2007 Season - Genesius Guild

Euripides: "Medea"

“Medea” completes the story of Jason, who sailed with the Argonauts to steal the golden fleece. He was aided by Medea, a sorceress, and the daughter of King Aeetes. She helps Jason escape with the fleece by slaughtering her brother and scattering bits of his body in the wake of their ship, so that her grieving father has to stop to recover each piece.

She and Jason settle in Corinth where she bears him two sons.

The play begins with the news that Jason plans to leave Medea and marry Glauce, daughter of Corinth’s king, Creon. The old nurse and retainer worry about what Medea may do in her fury. A chorus of Corinthian maidens offer Medea what comfort they can.

King Creon enters to banish Medea, lest she use her power to harm his daughter. Medea successfully pleads for one more day in order to prepare for her departure. The king reluctantly agrees. Medea tells the chorus she will use this one day to contrive her revenge, which will involve the slaughter of the king, his daughter, and her own children, to deny Jason his sons.

At this point, King Aegeus enters, returning from Delphi, where he has gone for help to cure his childlessness. Medea offers to cure him if he will shelter her in Athens. He agrees and Medea sets her plot in motion.

She pretends to accept Jason’s decision and tells him that she will send their sons to bear a gift to Glauce as a peace offerings. When Glauce dons the robe, she is burned alive. Her father tries to rescue her, but he, too, is caught up in the garment’s fiery folds.

When Jason returns to vent his fury on Medea, he finds she has killed their sons and is seated aloft in a chariot which will bear her away to Athens. She leaves him shattered and childless.