Myth
Today we are going to talk about the myth of Jason and Medea, and show how it has manifested in different ways in popular culture and the arts. The myth of Jason and Medea stretches back to ancient Greece, but this symbol-laden story has permeated the arts and culture since then. The story has it all: war, love, sex, death, and murder. There are innumerable different versions of the myth, but they all share some common elements in common. These elements include the portrayal of Medea as a strong and powerful woman; a real "woman to be reckoned with." Jason, who is the very same Jason as in the Argonauts and the Golden Fleece, is also a strong person but he happens to assume a subordinate role in his relationship with Medea. As we will see, Medea is the star of this myth. She remains the star of the story in the way artists like John William Waterhouse depicted Medea in their paintings.
Medea was a powerful woman, and therefore serves as a strong female role model. Her story belies the role of women in ancient Greece, and in fact, the role of women throughout much of the world's history. Medea is an important woman to study because she represents the potential of women to be socially and politically powerful. After all, Medea also happened to have a powerful man for her father, too: King Aietes of Colchis. As we will see, Medea's power causes great consternation and fear among the general public. Waterhouse's painting...
The theme of adultery and betrayal is dealt with in a not-so-delicate way in the myth of Jason and Medea. Basically, the moral of the story is "don't cheat!" Waterhouse's 1907 painting of Jason and Medea shows what happens when husbands go astray. Medea wears a powerful color, red, and seems completely self-possessed and in control of the situation as she prepares some poison. She is nonplussed by the fact that Jason is wearing a suit of armor; her power comes from within.
Jason starts out as the epitome of a warrior-hero. Like Hercules, Jason overcame tremendous obstacles and met physical challenges with relative ease when he was put to the test when seeking the elusive Golden Fleece with a crew of sailors, the Argonauts. In fact, Medea met Jason when her father also challenged Jason to a series of tasks. Little did the king know that Medea had "taken a liking to Jason," and agrees to help him accomplish her father's challenges such as yoking fire-breathing bulls (PBS, 2005). All Medea wants in return is for Jason to marry her, which he does to return Medea's favor. Medea is therefore a most unique woman in the history of literature. She is a woman who takes charge of her own destiny, and…
