In ancient times, the Greeks valued three things, Honor, Loyalty, and Sacrifice. Out of all of the values, sacrifice plays the most central role in Euripides’ play, Medea. As the story unfolds, it becomes evident that sacrifice is the root of all conflicts. The character's value of sacrifice, especially Jason and Medea’s, proves their willingness to accomplish their goals and desires. As she formulates her plan to murder her children, Medea states “do not think of your children- how much you love them, how you gave them birth” (1245-1246). Medea’s hesitation proves that she is not taking the situation lightly and provides an explanation for her sacrifice. Furthermore, the fact that Medea murders her own children merely “to wound [Jason]” (1398) shows how much she values revenge and sacrifice over the well-being of her children. Medea’s actions perfectly depict the obstacles the Greeks are willing to go through in order to uphold their values.
The dictionary defines sacrifice as an act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else regarded as more important or worthy. According to Mother Teresa, however, a sacrifice must cost, hurt, and empty ourselves in order to be considered real. Medea’s sacrifice at the conclusion of the play can be labeled as real because she fulfills all three components of Mother Teresa’s definition of sacrifice. Medea’s sacrifice cost her the lives of her children, hurt her by having to murder the children herself, and emptied her by having to mourn them and losing a piece of her herself in the process.
The sacrifice Medea makes to seek vengeance upon her husband, Jason, also provides irony to the play. She claims she "loved" (46) her children, however she chooses to murder them so Jason will "feel pain" (46). Jason states, "You loved them, and killed them" (46), which clearly shows the ironic tone of Medea's actions and how her emotions contradict.
ReplyDeleteMedea's sacrifice also emptied her of her emotions and hatred themselves. In one burst of blind rage, she pours all her hatred out towards Jason, leaving nothing behind in its place. She essentially becomes an empty husk after flying off, with revenge and family executed - leaving her nothing to work towards.
ReplyDelete