Medea Euripides - 3, Identify

Medea Euripides - 3, Identify and Explain the Major Symbols in the Play

The Major Symbols in Medea

Euripides is a master of language and technique, as is evident in his tragedy Medea. Many techniques are used to help propel the story forward. Unlike many audiences today, those in ancient Greece went to plays such as this one already completely informed about the plot. Euripides' Medea, like other Greek tragedies, begins in medius re (the plot already well underway) because the audience already knows the introductory and expository information. The audience already knows who will live and who will die. Therefore, it is the way in which the story is presented, not the details of the plot, that decided the quality of a theatrical experience. Euripides skillfully utilizes the use of symbolism in his telling of the story Medea. The children in this play are symbols of Medea's power and deceitfulness; the sun and light are also important symbols in Eurpides' play.

The children in Medea are not fully fleshed-out characters, but rather a tool used by the characters within the play, as well as by Euripides to convey the story as it is written.

The children are actually symbols of Medea's power, or lack thereof. The children are the heirs of Jason's family name and bloodline, and Medea's power to have continuation of their legacy. The children are, however, oblivious to their importance. In this way they also symbolize the irresponsibility of Medea and Jason. " The children personify Jason and Medea's neglect of the household and their abandonment of responsibility for their past and present actions" (Tagle) Medea and Jason ignore the children and abandon them into the care of their nurse while passionately ranting at each other. To Medea, however, the children are just symbolic reminders of what went wrong between Jason and her, calling them "Children of a hateful mother." (Euripides 112)

The children are additionally symbols of the deceit that Medea practices. Medea uses her children as tools in her plan to take revenge. Medea uses her children to appeal for pity from the king who is concerned for the children's well-being, therefore buying herself enough time to slaughter all of her pending victims. Medea also uses her children by having them deliver poison in the disguise of gifts, as no one would expect the children to have ill intentions. The children present the gifts as a request to let them avoid banishment, but in reality the gifts have been sent not to aid the children's situation at all. Throughout the play Medea acts like a puppet-master using the children to get her goals accomplished without being detected. They are the perfect cover.