Classic tragedy overview
Origin and genre: Ancient Greek tragedy by Euripides, believed written around 431 BC. It remains one of the most famous plays about Medea, wife of Jason and daughter of King Creon.
Main characters:
- Medea: a sorceress and Jason’s wife, driven by passion, vengeance, and a fierce determination to protect her children.
- Jason: leader of the Argonauts, emboldened by political ambitions and personal betrayal.
- Creon (the king of Corinth) and other minor figures who set the backdrop for the drama.
Plot in brief:
Medea helps Jason obtain the Golden Fleece and saves his life through magical means.
Jason later abandons Medea for political advancement and another woman.
Overwhelmed by grief and betrayed hopes, Medea begins a brutal plan of revenge.
Medea murders Jason, Creon, and their children to deliver an irreparable blow.
The ending emphasizes the costs of a capricious fate, female power, and responsibility for one’s actions.