Free Essay

A Woman Scorned

In:

Submitted By daflawles1
Words 901
Pages 4
A Woman Scorned

Thesis Statement: Euripides wants the reader to simply respect and understand Medea’s murders for the violent excesses of nature. I. Abandonment A. Divorce B. New Marriage II. Emotions C. Suffering D. Vengeance E. Rage III. Naïve F. Children G. The Princess of Corinth IV. Death H. Murder I. Suicide

A Woman Scorned In Euripides’ play “Medea” there is similarities that women are going through in today’s society. The plot of the play has many different aspects that I will explore. The lifestyle that Medea lives are very common in today's society. She gets married to Jason and has two children then he leaves her to get married to the Princess of Corinth. Medea seeks revenge on Jason, his new bride, and Kreon the king of Corinth. In the end, she succeeds in her plans and hurts herself in the process. Euripides wants the reader to simply respect and understand Medea’s murders for the violent excesses of nature. Euripides opens the play with nurse telling the recent events so the reader will know exactly what has been going on with Medea and Jason. Jason has abandoned Medea and his children to get married to The Princess of Corinth, the princess of Corinth. The nurse said “For, deserting his own children and my mistress, Jason has taken a royal wife to his bed, the daughter of the ruler of this land, Kreon.”(17-19) Jason’s abandonment of his family has emotionally crushed Medea, to the point she has started cursing her children and own existence. Medea is very unhappy with Jason’s choice to divorce her and get married to the princess. Medea’s emotions play a major part of the plot and planning that she does to seek revenge against Jason. Euripides uses many different emotions throughout the play. Medea displaces multiple emotions ranging from sadness to rage to hatred. Medea said “Ah, wretch! Ah, lost in my sufferings, I wish I might die.”(97-98). She is saying she would rather be dead than to be alive and suffer from the pain Jason has caused her. “Ah, I have suffered, what should be wept for bitterly. I hate you, Children of a hateful mother. I curse you and your father, Let the whole house crash.”(112-115). the hatred for Jason and their children is manifesting within Medea until she is cursing the whole household. Medea’s nurse testifies about the degree to which Medea is hurting, “She lies without food and gives herself up to suffering, wasting away every moment of the day in tears.”(24-25) A divorce is an unbalanced, devastating ordeal for anyone to go through, even in this day and age. Euripides uses very faint and naïve characters to develop the depth of pain. Most of the characters in the play have strong backgrounds and parts, there are three minor but naïve characters. Jason’s two children and his new bride are both young and naïve. The children are presented to the readers as naïve and oblivious to the intrigue. Their mother is using them as pawns in the plot to murder The Princess of Corinth and Kreon. Medea tells the children “And give her the dress,-- for this is great importance, Go quick as you can. And bring your mother good news by your success of those things which she longs to gain.”(948-950). She is sending the children to the palace to give The Princess of Corinth the poisoned gifts, therefore condemning her children to death by her actions. The Princess of Corinth is also naïve because she is a young, beautiful, princess who is accepted the poisonous gifts that lead to the first murder in the play. As Kreon realizes what is happening to his daughter, The Princess of Corinth, he grabs her and tries to absorb the poison and put the fire out with his body, which lead to the second death of the play.

Euripides made the play as tragic as possible. Medea is convinced that her suicide would be over reactive. She says “Oh, I wish that lightning from heaven would split my head open, Oh, What use has I now for life? I would find my release in death, And leave hateful existence behind me.”(141-145) At this point Medea is thinking of her being dead would be better than her being alive. Medea snaps out of her daze and starts planning her revenge on Jason. She said “To pay my husband back for what he has done to me,-- Him and his father-in-law and the girl who married him.”(259-260) Medea set her plans into motion, and she used her children to get the ball rolling. Medea used poison to kill the Princess of Corinth and Kreon. The messenger returned to Medea’s house and reported “She is dead, only just now, the royal princess, And Kreon dead too, her father, by your poison.”(1099-1100) In lines1255-1258, “O your hear must have been made of rock or steel, You who can kill, With your own hand the fruit of your own womb.” He put the death of Medea and Jason’s children in the play for dramatic effect.

Work Cited

Euripides. "Medea." The Norton Anthology of World Literature. Beginnings to A. D. 100. By
Sarah N. Lawall and Maynard Mack. 2nd ed. Vol. A. New York: Norton, 2002. 695-725. Print. A,B,C

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Jason's Demise Of Medea As An Epic Hero

...Through his adventures with the Argonauts, Jason had all the makings to die as an epic hero considering the favor two goddesses showered over him and the help of his exalted contemporaries but in spite of such backing, a glorious ending was denied to Jason after scorning a woman. As stated in the lecture, Jason is very much the archetypical hero-he adventures far and wide killing monsters, attempts to get a nearly unattainable object and it is not in his nature to remain monogamous. Medea, a woman whom he promised fidelity, is powerful in her own right as a femme fatale and scorned woman, as she has the power to help Jason as well as bring upon his demise. Their relationship was built upon transgressions in order to continue their adventures. By the end of their...

Words: 559 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Rama

...In The Ramayana, Rama is applauded for killing a scorned demon, Thataka, who was punished for her husband’s and son’s actions. Also, Rama is hesitant when he is told to kill Thataka, but Viswamithra manipulates him into thinking it is a just act to do. Although Thataka is a terrifying and destructive demon, her harsh punishment from Rama is not just because her behavior was caused by cruel and unnecessary pain and punishment inflicted by Agastya, and Rama is manipulated into killing the demon by Viswamithra, whose opinion on Thataka is single-sided. The pain inflicted on Thataka is not just because she was held responsible for harm she did not cause. Thataka used to be a woman of “valour, might, and purity” (11), who was also very “beautiful and full of wild energy” (11). However, her sons and husband enjoyed playing pranks that caused destruction on the locals. For this, Agastya, a saint, punished and killed Thataka’s husband. Like any ordinary wife, Thataka was devastated and traumatized by the death of her husband. With her anger she went “roaring revenge on the saint” (11). Agastya challenged her threat, and she and her sons were “degraded to demonhood” (12). His actions were extremely unjust because Thataka was punished for grieving for her late husband. For Thataka to be enraged at Agastya is predictable and fair because he murdered her husband. Then, Agastya punished her for the crimes she did not commit in an unjust manner. His teacher, Viswamithra, persuades Rama...

Words: 479 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Medea Literary Analysis

...The play Medea explores the ideas of passion, betrayal, and revenge during the Ancient Greek era. The character of Medea is described as being scorned by her husband Jason and left to take care of their two children on her own. Though she is to be exiled from Corinth, her home, she is given one day to gather herself before she must leave. In this time, she begins to plot revenge against Jason who has left her to marry another woman for his own personal success. Not only does Medea want to murder her husband, but also Creon, the king, and his daughter Glauce who will soon be married to Jason. Eventually, Medea decides to poison Glauce and Creon, kills her children, and brings misery to Jason for eternity while she rides off in a chariot. All...

Words: 770 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Killers

...many studies and specialists that center themselves on this question. Is it a lack of self-control? Do murderers have a distorted understanding of morals, ethics, and basic “do’s and don’ts” of traditional society? One of the most common motives for murder is anger and vengeance. In the short stories “A Rose for Emily” and “Killers,” the main characters exhibit similar motives for the murders they commit. Both people were pushed over the edge by the loss of someone close to them. They were pushed to the point of taking a human life. In William Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily,” Emily, a scorned and lonely woman murdered her lover because the thought of being alone was too much to handle. Emily also kept the body of her dead lover locked in a room for forty years. Not only did she kill her lover Homer, she stored his dead body in bed so she could lay with him every night. Why would a woman kill the man she loves? In the story, her lover was about to leave her and he was the only person in Emily’s life. Her controlling father was already dead, she had no family, and the town constantly gossiped about her. When her lover, Homer Barron, was going to leave her she felt betrayed. If he really loved her, why would he leave? Who was he leaving her for? He wanted to be free from her, and the best way to get back at someone who wants their freedom is to trap them. However, Emily took it one step to far. The revenge she was seeking was lost by her obsession for Homer. She couldn’t...

Words: 985 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Scout Finch Standards

...Harper Lee, the main character, Scout Finch is the opposite of what one would think of as a small town girl in the South. Her attire, femininity, and speech deviated from the normal stereotypes and standards that existed. Scout’s appearance was different because she wore overalls and that wasn’t normal, during the time, for a small girl to wear overalls. Also, she had a very masculine approach to many situations such as fighting and arguing. Furthermore, she spoke differently from the polite speech expected of her. Despite being scorned by many people, Scout went on with her life and disregarded everyone who thought differently...

Words: 824 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Johnny

...The Just Reward is about two sisters who came from a poor single parent home and was sent out by their mother to find a better way of living. The eldest daughter Camille who is obedient, respectful and caring left tearfully. But her sister Paula who is mean, disobedient, and disrespectful and is claimed to have the mannerism of a cockroach. As they were on their way to find a better way of living they came across an old woman who was homeless and had lice in her hair. She then asked the first sister Camille to give her some bread, give her some water and comb her hair, then to go into her ruined home and take the rocks that were saying don’t take me. The old said to her that her reward will be like her nature. The next day the younger sister came across the old woman who then asked Paula to do the same but Paula refused to give her some bread, water and to comb her. When sent into the house she scorned the house and took the stones that were saying take me again disobeying the woman’s orders. As Paula left the old woman told her that her reward would be like her nature. In the ending Camille ended up with a wheelbarrow filled with gold, a bundle of fine clothing and a house with orange, grape and lime trees. Paula ended up with a sore body from being beaten by fierce-looking winged creatures, stings from swarms of bees and large winged creatures and her encounter with an endless oily emerald-green pool. In the ending Paula ended up at home with her mother and Camille had a house...

Words: 302 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Androgynous Man

... meaning woman, referring to the combination of masculine and feminine characteristics. This may be as in fashion, sexual identity, or sexual lifestyle or it may refer to biologically inter-sexed physicality, especially with regards to plant and human sexuality.” What makes a good relationship? Is it healthy for two people in a relationship to be exactly alike? In my opinion two people that are exactly alike won’t last in a relationship. In the article “The Appeal of the Androgynous Man” written by the editor in chief of “O” magazine Amy Gross, she talks about what kind of man should appeal to women? Amy Gross feels that an “all man’s man” is an insensitive, lazy, man who would only does things when needed. She compares the qualities and characteristics between an “androgynous man”, and the “all man’s man” Amy goes in to describe her views on an all-man’s man by saying “for one thing, never walks to the grocery store unless the little woman is away visiting her mother with the kids”. “All-men men don’t know how to shop in a grocery store unless it is to buy a 6-pack and some pretzels”. She then starts describing her first encounter with an androgynous man as him being “more self amused, less inflated, more quirky, vulnerable and responsive” as to an all man’s man who she says is a “chauvinist” “who has no taste in food, art, or how to live”. Based on Gross’s encounters with men, it is unmistakable that through her descriptions she is just a typical woman scorned and is more...

Words: 794 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Pride and Prejudice

...certainly a love story, Austen subtly underscores many different aspects of English society through the text. What does Jane Austen reveal about women in 19th century England through this novel?   To some extent Austen affirms Virginia Woolf’s quote as most of the women in Pride and Prejudice are depicted as insignificant and dependent upon men, and certainly not depicted as equal to men. Austen paints a society of women who are entirely dependent on marriage and money to better their situations and achieve a suitable life style.  However, Austen’s main character is Elizabeth Bennet, a woman who is an exception to the rule. She turns down a marriage proposal from Mr. Collins and has a rather contentious relationship with Mr. Darcy who she does finally marry. But she marries on her terms, not for money or land or because she fears not being wed.             Yet the focus of nearly all the woman characters is marriage.  In 19th century England, it was essential that all women marry because women who did not marry had no future on their own.   At the beginning of the story, Mrs. Bennet stated, “If I can but see one of my daughters happily settled at Netherfield, and all the others equally well married, I shall have nothing left to wish for.” (11)   This quote illustrates how essential marriage is at this time considering that Mrs. Bennet’s happiness (and the fear of being left homeless if her own husband dies) ultimately depends upon it.  Another example is Mr. Collins’ proposal...

Words: 687 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Harriet Jacobs 'Incidents In The Life Of A Slave Girl'

...soon learns that the husband in whose hands she has placed her happiness pays no regard to his marriage vows” (40). Jacobs describes the harsh realities that a slaveholder’s wife faces. The woman will go into the marriage thinking she is the only one true to her husband, but in reality the husband will sleep with the female slaves without feeling remorse to his wedding vows. The wife will have no say in how her husband lives his life because according to the church, sleeping with a slave isn’t deemed sinful or adultery. Jacobs continues by explaining the effects raping a slave has on the slaveholder’s wives when she states, “Children of every shade of complexion play with her own fair babies, and too well she knows that they are born unto him of his own household. Jealousy and hatred enter the flowery home, and it is ravaged of its loveliness” (44). Jacobs subtly mentions the aftermath of the slaveholder raping the slaves. Not only is he physically hurting the slave woman and forcing her to give birth, but he is defying his marriage vows to his wife which creates a hostile home environment. The wife is forced to play nice with the children who are genetically half her husband’s and becomes unhappy with her marriage. Instead of expressing her fury towards her husband, she blames the slave woman that has attracted her husband. This is just the first example of many where Jacobs touches on her empathy for slaveholder wives. Clinton touches on this action of blame in her article when...

Words: 1761 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Modern Family

...character made, and how different characters resolved them. The comedy is situational, and dilemmas faced are often real-life, but offer whimsical, light-hearted solutions. The shows worldview is secular, but adheres to defining the “New Normal” in its application. The three families all interact with each other and depict three different types of households, all coping with everyday problems that define that particular group. When dealing with gay issues, Mitchel and Cameron are in the fore front offering an exaggerated look and perspective. Family issues are addressed by Phil and Claire, and how they interact with parenting of their three children. Jay and Gloria deal with life from viewpoint of an aging father, who marries a younger woman, who is currently pregnant with his child. The shows core values are loosely interwoven with standards and practices that suggest an anything is “OK” attitude, which would be expressed by secular humanist. Observations of this show are based on my own personal up-bring and how we handled different situations in our lives. My...

Words: 712 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Dialogue Essays: Are You Scared Of Dying?

...She strode past his cart of food and pretended to examine the cart next to his, picking up a stray apple and looking over it. She looked up to the woman selling the apples and smiled before walking away, pocketing the apple. She sat down on a bench within view of the market place and the fruit seller to see what the racket was all about, apparently the woman was holding one of possible customers by the shirt, accusing him of thievery, the man was worried as some other of the arabbers simply looked at him in disgust. The one holding him was telling him to either put the apple back or he’ll never see another sunset in his life. Oh shit…. What a bunch of idiots! She laughed to herself, before remembering something important, throwing the core of the apple away, she strod up to the merchant next to the apple cart and punched his face in with a quick left jab, pocketing some fruit before running away. She sat down and began rubbing her fist lightly, Tch, why’s he gotta have such a hard head? She secretly scorned him for something he couldn’t have possibly had any control over, staring at the man rubbing his face and looking around pensively. She shouldn’t be worried, she’d executed the robbery perfectly, but this wasn’t about the goods. She was waiting for something else as she watched the man slam his fist into the cart in anger, the woman next to him seemed curious and he turned to her. She shook her head and the man simply sighed. I already know that they retain no memory of me, but...

Words: 801 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

The Bull Moose Nowlan Analysis

...The cap of sharp thistles that the girl places on the bull moose’s head alludes to the mocking of Christ before His crucifixion; the people scorn the suppressed minorities as the Jews scorned Jesus Christ. After all, discrimination often stems from the lack of knowledge. As the bull moose is compared to a “blood god” (9), the simile compares man’s ignorance of those who they discriminate to man’s lack of understanding of higher beings, such as a god. Even a person who seems to be wise and all knowing, such as the old parish man, juxtaposes the bull moose he sees with his biased memory of an enslaved bull moose; recalling the negative and believing that all bull moose are the same enforces false stereotypes and continues to see bull moose as inferior and tamed. This is simply because of the townspeople’s lack of exposure. A woman who asks if the bull moose had escaped from a Fair; a Fair is where unusual, weird, and unknown things can be seen, making it a metaphor about how the prejudiced are not knowledgeable about those who they are biased...

Words: 463 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Mark 14 Exegesis

...Biblical Exegesis for Preaching I. Get Introduced to the Text 1. Mark 14: 3-9 (KJV) – And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head, And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, why was this waste of the ointment made? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her; And Jesus said, Let her alone, why trouble ye her? She hath wrought a good work on me. She hath done what she could: She is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying, Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her. 2. Author: Mark Theme: Jesus, Servant Son Mark is stated to be the most concise of the four written Gospels. It was written in A.D. 55-65. although the author is not specifically identified by name (as with all of the Gospels), the testimony of the universal church is that John Mark is the author. John Mark was moved by the Holy Spirit to write to the believers in Rome as a prophetic anticipation or pastoral response to the persecution that the believers were experiencing. Many were being treated cruelly by the general population and many were tortured and put to death by the...

Words: 2941 - Pages: 12

Premium Essay

Medea Feminist Analysis

...Medea Medea is a shocking tale about adultery and revenge that ends in four murders. The play was very likely anti-woman when it was originally written in ancient Greece, but can be seen as more pro-woman from a modern standpoint. Because plays in ancient Greece were written and performed solely for an audience of men, it is very possible that this play was a warning towards husbands about the consequences of not staying faithful to their wives. Today's view on feminism, however, sheds a different light on the rather gruesome events that take place in this work of literature. While Medea was a Greek horror story at the time it was written, major concepts of the play now appeal to modern feminist ideas. Medea addresses some important topics...

Words: 963 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Faulkner

...outside world. When he died it devastated Emily to the point she shut the outside world even more. Her one and only love, which she was to marry, had died also. With each passing she became more and more withdrawn. Though while being withdrawn Emily become more and more bitter towards society. When the town decides that she must now pay taxes, she constantly defied their notices. When a strange odor start to emit from her house and she is told to clean her house she again rebukes the notices. Even at one point dressing down a Baptist preacher when he went to talk to her about the way she carried a relationship with Homer Barron. Though the biggest act of defiance and betrayal was to Homer Barron, during this time in history a man and woman had to be careful when courting each other. Emily and Homer did not play the rules...

Words: 483 - Pages: 2