Jason’s betrayal causes Medea to look back at the past and asses where she went wrong. What could she have done to prevent herself from the pain and disbelief she is experiencing? After Medea is “punished with exile” (454), she begins to question all of her wrongdoings in order to peacefully be with the man she loves. During her confrontation with Jason, Medea claims “I have made myself an enemy to my loved ones at home, the very ones I should not have hurt; in helping you I have made enemies.” (506-508). This reveals that, looking back, Medea regrets running off with Jason, leaving her homeland behind, and burning ties with the people she holds dear to her heart. Then, Medea goes on to say that Jason should “made this marriage only after convincing me, and not in secret from your loved ones.” (586-587). This statement solidifies Medea’s longing for the past by explaining that she would not have run off with Jason had she knew his true intentions and reasons for wanting to marry her in the first place.
In the play, Medea even temporarily imagines a future with her children. She wonders "[h]ow [her children] would tend [her] in [her] age, and do the shroud about [her] with [their] own dear hands, when [she] [lays] cold, blessèd in all the lands that knew [them]" (59). If Medea moves on with her life and takes her children with her, her imagination would become reality. Her children would be able to manage her death, like she envisions.
ReplyDeleteGreat insight on how Medea is constantly consumed by her past. She holds onto her hatred like a little girl holds her favorite doll, and carries it around everywhere. This will eventually lead to her demise.
ReplyDeleteThe play really focuses in on Medea's past in the first parts of the play. In order to have a successful future one must forget the past and move on, which Medea is having trouble doing. Once Medea moves on and accepts her past she will have a brighter future.
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