Medea by Euripides: themes and characterization

Medea Euripides - 4 the Most Terrible Event in the Play

The Most Terrible Event in Medea

Many terrible events take place in the Greek Tragedies, as they are defined in part by the inclusion of events such as these. In Euripides' Medea, many unhappy things occur, including exile and betrayal. There are many deaths that can be considered to be untimely. However, one event stands out above all the others as monstrous and terrible. This event is the murder of Medea's children. The reason that this is more terrible than the other deaths and events in the play is because of the specific circumstances regarding these deaths. Medea kills her own children because she wishes to take revenge on her husband for being unfaithful. The children have not done anything to deserve being killed, and are in fact quite innocent. Additionally, her children have been helpful to her cause even when all others have abandoned her.

The most obvious reason that it is terrible that Medea killed her own children is because the children are innocent and helpless, and they did not do anything to deserve to die. "They are presented as naive and oblivious in Euripides' tragedy. Their na vete is made apparent at the play's opening, as they happily frolic onstage, completely disregarding their mother's growing wrath and desperation." (Tagle) These are lighthearted children that are not aware of the sins committed by their father which has caused Medea to seek revenge. The deaths of Medea's husband's new wife and father-in-law may be tragic, but those killed played an active part in wronging Medea. Certainly, they may not have been aware of the pain the events would cause her, but they were adults behaving as they did of their own accord. The children have not actively done anything to hurt Medea, and if they had, it would have been out of ignorance and innocence, not because they wished to do so.

Medea's children are not only innocent and therefore undeserving of death, but they have also provided their mother with assistance and support when no one else was able to do so for her. The children are their mother's power in a very real sense. When Medea must appeal to the best intentions of Creon, she presents the case of her poor unfortunate children that are no deserving of any punishment. It is through his pity for the children that Medea is able to remain for a time long enough to fulfill her plans to get revenge. Again, her children assist her when no one else could by taking the poisoned gifts to their step mother. Because the children are innocent, no one would suspect any foul play, unlike if Medea herself delivered these items. Many times all of Medea's plans are built on the assistance that her children will provide for her, and they offer their services to her without any hesitation. She has complete power over them because she is their mother, and at the same time they are able to provide her with a grand amount of help.