Analysis of Jason and The Golden Fleece

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Athamas, a Greek King, grows tired of his current wife, Nephele and decides to put her in jail and quickly marries Io to take Nephele’s place. Nephele began to fear that Io would kill her children to ensure that Io’s children would inherit the kingdom instead. Io began to secretly gather seed-corn and parched the seed causing a famine across the entire kingdom. Athamas approaches an oracle to learn how to end the current famine; however, Io bribes a messenger to change the message saying that the only way to end the famine is to sacrifice his son, Phrixus. Phrixus was brought to the sacrificial altar however just before his sacrifice; a ram with a golden fleece takes Phrixus and his sister and runs away. The ram, which was sent by Hermes, carried the siblings across the water from Europe to Asia. Phrixus’s sister drowns during their journey but he arrives in Colchis. When he reaches his destination he sacrifices the ram and gives it to King Etes. A king named Pelias has stolen the crown from his brother and is told by an oracle that he will be murdered by a kinsman and is also told that he should be cautious of a man wearing only one sandal. Jason, the king’s nephew, came to town wearing only one sandal and came with the intent to claim his role as King. Pelias tells Jason that he would give him the throne only if Jason would go out and claim the golden fleece. Jason embarks on his quest and overcomes many obstacles and adventures as he makes his way to Colchis. Ultimately, due to the help of Hera, Jason reaches King Etes. Then, Hera and Aphrodite arrange for Cupid to make Medea, King Etes's daughter, fall in love with Jason. Jason then asked Etes for the golden fleece but Etes responded that he must plow a field of dragon’s teeth...

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...t sense of betrayal and the betrayal of love present in the myth. Jason chose to betray Medea, which then resulted in Medea’s internal struggle/conflict and the murder of both the princess and their children. Medea experiences a great deal of jealousy and anger toward Jason throughout the myth, proving that love is most certainly a powerful emotion, making the heart and mind do things that to others may not seem levelheaded or morally correct. To clarify, even though Medea made such rash and morally incorrect decisions, it appears to the reader that her decisions are somewhat understood and slightly justified because of her ongoing emotions. Nevertheless, Medea proves to be a perfect example of the power of jealousy and revenge in man. For her desire to seek revenge overcame her causing her to kill what was once a part of her and what she loved most, her children.

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