Medea

Select one of the Chorus’s poetic monologues to the audience. How does what the Chorus says embody what we feel about the action on stage? Do you agree with the Chorus’s assessment of the situation in the passage you chose? Why or why not?

There are two king characters in Medea: Creon, the king of Corinth, and Aegeus, the king of Athens. Creon attempts to banish Medea; Aegeus extends her the promise of safety in Athens. Which man is a better king to his people? In the world of Medea, what virtues constitute a good ruler? Are they different from our own?

Because Medea pinpoints the unfair treatment of women in her society, she is sometimes received as a prototypical feminist. What injustices does Medea identify for Greek women, and do they overlap with any aspects of a modern woman’s experience? Would you argue that Medea is a feminist? Why or why not?

The gods are invoked by various characters in the play, often to justify their own actions or condemn the actions of others. What role, if any, does the divine apparatus play in Medea? Possible angles to explore include divine lineage, the enforcement of social norms, and the surprise appearance of Helios’s chariot.

In many ways Medea behaves like a typical Greek hero. Research other heroes in Greek literature and draw parallels between Medea’s behavior and theirs. What code do heroes live by? What is most important to them? Does Medea differ from the others? How so?

Despite playing such a crucial role in the narrative, Medea and Jason’s children never speak on stage. How does Euripides’s characterization of the children affect our perception of their murder? Does their silence make us judge Medea more or less?

Euripides is known for giving a voice to marginalized members of society. Choose a disadvantaged character in the text (besides Medea) and explore how Euripides portrays their experience. Is the character sympathetic? What impact does the high drama between Jason and Medea have on their life?

While Medea starts the play inside the house, we never see the interior ourselves. While she and the Nurse pass freely in and out of the building, at the end of the play, Jason is locked out of his own home. How do Euripides’s staging choices enhance the themes of Medea?