The chorus in Medea seems to be almost very hypocritical. They at first stand by her rage saying "It is right that your husband should pay." They see that Medea is devastated by what Jason has done to her. So far in the story, Medea is a very strong female character for Greek literature, hating on her children, and wanting to take a stand against Jason and Creon. The chorus stating Jason should pay is going against the majority of conventional ideals in Greek culture, but that changes in the First Stasimon.
http://wiredcosmos.com/2012/05/31/athenian-women-of-ancient-greek-society/
On Medea's way to carry out her revenge, the Chorus can't seem to get over the fact that Medea is doing this without a man. They mention "no man in your marriage bed, poor women." So they do support her for wanting to get revenge on Jason, but then they keep with the conventional men ideas, and mention how she's a women doing this all without a man. "No more have the house of your father to shelter you, poor woman." They look as Medea as just another woman, who needs a man to build the house that shelters her, or go out, and provide for her while she takes care of the kids. The Chorus goes from supporting her independence for wanting to fight back against Jason, to talking of her as just another woman who is in despair, and it's tragic because there is no man in her life. They also dehumanize Medea, by saying Creon's daughter is much more powerful than Medea.
It's almost as if they want Medea to get revenge on Jason, but they don't want her or any female being the one who gets the revenge. The Greeks still look at women as just about useless so they would not believe that a woman could carry out such an act.
ReplyDeleteI like how you noticed the chorus's role in challenging Medea as a mere old woman. Jason and Creon think that since Medea is a woman, they can neglect her and she won't retaliate to their injustice. Little do they know, Medea is no ordinary woman, and her revenge will be similar to Odysseus's revenge.
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