Throughout the prologue Euripides provides the readers with an
overall theme of passion turned into hatred. Readers are introduced with the back-story
of Medea’s life, which gained her the loyalty and passion aspect of the play.
“Then my mistress Medea would not have sailed to the fortress of Iolcus’ land,
her heart battered by love for Jason”(5-7). Medea is motivated easily by the
idea of passion and love in order to help her once beloved Jason. The only
reason Jason is able to win the Golden Fleece is thanks to Medea’s mastery of
arcane arts. Medea commits terrible crimes in order to express her love and the
overall theme of passion for Jason. The theme of the play even goes so far that
Medea kills her own blood brother just to prove her love for Jason. However,
after Jason leaves her in order to love another woman Medea’s passion and love
turns into darkness and hatred. Medea’s hatred towards Jason now consumes the
entire plot. Not only does the hatred Medea has towards Jason affect her
relationship with him, the hatred affects her children. “You horrible children,
of a mother who hates you god damn you with your father, and the whole house go
to hell”(113-115). The once passionate theme Medea symbolized has now turned
into a deep hatred for anything remotely associated with Jason including her
own children. Medea expresses how she believes her children are horrible just
because they are the children of the man she once loved. Euripides incorporates
a strong presence of the theme love turning into hatred during the prologue.
In addition to “love turning into hate”, a theme of sacrifice is also written within the pages of Medea. As you said, Medea kills “her own brother” (6), allowing her to successfully run away with her husband. After he betrays her, Medea shows powerful characteristics, immediately prepared and willing to sacrifice her family for revenge. Both Medea and Jason’s actions evoke questions concerning the values of greek society. Is one’s pride and personal gain more important than loyalty and family?
ReplyDeleteMedea definitely showed her passion for Jason but he threw it out the window. Jason's betrayal caused Medea to go mad and begin to hate not only Jason but her life And even her children. Medea's passion continues to show through her displays of despair and her acts of revenge.
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