메데아의 애정과 모정

Abstract

Euripides, evaluated as ‘the most tragic of the poets’ by Aristotle, writes with great insight and sympathy on the position and psychology of women and is very interested in creating a complex, dynamic, and multifaceted character. He provokes deep thought not only to his contemporary audiences but also to us today with gender conflict in Medea. Women, the bearers and protectors of male children, are considered to be prone to feelings of insecurity and jealousy and motivated by feelings rather than by reason in a patriarchal society. So they are dominated by men and hidden from history. Euripides deals with this kind of theme in most of his plays. Even though Aristotle introduces a decadent element in Euripides, the admirers and haters of Euripides argue with Euripides’ radical idea over this theme. As a revenge tragedy, Medea relates Jason’s betrayal in spite of Medea’s loyalty toward him. Medea’s tremendous behavior for her husband comes from her love toward him. Jason deceives his wife, Medea, a resolute, devoted wife and mother. She becomes a victim of broken vows by her husband’s remarriage. Jason envisions two sons to become the legitimate heirs to the kingdom of Corinth. But it is an unsuccessful dream of a happy future and his ambition for power. Medea can’t accept his desire because she has fulfilled her part of the marriage contract by giving him two sons. If they are still childless, she may accept his intention, but she deserves some measure of loyalty from Jason. Even Chorus condemns his unjust behavior. But Jason assumes that Medea’s reaction is simply due to sexual jealousy from his wrong idea about women. Finally, she decides to get revenge by killing his new bride by sending poisoned gifts, and tries to get permission from King Creon. She begs Creon to give her one more day before signing a proclamation banishing her from Corinth. The bond between parent and child, and especially mother and child, stands as the most fundamental and unquestionable bond, so it is accepted that infanticide is one of the strongest taboos. She recognizes that the wickedness of her crime that she is about to commit is unpardonable and that her punishment of the man whom she hates requires the destruction of those she loves most and her revenge might be a hollow revenge. She falters, but she resolves to fulfill her plan. Jason's oath-breaking is finally punished. She knows that Jason’s love for sons is for himself, so refuses his wish for the sons’ burial. He pities himself, but we don’t agree with him because we can’t see any justice in him. He fails to recognize nothing of the wrong he did as a failing hero. Even though Medea is described as a dehumanised monster by Jason, she defeats him in the name of justice. Medea is saved by the chariot of Helios, the very vehicle of divine justice.