Medea

1452 Words3 Pages

It is easy to agree with a family member or friend about a bad decision, but it is much more difficult to agree with someone you do not like, or do not even know personally. When that person is a fictional character it is even more challenging. Medea is a very pitiful character, but she is also rather cunning in the way she carries out her actions. However, due to the overwhelming sense of wrong-doing, the reader may find it easy to identify with her. Medea makes a wonderful pathetic character because of her strange way of thinking and rationalizing, ability to manipulate people, and her strong desire to make Jason suffer. Because of Medea’s strange way of thinking, the reader is able to identify with her. Although she wishes harm on Jason, Medea does not care who else gets hurt along the way. “Ah, lost in my sufferings, I wish, I wish I might die,” (pg. 692, line 97-8). She is able to convince the reader with her first line that her suffering has been so awful, that there is no longer any point in living. Before truly understanding what is going on in the play, Medea is able to get many people on her side. At the very least, she is able to make most people feel sorry for her right away, and recognize her as a pitiful character. Another thing that proves that Medea has a strange way of thinking is how she rationalizes the murder of Jason’s new wife. Most people, regardless of where they live, feel that murder is wrong. Maybe evoke revenge in the way of ruining a reputation or something along those lines, but never kill. In Medea’s mind, there was nothing else she could do at this point to make Jason suffer like she had suffered. Medea is able to totally remove any human emotion behind the murder. She cannot seem... ... middle of paper ... ...ter because of her strange way of thinking and rationalizing, ability to manipulate people, and her strong desire to make Jason suffer. Although many people have decided to hate Medea by the end of the play, most could not help but feel sorry for her in the beginning. There is almost an immediate connection for the reader when Medea’s husband leaves her for another woman, but this quickly changes to revulsion when the children are killed. Love her or hate her, at the very least people can relate to something about her character. People are able to connect, and even pity her situation. Regardless of personal feelings toward the character, there is no doubt that she is a pathetic character. Works Cited Lawall, S. (Ed.). (2006). The norton anthology of western literature (Vol. 1, 8th ed., pp. 691- 720). New York: W.W. Norton & Company.

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