“Euripide’s Medea Is Primarily About the Theme of Conflict Between Men and Women” – Dicuss

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“Euripide’s Medea is primarily about the theme of conflict between men and women” – Dicuss Within the play, Medea is characterised as highly maternal, whereas Jason is seen to be somewhat distant. Medea is likened to a “lioness guarding her cubs” and the thought of losing her “darling children” is enough to make her “cry with pain”. In contrast, Jason is somewhat detached as a parent; referring to “the” or “your” children rather than “his” or “ours”. His interest in the two boys seems ultimately selfish, as he is largely preoccupied with what they will be capable of then they are older: crushing Jason’s enemies (as opposed to their own) and brining their father glory. Overall, this implies that a primary focus of women is their children, whereas men are more devoted to the practical aspects of progeny; the ways in which the offspring can benefit their parents. However, the way in which Medea justifies her murdering of her two sons – “This is the way to deal Jason the deepest wound” and the furious grief with which Jason reacts to the news of their death (“my life wrecked”) clearly demonstrates that Jason loved his sons just as much as Medea did. In this matter at least, Jason and Medea’s feelings are in alignment, although they do perhaps differ in the driving forces behind their affections. Furthermore, never in all three of Medea and Jason’s meetings is there a point where the two are of equal standing. In the first instance, Medea has just been ordered out of Corinth by Creon, and as such finds herself in in a very vulnerable position: no kurios, no wealth and no safe place to flee to. Jason, in contrast, is about to marry into Corinth’s royal family, and as such expects riches and power, status and authority to shortly follow. As such, in this meeting of the two, Jason’s power and security starkly contrasts Medea’s lack thereof. During their next encounter,

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