Medea a Tragic Heroine to Aristotle

Medea- a tragic heroine to Aristotle' This paper is an illustration of the characteristics inherent to the protagonist in Plays of Euripides: Medea that was conceived in 431 BC, as they collaborate to Aristotle's concept of tragedy and tragic protagonists In order to effectively understand the topic of this paper, it is imperative that we first take a look at the character who is supposed to analyzed in the light of her fulfilling the criterion of that of a tragic heroine; Medea: the Wife of Jason, who has deserted her at the beginning of the play for the daughter of King Creon, subsequently creating a scenario that is prevalently tense and regretful, particularly in aspect of the effect that his departure to another wife has had on Medea.

The occurrence of Medea's link to Jason as his wife comes about as the Argonauts, a group of Greek set under to command of Jason in order to locate the legendary Golden Fleece; a mythical fleece. However, when Jason reached Colchis, Aeetes, the king of the Colchians, compelled Jason to yoke and plow a field with a pair of fire-snorting bulls.

After this, in order to obtain the fleece, there was one thing that Jason absolutely had to do; he had to overcome the huge serpent that guarded the fleece within its coils. These things, however, though virtually impossible, he managed to do with the assistance of Aeetes' daughter, Medea, who had fallen in love with him and was a sorceress with significant mystical powers.

After fulfilling his mission in regard to the fleece, Jason, accompanied by Medea, set out for Iolcus, during the route of which Medea gives the audience or the reader a brief glimpse of the actual thoughtlessness and frigidity inherent to her personality in so much as distracting their pursuit by Aeetes by slaughtering her brother and strewing his limbs in the sea as they are passing through.

One they manage to make it to Iolcus, however, they are greeted with the sad spectacle of a scenario depicting the horrible fact that Jason's uncle has killed his brother, Jason's father. This leads to an occurrence once again indicating the coldness within Medea as she resourcefully brings about the murder of Pelias, Jason's murderous uncle, via the hands of his own daughter, this leading to her, Jason and the two children that they have to be exiled to Corinth, where the tragedy begins.

Medea as a tragic heroine from Aristotle's perspective At Corinth, Jason betrays her and their children for King Creon's daughter, who, it is apparent, he is more attracted to for the influence and riches that accompany her name rather than love. He is cold towards Medea and this angers her immensely, strengthening her resolve to take revenge of the worst kind upon Jason and the family that he has recently been wedded into; the family of Creon.

This is clear evidence of a plot taking form and it is important to also take into account the aspect of Aristotle's concept of a tragedy, that a plot is akin to being the soul of tragedy since there would be no reason for tragedy in the case of there being no plot.

Another thing that Aristotle defines as being quintessential to the characteristics of a tragic protagonist is that there must be such characteristics inherent to the situation that make sympathy one of the foremost feelings that the audience will feel towards to protagonist. That is to say that although there is significant evil in regard to his or her personality, there are also obvious aspects that make it clear that exploitation is involved in so much as the reasons that the particular steps were taken in the first place.

Character and thought too, both elements that are ascribed relevance by Aristotle, are both prevalent in the case of Medea, especially after her determination to murder her children as well as Creon and his daughter strengthens to the point of certainty. Conclusion Thus speaking, in he light of all that has been said, it is quite obvious that Medea's personality meets the description of tragic heroine from Aristotle's point-of-view, in more than a few aspects.

The pity that we feel for her, for instance, comes from the fact that although she didn't hesitate in the least to commit significant crimes and discrepancies.