Medea

76 Pages Integral Tragedy Play Medea Tragedy by Seneca With following advantages easy, enjoyable and fast read narrative in prose version of the Iliad (no verses) satisfactory both to children and adult readers attentive editing thematic illustrations (enhanced and fluid reading experience) The Story in Brief Medea falls in love with Jason while he is on his quest for the Golden Fleece and uses her supernatural powers to aid him in completing the tasks that King Aeëtes, her father, had set. The three tasks were: yoke the fiery bulls, compete with the giants, and slay the dragon that was guarding the fleece. After Jason is successful, Medea kills her own brother to distract her father and enable their escape. After their return to Iolcus, they were again forced to flee when Medea uses her powers to have Jason''s uncle Pelias killed by his own daughters. Jason and Medea next settle in Corinth where they had two sons. In order to climb the political ladder, Jason leaves Medea for Creusa who is the daughter of King Creon. Medea opens up the play by cursing Creusa and King Creon (1-44). King Creon gives Medea one day before she is exiled and she does not take Jason''s advice on going peacefully(192-557). She uses a regal robe to poison and sends it as a gift for Creusa on her wedding day with Jason. The chorus describe in great detail the rage, scorn, and anger that Medea felt as she plotted her revenge. The chorus prays to the gods that Jason (the leader of the Argonauts) is spared from Medea''s vengeance (579-652). Medea''s curse contains poisons, snake blood, herbs, and the invocations to all the underworld gods. The cursed robe kills Creusa and Creon by catching on fire when Creusa puts it on. Creon tries to put out his daughter but is unsuccessful and he catches on fire too (817-843). Their death does not satisfy Medea but only awakens her vengeful spirt more. Jason''s betrayal blinds Medea so much that her number one priority is hurting Jason. Even if hurting Jason means hurting her children. Medea sacrifices her children from the roof of her house in order to hurt Jason (982-1025). Medea escapes in a dragon chariot while she throws the bodies of the boys down to Jason. Jason closes the play by stating that there are no gods because otherwise such acts would have not been committed (1026-1027). Euripides'' Medea was written before Seneca''s Medea and even though they are similar there are differences. Seneca starts off his play with Medea herself expressing her hatred of Jason and Creon. Her first line is "O gods! Vengeance! Come to me now, I beg, and help me..." While Euripides introduces Medea later on in scene one and she complains to her nurse of the injustices she has faced. The chorus in Euripides'' Medea is not objective towards her. The chorus in Seneca''s Medea does not ridicule her and has an objective position through out the play. Seneca''s chorus does not show sympathy towards Medea. The final scenes are particularly different because Medea does not blame Jason for the death of her children in Seneca''s version. She even kills one of her sons in front of Jason and blames herself for their death. In Euripides'' version Medea does the opposite, because she blames Jason and does not carry any guilt or blame with her.