, used

Chorus-

Commentator, women of
Corinth

Supportive,

Aegues-

Gives Medea sanctuary,

King of Athens

Nurse-

Caretaker of the house,

Medeas confidant

Messenger/Tutor-

M:provides news of
deaths (appears once)
T: manages the children,
messenger

Setting

Corinth, Greece
In front of Jason and Medeas house

Significance of the Opening Scene

The opening scene in this play basically tells the
baseline of the story. It gives you the main points that
are going to happen throughout the book.

Significance of the Ending Scene

The ending scene is where Jason is hit my karma.
He was doing the wrong in the beginning and it is
coming back to him in the end. He loses his new wife,
his children, and everything he valued.

Symbols
1.

2.

Killings- all the killings are a symbol of revenge. The killing of the daughter of Creon is to get back at
Jason and her father. The killing of her own sons is what throws Jason over the edge and is a symbol of the
marriage between Jason and Medea being completely dismantled. Honor-killing: Medea killed her sons
because they were a resemblance of Jason, and Jason was a disgrace to her.
Power- Euripides recognizes that women shouldnt be below men and that they should be equal to men.
This is shown through Medeas struggle for power; she tries to gain power in so many ways but never
succeeds.

Possible Themes and Other Topics for Discussion

Revenge/Betrayal- These themes would be the main themes throughout the story. All the decisions that
Medea make are based on her ability to get back at Jason for betraying her.
Marriage- Medea and Jasons relationship shows the exact opposite of what marriage should be like. The
way their relationship goes down is the absolute worst a marriage could be.