Medea

'Medea' by Euripides

I. Exposition
A. Time: The play was produced in 431 B.C.
B. Place: The play takes place outside of Medea's home in Corinth.
C. Mood & Atmosphere: The mood of the play is of bitter revenge. The atmosphere is filled with Medea's anger towards Jason.
D. Preliminary Situation: Jason disbands his marriage with Medea and marries the daughter of the King of Corinth to gain further status in life. This infuriates Medea who plots for revenge and vengeance.

II. Plot
A. Initial Incident: Jason intends on having Medea exiled. Medea is upset over the situation. Creon, the King of Creon, comes to Medea to order her exile. Medea begs to stay another day. Creon agrees to let her stay 24 hours.
B. Rising Action: The rising action occurs when Jason and Medea meet for the first time. She is angry with him and Jason is trying to justify his decision. In the time she is allotted she meets the King of Athens, who agrees to give her refuge. Medea changes her plan to deceive Jason and kill off those that are close to him.
C. Climax: Jason and Medea talk once again and Medea is deceitfully forgivable and wishes to give poisoned gifts to Jason's new wife. The plan follows through and the Princess and the King die from the poison. Afterwards, Medea kills her children. Jason arrives astounded and cries to Medea, but receives no mercy. Medea rides off to Athens in her golden chariot.
D. Conclusion:
Medea: Medea rides off and takes refuge in Athens. Protected by the King there.
Jason: Jason is left with the death of the king of Corinth, the death of his wife(the princess), and the death of his children(his heirs). Tragic ending for Jason.
All other characters, other than their children, are assumed to be alive and well - haha.

III. Characters
A. Protagonist: Medea
B. Antagonist: Jason
C. Secondary: Creon King of Corinth, Aegeus King of Athens, Nurse of Medea, Women of Corinth
D. Minor: Tutor of Medea's children, Jason's current wife, Messenger

IV. Theme: The theme of the play is of passion, rage, revenge, and the position of women.

V. Personal Reaction: I thought Medea was exceedingly ruthless in this play, more so that she gets away with it in the end. I'd like to assume this is a very rare play because of contemporary views of the time it was made. Although Medea is some what justified by her anger and plots of revenge, she goes too far by killing her children. The act of killing her children may scar her for life and cause more agony than what was worth the revenge. I believe this play was very mature for the era it debuted in. Feminism is a theme some what prevalent in the play.

VI. Evidence: Very Famous feminist quote by Medea about war and the work of woman:
Medea: "I had rather stand my ground three times among
the shields
than face a childbirth once."

Jason after the reaction of Medea killing his children:
Jason: "Murder is punished, and you'll be destroyed
by the avenging phantoms of you children."