The Greek tragedy Medea confronts some of the darker components of human nature while simultaneously questioning the values of a bigoted society. Women throughout the majority of human history have been looked down upon and marginalized, and any female who posed a threat to the status flow was likely to be ostracized or humiliated. Rather than revering intelligent women, male-dominated societies feared and resisted them. This is the world into which Medea enters. Recognizing the plight of women in ancient Greek society, Euripides uses Medea’s monologues to indicate his feminist perspective on the social issues of the time. One of the most decisive and controversial statements within the play is Medea’s woe-ridden declaration that “of all creatures that have life and reason we women are the …show more content…
In one particular line she states, “you have made me an icon of Greek womanhood,”. While this statement alone does not hold much weight, it’s contextual implications do. Medea was well-known not only for her sorcery, but also for her cunning and ruthlessness. Out of love for Jason, she defeated a dragon, left her family, killed her brother, and prompted the murder of Aeson’s foe, Pelias, at the hands of his own daughters. She was the sole mortal responsible for Jason’s fame and success, yet he discarded her as if she were nothing. This betrayal transformed Medea’s image from one of a powerful woman known for her terrifying yet heroic acts, to a pitiable foreigner without friends or family. Jason turned against her out of fickleness and resentment, causing her to become an example of what happens to females who dare to tread too heavily in the world of men. Based on the title, content, and tone of the play, Euripides does not support Jason’s choices but rather values Madea’s side of the story. This further implies that the playwright was, in fact, an early