Writer’s Intro:
Euripides (480 BC–406 BC) was a tragedian in ancient Athens. He is one of the few Greek writers whose plays have survived. The only others are Aeschylus and Sophocles. Here, we are going to discuss the Summary of ‘Medea’.
Medea summary
The first part of ‘Medea’ Summary
At the end of the Black Sea, there was a woman named Medea. She was a strong witch, the princess of Colchis, and the granddaughter of Helias, the sun god. Jason, a great Greek hero and leader of the Argonauts, led his crew to Colchis in search of the Golden Fleece.
King Aeetes, who was the ruler of Colchis and Medea’s father, kept watch over the Fleece. Aeetes’s traps made it almost impossible to get the Golden Fleece.
Jason overcame these problems with the help of Medea, and Medea herself killed the giant snake that was guarding the Fleece. Then, to buy time on their way to Greece, Medea killed her own brother and threw the pieces of his body overboard behind the Argo. Her father was devastated by the deaths of his son and daughter.
Jason returned with Medea to the kingdom he had inherited, Iolcus. Jason’s father had passed away, and his uncle Pelias was illegitimately occupying the throne. Medea persuaded Pelias’ daughters that she had a means to rejuvenate the aged monarch in order to aid Jason.
He would need to be put to death, dissected, put back together, and then revived using Medea’s sorcery. Without realizing it, the daughters followed Medea’s instructions, but she was unable to successfully revive Pelias. This action exiled Jason, Medea, and their children rather than handing Jason the kingship. They subsequently relocated to Corinth, where Jason eventually married another woman.
The second part of ‘Medea’ Summary
An arriving nurse laments the tragic circumstances facing Medea’s family. The Tutor and the children come to speak with her, and they discuss how Jason let Medea down. Knowing that Medea has a violent heart, the nurse is concerned for everyone’s security.
The tutor brings the children home again. From Corinth, a group of ladies who are sympathetic to Medea enters. To console Medea, they ask the Nurse to carry her outside. Even from the street, the poor woman can be heard screaming. She nonetheless desires to harm him.
Medea is informed that she must go by Creon, the Corinthian king and Jason’s new father-in-law, who enters the room. As quickly as possible, she and her children must go from Corinth. Upon pleading for mercy, Medea is granted a one-day reprieve. When the previous king departs, Medea promises the chorus that she would get retribution in the following day.
Jason comes in and tells Medea that she is being sent away because she talks too much. Jason and Medea have a very heated argument. Medea accuses Jason of being a coward, reminds him of all she has done for him, and slams him for being unfaithful. He offers Medea money and help on her journey, but she turns him down with pride. Jason goes out.
‘Medea’ Summary of third part
Aegeus, the king of Athens and Medea’s old friend, comes in. Aegeus has no kids. Medea tells him about her problems and asks to go to Athens to be safe. She offers to help him have a child, and she knows a lot about medicines and drugs. Aegeus agrees right away. He will protect her if she can get to Athens. The old king swears to Medea by all the gods.
Medea tells the Chorus about her plans once she knows she is safe. She will poison gifts and use them to kill Jason’s new wife and father-in-law. To finish her revenge, she will kill her children to hurt Jason and protect them from Creon’s allies and friends who might want to get back at them. The Chorus begs Medea to change her mind, but Medea insists that she must finish her plan of revenge.
Jason comes back in, and Medea changes her tone to calm things down. She pleads with him to let the kids stay in Corinth. She also makes the kids give gifts to the princess of Corinth. Jason is glad that she has changed her mind. Soon, the Tutor comes back with the children and tells Medea that the gifts have been given.
Then, Medea anxiously waits for news from the palace. She speaks lovingly to her children in a scene that is both sad and scary, all the while steeling herself to kill them. She hesitates for a moment, but she gets over it. There is no way to make a deal. Someone comes with the long-awaited news.
The final part of ‘Medea’ Summary
The poisoned dress and tiara have killed the princess. When Creon saw that his daughter had died, he held her body in his arms. The poison ended up hurting him. The deaths were horrible and scary. Both the daughter and the father died in terrible pain, and their bodies were so badly burned that it was hard to tell who they were.
Now, Medea is getting ready to kill her kids. She screams as she runs into the house. From inside the house, we can hear the children screaming. The Chorus thinks about helping, but in the end does nothing.
Jason and the soldiers come back in. He is worried about the children’s safety because he knows that Creon’s friends will try to get back at him. He has come to watch over the children. The Chorus breaks Jason’s heart by telling him that his children have died. Jason now tells his guards to break down the doors so he can get back at his wife for this killing.
Medea shows up in a chariot pulled by dragons above the palace. She has the dead bodies of the children with her. Medea makes fun of Jason and tells him that he will die in a humiliating way. She also won’t give him the bodies. One last fight breaks out between Jason and his wife.
Each of them blames the other for what has happened. Jason can’t stop Medea from getting to Athens with the help of her chariot. At the end of the play, the Chorus talks about how terrible it is that fate can’t be predicted.
Character List
Medea
Princess of Colchis. Wife of Jason. Barbarian, sorceress, woman of passion and rage.
Jason
Son of Aeson. Hero of the Golden Fleece.
Creon
King of Corinth. New father-in-law to Jason.
Aegeus
King of Athens. Friend of Medea.
Nurse
Servant to Medea and Medea’s children.
Tutor
Tutor to Medea’s children.
Manipulation and Betrayal are the theme of the ancient tragedy.
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– Phaedra
