Medea of Euripides

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

35451

Title

Medea of Euripides

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Euripides' tragic masterpiece, *Medea*, explores the devastating end of a romance rather than the romance itself. This edition, translated into rhyming verse by Gilbert Murray, presents the story of the Colchian princess who, betrayed by her lover Jason, unleashes a terrifying vengeance upon her enemies and her own children. A study of oppression, revenge, and the transformation of a wronged woman into a living curse, the play challenges audiences with its grim realism and intense passion, offering a profound meditation...

Summary up to 500 words

Set in Corinth, Euripides' tragedy *Medea* explores the devastating end of a romance between Jason, a Greek hero, and Medea, a sorceress from Colchis. After aiding Jason in retrieving the Golden Fleece and fleeing her homeland, Medea finds herself cast out as a foreigner when Jason abandons her to marry Creon's daughter. Facing exile and the loss of her children's future, Medea seeks refuge with Aegeus, King of Athens, securing an oath of protection before plotting her revenge. Her plan is twofold: she intends to poison Creon and his new bride using enchanted gifts, and she resolves to murder her own children to ensure Jason remains childless and to secure her own escape. The play depicts Medea's intense internal struggle, oscillating between maternal love and a wild, animalistic hatred. She manipulates Jason with false promises of reconciliation while preparing the deadly gifts. When the poisoned robes are delivered, the tragedy unfolds as the royal family dies. In the climax, Medea kills her children, an act that shocks the audience and leaves Jason helpless. A messenger describes the horrific scene, while the Chorus laments the mother's madness. Finally, Medea ascends in a chariot drawn by winged serpents, a divine vehicle provided by her grandfather Helios, escaping justice. She delivers a final prophecy of Jason's ruin, leaving him friendless and childless. The play concludes with a discordant scene of Jason's grief and Medea's triumph, highlighting Euripides' theme that cruelty begets cruelty, transforming the victim into a monster who exacts a terrible price for her survival. Euripides presents Medea not as a romantic heroine but as a figure of immense passion and destructive power, illustrating how oppression can twist a human being into a living curse.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Classics
• Drama