Author: eric houdek

           Using Aristotelian analysis, Creon can be identified as a character who is larger than life. 

           Creon offers his daughter’s hand in marriage to Jason, a man whom is already married.  Knowing this fact, Creon goes against the laws of the Gods, for the bond of mariage is supposed to be lifelong.  Creon knows he will be causing a man to break an oath to the Gods, and goes ahead and does so. 

Using Aristotelian analysis, Aegeus can be classified as a character who is “like us.” 

   When Aegeus comes across Medea, he is happy to see her, and tells her that he has just come from the oracle of Phoebus.  Aegeus and his wife wish to concieve a child, but have not been able to do so.  His want of a child directly appeals to the audience, for the majority of people, especially in Greek times, wish to have children.  Also, Aegeus comes across as a character easy to sympathize and familiarate with, for in Greek times, bearing children was no easy task.  The complications with childbirth still exist today.

       However, as Aegeus learns about Jason’s abandonment of Medea, he is disgusted at what has happened to her.  He truly sympathizes with her troubles and wishes to help. 

However, when given an opportunity to fully back Medea, Aegeus becomes a bit cautious.  Aegeus states”

Lady, on many grounds I am most fain to grant thee this thy boon, first for the gods’ sake, next for the children whom thou dost promise I shall beget; for in respect of this I am completely lost. ‘Tis thus with me; if e’er thou reach my land, I will attempt to champion thee as I am bound to do. Only one warning I do give thee first, lady; I will not from this land bear thee away, yet if of thyself thou reach my halls, there shalt thou bide in safety and I will never yield thee up to any man. But from this land escape without my aid, for I have no wish to incur the blame of my allies as well.

Like many people, Aegeus is fearful of the consequences of association.  If he leads Medea back to Athens, he will be seen as a staunch supporter of a woman with many enemies.  So instead, he tells Medea, that if she can reach Athens, he will give her a place to stay.  He is convinced by Medea to take an oath never to banish her from Athens. 

           Through his actions, Aegeus stands as a character “like us.”  He has good intentions and a sensible nature, but lacks the boldness that would be possessed by a “larger than life” character. 

Nurse(On Medea) 

“she lends as deaf an ear to her friend’s warning as if she were a rock or ocean billow“

“she will not cease from her fury till she have pounced on some victim.”‘Tis as I said, my dear children; wild fancies stir your mother’s heart, wild fury goads her on. Into the house without delay, come not near her eye, approach her not, beware her savage mood, the fell tempest of her reckless heart. In, in with what speed ye may. For ’tis plain she will soon redouble her fury; that cry is but the herald of the gathering storm-cloud whose lightning soon will flash; what will her proud restless soul, in the anguish of despair, be guilty of?

This will I do; but I doubt whether I shall persuade my mistress; still willingly will I undertake this trouble for you; albeit, she glares upon her servants with the look of a lioness with cubs, whenso anyone draws nigh to speak to her.

Chorus(On Medea)

I heard the voice, uplifted loud, of our poor Colchian lady, nor yet is she quiet; speak, aged dame, for as I stood by the house with double gates I heard a voice of weeping from within, and I do grieve, lady

Would that she would come forth for us to see, and listen to the words of counsel we might give, if haply she might lay aside the fierce fury of her wrath, and her temper stern.

I heard a bitter cry of lamentation! loudly, bitterly she calls on the traitor of her marriage bed

Creon

Hark thee, Medea, I bid thee take those sullen looks and angry thoughts against thy husband forth from this land in exile,

thou art a witch by nature, expert in countless sorceries, and thou art chafing for the loss of thy husband’s affection. I hear, too, so they tell me, that thou dost threaten the father of the bride, her husband, and herself with some mischief.

Thy words are soft to hear, but much I dread lest thou art devising some mischief in thy heart, and less than ever do I trust thee now; for cunning woman, and man likewise, is easier to guard against when quick-tempered than when taciturn.

Begone, thou silly woman, and free me from my toil.

Jason(On Medea)

At least I call the gods to witness, that I am ready in all things to serve thee and thy children, but thou dost scorn my favours and thrustest thy friends stubbornly away; wherefore thy lot will be more bitter still.

Using Aristotelian analysis, the nurse can be identified as a stock character. 

              Being bound in service to Medea, the nurse exemplifies the assumed role of a servant in Greek times.  She states, "our masters’ fortunes when they go awry make good slaves grieve and touch their hearts."  As the Nurse recounts on Medea's previous history, she makes it clear that she knows Medea very well.  She also makes it clear that she knows what Medea is capable of, and has a pretty good idea of what is about to happen.  However, although she knows that it Is very likely that Medea will commit violent acts, she can find no fault in her master.  She states "Into the house without delay, come not near her eye, approach her not, beware her savage mood, the fell tempest of her reckless heart. In, in with what speed ye may. For ’tis plain she will soon redouble her fury; that cry is but the herald of the gathering storm-cloud whose lightning soon will flash; what will her proud restless soul, in the anguish of despair, be guilty of?" 

                While the chorus expresses sympathy for Medea, they  object when Medea wishes to slay her own children.   The chorus wishes that Medea would not commit the act.  However, the nurse, knowledgable of what Medea will probably do, states "and I much do dread that she will plunge the keen sword through their hearts."  It is important to remember that while she finds no comfort in the acts Medea will commit, she also finds no fault in Medea.  This is because as a faithful servant, Medea cannot do so.  All of the Nurse's assertions are that of sympathy. 

                When the chorus asks the nurse to try to convince Medea to accept the council they offer, the Nurse states "This will I do; but I doubt whether I shall persuade my mistress."  While the nurse offers that the reason for this might be a refusal to listen to anyone due to her anguish, there is another inference that can be made here.  Because the nurse is seen as lower than Medea, her advice bears no validity to Medea, who is of a higher power than she. *Few edits to be made, more points to come

                Using Aristotelian analysis, the chorus would be classified as a "character" that is like us.  Compared to Antigone, the chorus plays much less of a participative role in the plot of the play.  Instead, as the chorus speaks, it seems to be observing the events that are unfolding and commenting on them.    

              Towards the beginning of play, we, the audience, are presented with the fact that Medea has been abandoned by her husband Jason.  The reason Medea is abandoned is simply because Jason has the opportunity to marry a Princess.  Medea has done nothing wrong herself.  Looking upon the situation, it is quite likely that the audience would feel sympathetic towards Medea's grief.  The chorus makes its sympathy for Medea quite clear.  The chorus states "I do grieve, lady, for the sorrows of this house, for it hath won my love."

            As Medea is still grieving the fact that Jason has left her, Creon comes to tell her that she will be exiled.  Once again, the chorus expresses its feelings, very typical of how an audience would feel toward a woman who has been abandoned by her husband only to be exiled by her King.  The chorus states "Ah! poor lady, woe is thee! Alas, for thy sorrows! Whither wilt thou turn? What protection, what home or country to save thee from thy troubles wilt thou find? O Medea, in what a hopeless sea of misery heaven hath plunged thee!"

            As the play continues, however, Medea makes it clear that she wishes to kill her children in an effort to get even with Jason.  While these children have played no fault in Jason's abandonment of Medea, a reaction from the audience would most likely be repulsion from a mother's murder of her own children.  The chorus, feeling as we would, states it views on Medea's plan by stating "’Think on the murder of thy children, consider the bloody deed thou takest on thee. Nay, by thy knees we, one and all, implore thee, slay not thy babes."  The chorus additionally states "Where shall hand or heart find hardihood enough in wreaking such a fearsome deed upon thy sons? How wilt thou look upon thy babes, and still without a tear retain thy bloody purpose? Thou canst not, when they fall at thy feet for mercy, steel thy heart and dip in their blood thy hand." 

            Under Aristotelian analysis, Medea can be classified as a character who is larger than life.  The implication's of Medea's actions exceed Medea herself. 

            Medea, greatly disturbed by her husband's infidelity, plots against her own King and husband in an effort to satisfy her need for revenge.  First, Medea sacrifices her belonging to the state of Thebes and security for her revenge.  By displaying "sullen looks" and "angry thoughts," Medea attracts Creon's attention.  After Creon exiles her, Medea does not beg for forgiveness.  As she proves to be a master of manipulation as the play progresses, Medea does not use this power to stay in Thebes.  Instead, she only asks for a day, so she can implement her plan that will ruin Creon, his daughter, and Jason.  A fundamental part of Medea's plan involves fleeing from Thebes after she has carried out the deed against the three that have humiliated her.  By fleeing Thebes, she sacrifices her own security and contact with Thebes.  When she begs for another day, Medea has no knowledge of Aegeus’ coming, so it is very probable that Medea may have envisioned herself wandering the land outside of Thebes looking for a city state that would take in the murderer of a King.(" Nor have I any landing-place to come at in my trouble")      

            By plotting against Creon, Medea goes against the Greek ideals of loyalty to the King and City State.  Additionally, by plotting against her husband, Medea goes against Patriacal Greek Values.  "Divorce is not honourable to women,"  "a captive I from a foreign shore," "without resenting the yoke, our life is a happy one; if not, ’twere best to die. But when a man is vexed with what he finds indoors, he goeth forth and rids his soul of its disgust, betaking him to some friend or comrade of like age; whilst we must needs regard his single self" are all quotes from Medea's mouth that identify these values of Greek society.  By plotting against her husband, Medea is breaking the accepted norms of Greek society.  She suggests that a wife has a right to retaliate against the wrongs committed by her husband. 

            In an effort to get revenge with her husband, Medea also sacrifices her own children.  Early in the course of the play, Medea states "I would gladly take my stand in battle array three times o’er, than once give birth."  Cutting of any ties to her family, and sacrificing the very children who have caused her much toil to bear, Medea murders her children in an effort to cause Jason great agony.  Most importantly, Medea throws away a mother's bond to her children in an effort to get even with Jason. 

                      Medea can also be seen as the antagonist within the play.  She stands in the way of Jason’s plan of marrying Creon’s daughter and becoming royalty.  When Jason believes that he has finally accomplished his goal, Medea implements her plan of revenge, killing both his would be wife(princess) and his would be father in law.    

Important Characteristics to describe Medea- Proud, manipulative, vengeful.