As Medea begins, Medea's hamartia is immediately shown. After her
issues surrounding her husband (soon to be ex), Jason, Medea claims she is "in agony, and is so brutally misused"(112). Instead of finding ways
to lessen the amount of stress and sadness she feels, she exerts her emotions
onto others- she has an anger management problem. Medea verbally attacked
her children and said "... horrible children, of a mother who hates
you god damn you with your father"(114-115). Medea struggles to
conquer the root of her problems and acts out her frustrations on those weaker
than herself. The nurse is fully aware of Medea’s unnecessary aggression,
which leads her to ask Medea “Why do you entangle the children in their
father's wrongdoing?”(118-119)
Luckily for Medea, once she gains control over her anger she can direct her
aggression to conquering her enemies, not to attack her kin, or harm herself.
Medea’s
hamartia is balanced out by her fierce and unyielding personality. Medea does
not put up with anybody’s wrongdoings towards her. Medea is the complete
opposite of typical Ancient Greece woman. Medea is not a fragile creature that
will submit to others. People are treated however way they treat Medea, and if
someone offends her or stands in her way, she will make them regret their
actions. This mentality is now directed at her husband, Jason, and Creon (and
his family). Medea’s current plan is one in “which she will turn three of my
enemies into corpses,
the father, the daughter, and her husband”(374-375) Killing her enemies is the
best way for Medea to show others not to look down upon her as weak.
Great connection to how Medea differs from typical Ancient Greek women. This tragically can connect to today's Hollywood movies as well. There's a lack of strong female leads, and instead women are often portrayed as someone who relies solely on men.
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ReplyDeleteMedea’s feminist characteristics definitely connect to today’s society. Similar to today, Medea stands as an independent and intelligent woman. Even though she may seem weak and dependent upon her husband at first, she redeems herself through her cunning plans for revenge. Although this play was written many years ago, Medea’s strong personality serves as an element of foreshadowing for the future, explicitly portraying a woman capable of defying the need for a man.
ReplyDeleteMedea's vindictiveness is definitely her hamartia. After all, the tragedy begins with concern over Medea's grief and what will come of her intense emotions. The foreshadowing is clear from the first page. Medea has the potential of letting her anger define her and ultimately destroy her.
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