preview

Medea's Argument Essay

Decent Essays
Open Document

Hell Hath No Fury Like a Woman Scorned “In all other respects a woman is full of fear…but when she is wronged in her marriage bed, no creature has a mind more murderous” (Euripides, 8). Medea of Colchis brings up valid points about the plight of women in the classic Greek tragedy Medea. But the question remains, at what point do the struggles a woman endures excuse inexplicably heinous acts? Is there a line to be crossed? Or is any violence against one’s kin inexcusable? Medea is the infamous tale of a scorned woman’s wrath that has sparked endless debate: is Medea justified? From the moment Medea first enters the stage, it’s clear that she is hurting deeply. She has just learned that the man she gave up everything for has taken a new lover. This, she remarks, is not surprising. Women should expect to be treated so poorly because society teaches them they are lower life forms. …show more content…

In the final scene of the play, Jason enters and finds Medea on a chariot pulled by dragons, carrying the dead bodies of her sons. She argues that “the Sun, father of my father” has given her the chariot to protect her (36). She later argues that the Gods knew of her plans and the failed to step in because they knew “who began all this woe” (37). This is without a doubt the strongest argument for Medea’s action because what she says is true. She prayed to Hecate, she cried out to Zeus. The Gods were well aware of her plans and chose not to step in, did not even seek out vengeance for her “crimes” as they are so often fond of doing. Medea believes that this is because they know that Jason is to blame for it all. And why else would they not step in? Greek Gods and Goddesses are notorious for playing puppet-master in matters such as this but in this instance, they stop? Could it be because they believe in Medea, that she is justified in doing all the harm she does? The text would certainly suggest

Get Access