ROUND O LBGENDARY BACK F MEDEA {Jason was bei to the tsone o Toles, wie fd been usurped by his wcle Palins. Th nel thought ‘dat Jason wos dead. When the young msn sedenly ppeared to elaim his sighs, Petishad no choice bot to agree tht Jason wes ented to inbei sh Kingdom. Howover, sho wily uncle wanted bs oa hildrea to inberit he nove He indo Jason to under the Quast ofthe Golden Fleve bere sealing doa to hi esponsiilie in Telos. Peis serely hoped that Json woul bo Killed while Secaping oachioe he slos imposible tak, Jason wes undouned by the advestre that fad him. He assembled a band of need heroes, the ‘Argonauts, zany of wham were tobe the fathers of the heres of the Trojan War. Ae rmaontng ney eificu and dangerows obec, Jason and his cousgsous band aved in Coit, Magom fon the Black Sea, whore tason mavaged fo cbisin the Secs, thanks to th assstamse of Medea, ‘anger of th king of Colhis, who barayed be people because of lr love for hire. Neda rexured fo Tole with Jasoo, where she became his wife and bore him two fons. Mess, Pelas was ‘unwilling to keep his word and give up the trone to son. Acting in what she beloved wre Jason's interests, Medes tndered bis ela, bt she ad Jason were forced 10 Deo. ‘They tock refige in Corin where ey aived without Sends oe resoecee, Ia Corixth Jason ellos sbndoned “eden and ved th Wing's enogter, nan efor o gain power and sas for himsc. He showed no consideration Sor is former wife ear tldea, At he poit the play by Euripides bepas, ‘Asa result of Jasa's ere! tcatmenl, Meda hus become obsessed with hazed for him and a desire fr rovengo. After making xrangomens fr ber escape to Athens, Modes pretends ta be reconciled ‘with Jason and sends poisoned garments «gif for his new wife. The peicess puts these robes nd dies a painful deat, forth poison makes tho cloth stick o hor body ad her flesh is bured any. Her ater res to help andi ile by the poison alo. ‘Wea Jason learns ofthis he shes to Medea's house to roe his son rom the yath a he ctxt of Corinth. Now Medea caries out the most honble element of her pln. She kills hero eildron, owing that this, more than anything, will be eterible blow tothe ted Jason, Taon i indod broken by this seis of disasters, and Nodes, ltiugh she loved her cikren deny, is eulant st her tsumaph. soa es to get revenge, but Medea escapes to Athens in mage chariot dren by fying, dragon. “Theta of ason, Medes, and tho Quest of th Golden Flee, was one ofthe popular egedy yeles of early Greees. Tt is rete to by Homer and was evdeutly the subject of ballads and poo cilar tothe ad. moder study of ho logon, ineludng all ran ersons, wil be foand in Volume I ‘of The Grek ps by Robert Graves.CHARACTER MAP ‘Chora Commert'on the nln drama: intaly sympathetic Tovar Wtes ut “opty he ‘aon Kangol Ars \ Formers of pros Maden Mesos ier of feign Nee fer chien es Span pe : Beehar on waked ylieal " f advarrageous marge Corinth, abandoned by lason,exled by Greon. Bespaling and angy, she exes ‘Ghuce ‘Messenger spr] revenge by murdering Jason’ wife; Creon’s Aslave; describes the lauee, Creon baught promises ‘gruesome deaths of and then her own «| 12 look ater Medoa’s Glauce and Croon, chile. J chien Tages . | SA ae fois, | tae” SS sympathy Crom te | King! Cain Glauce’sfather Tells Madea she wl have to lene; dies when hr takes be poisoned Glauce in is arms, Tutor ‘slave; old man who Tea tutor to Medea’ chile Be Nue Aslave; old woman ‘who seks 0 avoid ‘rouble, but realises the children ae in danger“Medea” questions Part 1 At the start ofthe play, what does the Nurse tellus has just happened to Medea? Describe her background [her family, how she met Jason, what she had been prepared to do for him.) How has Medea reacted to Jason’s treatment of her? Include quotes .Page 18-20. What indications are there that the Nurse , despite sympathizing with Medea, is also frightened of what she might do in retaliation? Page 18, 20 21. dd, What crimes does Medea regret? Page p22. eS e. Read Medlea’s “Women of Corinth” speech on pages 22-23. What does she have to say about women in this era, Include quotes. Why does Creon, ruler of Corinth and father of Glauce, want tobanish her? Page 25 and 26. - She persuades Creon to give her more time to prepare for leaving. However, when Creon leaves, she says ;"Don’t imagine things will end as they are now”. What does she mean by this.? What do you think are her plans? At this point, the Chorus of women and the nurse are sympathetic with Medea's situation but they also fear her reaction to Jason's trestment of her. What do you feel about Medea at this point in the play?. Consider who she is and what she has already done. Page 30-36 Jason comes to see Medea What s his attitude to Medea’s passionate anger? What are you feelings towards Jason at this point? With ‘whom do your sympathies le? Quotes are essential here, What curse does Medea utter as Jason leaves? What does this indicate about her plans? . The Nurse, the Chorus, even Creon, fear Medea’s reaction te Jason’s ejection of her. Yet Jason seems oblivious, What is your reaction to this? Is he naive? Foolish? Arrogant? He knows what she is capable of. He sees himself as a man of reason and logic. Is he incapable of understanding’ genuine emotion.?“Se Medea questions _Part2 tb. Aegeus is King of Athens [ page 37 J. Why hadl he gone to see the Oracle of Apollo ? bb. How does he react to Medea’s news and what agreement does he make ‘with Mledea.2[ page 37-00]. “tl protect you al can’, says Aegeus. In ight ofthis generous offer, what ‘are your feelings about Medea's plans which she reveals to the Chorus and Nurse on Page 41-82. Give details ofthe plans. Quotes are estential. <. Her justification for this brutal revenge is that ths s the way to deal Jason the deepest wound”, She has clearly thought about this very carefully. She lives ina patriarchal society where a high value is placed on the perpetuation of family lines through male hers. Kling Jason's sons and the |woman who could give him more sons is the ultimate punishnent she cant inflict on Jason ina society where women were powerless. Despite what she sees as good reasons, what do you think? Again remember Aegeus generous offer. ‘e. While Medea’s actions are based on passion, her revenge is planned very carefully, without emotion. [ p27, persuades Creon to letherstay an extra day; page 43 sends for lason and fools him; page 45 and 46, the gifts. Describe how she has carefully planned her revenge. Page 52-55. The messenger brings news of the horrific deaths of Glauce and Creon, Medea’s reaction is “Tell me , how did they die? You'llgive me double pleasure if their death was horrible”. What are you feelings about Medea now??? ig. On page 55, she says, “my course Is clear; as quickly as possible to kill the children”. Why does Medea think she has acted correctly inkling all these innocents?[ Look at Medee’s frst speech on Page 59 where she justifies ‘what she has done}. hi, Look at the last page as Medea plans to leave by the Sun God's chariot. ‘What are her plans and prophecies for the future? [this s where we understand more clearly why she made Aegeus take the oath to protect her