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Euripides: A Greek Tragic Hero

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Euripides is known as one of the three Greek Tragedians, along with Aeschylus and Sophocles- as such, he is often regarded as one of the greatest playwrights in history. This is because his plays (such as Medea and The Trojan Women) have had the power and ability to last through the ages. It was previously believed that he had written over ninety-five plays, but more recently it is believed he wrote closer to ninety-two, of which around nineteen have survived. Of the three, Euripides was the youngest, and his first play made its debut thirteen years after Sophocles’ debut. Euripides was born circa 480 B.C. in Salamis, Greece, to parents Cleito (whom many have ascertained may have been a market greengrocer) and Mnesarchus, a retailer in a …show more content…

His characters often display this humanism in their flaws, natural desires, and lack of the conviction that the classic heroes often presented in Greek theatre, and were given flaws, doubts, vulnerabilities, and true problems without the presentation of a deus ex machina; in fact, many of the fates of his characters were directly influenced by their flaws. His characters were also known to hault dramatic action in preference for a more psychological and insightful …show more content…

It could be deduced that his work influenced other playwrights such as William Shakespeare, as the structure went as follows: a situation was mixed up; characters had a recognition scene; everything turned out in the end. It can even be said that this structure lasted more than his other plays did. One of his best-known plays was Medea- it told the still-remarkable story of a woman, her abuse, and her plotted and executed revenge. In the script, a princess named Medea is taken by Jason to become his bride; the two wed, have two children, and seemingly live happily ever after. However, Jason eventually decides to marry a younger woman after their marriage, and Medea plots her vengeance. The play describes the hatred she feels for her husband and the love she feels for her sons, and she eventually murders the princess and her own

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281 Words | 2 Pages

This is an ironic statement as Medea is actually planning to kill her children, a fact which the audience does not yet know about. Jason uses another form of rhetorical stretching, which includes his plea that leaving his wife and children was a ‘wise move’, and that the decision was made with Medea’s best interests at heart, as much an attempt to convince himself as much as the audience. The chorus is quick to point out that ‘You have betrayed your wife and are acting badly.’ The Nurse is our first instance of anagnorisis during the play. Though an ancient Greek audience would well be in tune with the stories in Greek mythology, the Nurse’s role would still have proved important, as she was a tool Euripides used to transport the audience

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490 Words | 2 Pages

Heracles, a Greek demigod and son of Zeus, is known far and wide as one of the greatest heroes of Greek mythology due to his awesome accomplishments. However, Heracles is not only defined as a hero through these actions, but by his characteristics as well. In Euripides’ Heracles, his character is truly put to the test. His most prominent traits shown throughout the story are his loving devotion to his family, his kindness as both a friend and son, and his continued determination during horrendous times.

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2011 Words | 9 Pages

Medea left her home, in a classic withdrawal, to follow the man she loved across the world on his voyage, and she ended up fighting his battles along their way. Medea is still in the withdrawal period of her story whenever Jason and his crew arrive, and this is when the true horrors of the Medea are released. To Medea’s despair, Jason decided to marry the daughter of the King of Corinth, the lovely grey-eyed Creusa, despite his marriage to Medea and the fact that they have 2 young sons together. This complete betrayal by her true love is what pushes Medea over the edge. At first, she is devastated and wracked with crying fits but then she does what any woman would do in her situation, she gets her revenge.

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394 Words | 2 Pages

In Greek Theatre one of the main components of a tragedy is the tragic hero. A tragic hero is a man, or a woman, of high standing who is capable of great suffering. They must posses many great qualities but in the end will display a single fatal flaw in character that will lead to his or her demise. They audience must accept this downfall because of this flaw in character.

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723 Words | 3 Pages

Greek Tragedy The religious and philosophical outlook of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides the three major Greek tragic playwrights and the outlook of each are reflected in his plays. In Aeschylus playwrights, one of his playwrights happens to be one in which the whole trilogy survives called the Oresteia and he also wrote a play called The Persians. Aeschylus who wrote primarily of war, and how hubris and arrogance can lead to disastrous results like in the Persians, which he wrote from the personal experience he saw in Persians defeat and Athenians win.

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749 Words | 3 Pages

She express her feeling of his betrayal of her by plotting revenge. She uses her kids as pawns in her plan. Euripides is delineating medea by making her exhibit emotions of love, passion, and vengeance. Medea can be seen as a fierce woman, because she is open-minded, she doesn’t give up. It is shown in the play where it states “ I will turn three of my enemies into corpses, the father, the daughter, and my husband”.

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1549 Words | 7 Pages

'Euripides' character Medea is a desperate woman maltreated by a despicable man.' Do you agree? In Medea, Euripides explores the notion of ill treatment at the hands of various characters, including Jason. This is evident in Jason's lack of appreciation and acknowledgement of Medea in raising his status to become a legendary hero.

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888 Words | 4 Pages

He was known as one of Rome’s most intellectual figures, developing a career in both politics and law. Seneca the Younger died in 65ce while in Rome, Italy. This particular play written by Seneca the Younger, is a melodramatic tragedy which takes place in a single day. It is written about Medea, a woman scorned by her husband, Jason the Argonaut. Jason is about to take a new bride, named Creusa, who happens to be the daughter of Creon, the King of Corinth.

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1655 Words | 7 Pages

Through the thematic comparison of Macbeth, and Medea; this essay demonstrates how Shakespeare

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1497 Words | 6 Pages

Medea plots her revenge by murdering the king, the bride and her two children in order to make Jason suffer and take away everything Jason cared about. The Greek gods felt that Medea was in her right and they proved this by allowing and even helping her escape in the end of the play

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2045 Words | 9 Pages

She is a woman who feels complete around a man. Based on Knox insight, Medea, regardless of her power, her destiny is to marry, bear and raised children, and go where her husband goes, subordinate her life to his, because all she has is her children and husband, but when Jason betrays her, she dedicates her force of that intellect and energy turning it all against him (Knox 292). We should be against her ideals, but the fact is that she devoted her life for Jason, often making difficult decisions and denying opportunities she had just to have her time and energy be wasted on Jason. It the sole reason why she turns against him. In my few, the tragedy is not her, it’s him, because he loses a big portion of his life.

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320 Words | 2 Pages

Medea was an absolute lunatic. Before moving to Corinth Medea killed her brother by chopping him up and throwing him in the ocean. She then tricks the king’s daughters into cutting him up and boiling him. Once in Corinth Medea finds out that her husband, Jason, is marrying the daughter of Creon. This infuriates Medea and she has to have her revenge.

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1224 Words | 5 Pages

Oedipus the King is one of the most ironic plays ever written. Sophocles, the author, is a famous philosopher of the ancient times The Play is about Oedipus, the king of Thebes, who kills his father and marries his mother. An oracle warned Laius, the king of Thebes prior to Oedipus, that his son would murder him. Accordingly, when his wife, Jocasta, had a son, he exposed the baby by first pinning his ankles together. The infant, who was adopted by King Polybus of Corinth and his wife was then brought up as their very own.

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1135 Words | 5 Pages

MEDEA, Euripides In the ancient era was the theater plays and a very central part of the future society. Usually written the dramas and love stories. A classic piece of antiquity is Medea, written by Euripides. The play 's fable is that a woman who learns that her husband has been cheating on her.

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723 Words | 3 Pages

Aeschylus was the first well-known, successful tragedian in Greece. He also won his first competition at Great Dionysia in 484 B.C.E. Aeschylus is also well-known because of what he had incorporated into the growth of Greek Tragedy. He would often have a theme for the plays that he wrote and he would also include sequels that went along with them. He even added a second actor as well as more dialogue and more drama from age-old stories so that his audience could be familiar with his plays. He also improved the costume attires that were worn by the actor and added masks to Greek

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