Medea Discussion Questions

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Question #1: Why does Medea wish to commit suicide in the beginning of the play? Answer #1: “Great Themis, and husband of Themis, behold what I am suffering now, though I did bind that accursed one, my husband, by strong oaths to me! O, to see him and his bride some day brought to utter destruction, they and their house with them, for that they presume to wrong me thus unprovoked. O my father, my country, that I have left to my shame, after slaying my own brother,” (Euripides 2). Medea wishes to end her life because after all she has given up for her husband, Jason, he has decided to leave her. In the above quote, Medea expresses her grief over the situation, while also mentioning her shame over killing her own brother. In addition to her husband leaving and her brother’s murder, Medea is also about to be banished from her homeland by King Creon. He just so happens to be Jason’s new wife’s father and does not enjoy the company of Medea within Corinth. “MEDEA Ah, me! now is utter destruction come upon me, unhappy that I am! For my enemies are bearing down on me full sail, nor have I any landing-place to come at in my trouble. Yet for all my wretched plight I will ask thee, Creon, wherefore dost thou drive me from the land?” (Euripides 3). Question #2: Why does Jason believe that by remarrying, he is in fact helping Medea and their kids? Answer #2: “Be well assured of this: 'twas not for the woman's sake I wedded the king's daughter, my present wife; but, as I have already told thee, I wished to insure thy safety and to be the father of royal sons bound by blood to my own children-a bulwark to our house,” (Euriphides 6). Jason thinks marrying the king’s daughter will be good for Medea and their children because he believes he will be able to support them better. He also believes that by being involved with a royal family, his sons will be much better off.

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