Medea Summary, PDF, EPUB, Audio

Euripides (c. 484–406 BCE) was an ancient Greek tragedian and author of Medea, and one of classical Athens's three great tragic playwrights alongside Aeschylus and Sophocles. Born in Athens, Euripides revolutionized Greek tragedy by portraying mythical heroes as ordinary people and giving prominent roles to complex female characters—innovations that made Medea's exploration of revenge, betrayal, and gender roles profoundly resonant.

Aristotle called him "the most tragic of poets" for his unflinching representation of human suffering. His theatrical innovations influenced drama through centuries, from Shakespeare to Ibsen. Of approximately 90 plays he wrote, 19 have survived—more than the works of Aeschylus and Sophocles combined. His other celebrated tragedies include The Bacchae, Hippolytus, Alcestis, and The Trojan Women.

Euripides became a cornerstone of ancient literary education in the Hellenistic Age, and his works remain required reading in classical studies worldwide, cementing his status as a foundational figure in Western theatrical tradition.

What is Medea by Euripides about?

Medea by Euripides is a Greek tragedy about a woman's devastating revenge after her husband Jason abandons her to marry a princess. After helping Jason steal the Golden Fleece and betraying her own family for him, Medea is cast aside when Jason pursues a politically advantageous marriage with Glauce, daughter of Corinth's king. Medea responds by murdering Jason's new bride, the king, and ultimately her own children to inflict maximum suffering on Jason.

Who should read Medea by Euripides?

Medea by Euripides is essential reading for students of Greek tragedy, literature enthusiasts, and anyone interested in exploring complex psychological portraits of human emotion. The play appeals to readers fascinated by themes of betrayal, revenge, gender dynamics, and moral ambiguity. Those studying classical drama, feminist literary criticism, or the intersection of passion and reason will find Euripides' masterwork particularly compelling.

Is Medea by Euripides worth reading?

Medea by Euripides is absolutely worth reading as one of the finest examples of Greek tragedy and psychological drama. Euripides crafts what scholar John Ferguson calls "possibly the finest speech in all Greek tragedy" when Medea struggles between maternal love and vengeful hatred. The play's exploration of passion versus reason, gender conflict, and moral complexity remains powerfully relevant, making it a timeless examination of human nature under extreme emotional duress.

What is the main conflict in Medea by Euripides?

The main conflict in Medea begins when Jason abandons his wife Medea and their two children to marry Glauce, princess of Corinth, hoping to advance his social position. This betrayal devastates Medea, who sacrificed everything—her family, homeland, and reputation—to help Jason achieve his goals. The conflict escalates when King Creon banishes Medea from Corinth, fearing her revenge, which transforms her emotional anguish into a calculated plan for vengeance.

Why does Medea kill her children in Euripides' play?

Medea kills her children to inflict the ultimate suffering on Jason, destroying what he values most. After securing refuge in Athens with King Aegeus, Medea realizes that leaving Jason childless represents his complete destruction. Though she loves her children, Medea concludes that her passion for revenge outweighs maternal affection, declaring "my fury is stronger than my will". The infanticide ensures Jason loses everything—his new family, his sons, and his future legacy.

What are the major themes in Euripides' Medea?

The major themes in Euripides' Medea include revenge, passion versus reason, betrayal, and gender inequality. The play dramatizes the conflict between male and female perspectives, with Jason representing cold rationality and self-interest while Medea embodies emotional intensity. Other central themes include:

The destructive power of unchecked rage
The consequences of broken oaths and loyalty
Exile and displacement
The tension between civilization and primal emotion

Euripides explores how passion becomes "the curse of man" when reason fails.

How does Medea get revenge on Jason?

Medea executes her revenge through calculated deception and murder. She pretends to reconcile with Jason, sending her children to deliver poisoned gifts—a coronet and dress—to Princess Glauce as supposed peace offerings. When Glauce puts on the poisoned garments, she dies in agony, and King Creon perishes while trying to save her by embracing her corpse. Medea then murders her own children, ensuring Jason loses everything he values. She escapes in a dragon-drawn chariot provided by her grandfather, the Sun-God Helios.

What does Medea represent in Greek tragedy?

Medea represents the destructive power of betrayed passion and the conflict between civilized restraint and primal emotion in Greek tragedy. As both a foreign woman and a sorceress, she embodies the "other" in Greek society—someone outside conventional boundaries who challenges patriarchal norms. Medea's character explores the tragic consequences when reason cannot control overwhelming emotion, with Euripides using her internal struggle to examine universal human conflicts between love and hate, justice and vengeance, duty and desire.

What is the significance of Jason's character in Medea?

Jason represents selfish rationalism, moral cowardice, and patriarchal entitlement in Euripides' Medea. Scholar G. Norwood describes him as "a superb study—a compound of brilliant manners, stupidity, and cynicism". Jason justifies abandoning Medea through cold logic, claiming his remarriage benefits everyone while showing complete inability to understand empathy or honor his obligations. His character illustrates how self-interest and ambition can corrupt human relationships, making him incapable of recognizing the depth of betrayal he inflicts on the woman who sacrificed everything for him.

What are the criticisms of Medea by Euripides?

Aristotle famously criticized the Aegeus scene in Medea as extraneous to the plot, arguing it seemed artificially inserted. However, defenders counter that Aegeus's despair over childlessness inspires Medea's ultimate revenge strategy of leaving Jason similarly childless. Some critics view Medea's actions as too extreme or unnatural, making her unsympathetic. Others debate whether Euripides glorifies revenge or condemns it, with the play's moral ambiguity remaining controversial. The deus ex machina ending—Medea escaping in a divine chariot—has also been questioned as unrealistic.

How does Medea by Euripides end?

Medea by Euripides ends with dramatic role reversal and Medea's escape. After murdering her children offstage, Medea appears above the stage in a chariot drawn by dragons, sent by her grandfather Helios, with her children's corpses beside her. Jason arrives too late to save them and rages ineffectually while Medea remains triumphant and unmoved. She refuses Jason any comfort or the children's bodies for burial, and the roles from the play's opening are completely reversed—Jason has lost everything while Medea achieves her revenge. The Chorus concludes by observing that gods sometimes bring unexpected events to pass.

What is the internal conflict in Medea's character?

Medea's internal conflict centers on the struggle between maternal love and vengeful hatred. Before killing her children, Medea delivers what scholar John Ferguson calls "possibly the finest speech in all Greek tragedy," agonizing over whether to complete her revenge. She declares "I know the evil that I do, but my fury is stronger than my will. Passion is the curse of man". This battle between reason and emotion, between her better nature and all-consuming vengeance, elevates her actions from simple villainy to tragic status, showing the devastating human cost of betrayal and rage.