Medea and Other Plays by Euripides

A hero is person who is willing to sacrifice themselves for the betterment of society. In contrast to a hero, a villain is a person who inflicts harm upon society for their own sake. In Euripides’ play “Medea”, Medea is a character that fits into the characteristics of a villain. After her husband Jason betrays her, Medea undergoes a transformation from a helpless woman to a sadistic killer. Though she does display a positive role upon society with her fight against male dominance, Medea is a true villain with her ability to manipulate people and her thirst for vengeance.

During the Ancient Greece era, females were regarded lesser than males and therefore had no place within society. But Medea, unlike most women during her time, stood up to the male dominated society. Instead of quietly accepting Jason’s marriage with a younger woman, Medea instead “[relieves her] feelings by denouncing [her husband]” and she states that “[Jason] will grieve to hear [her]” (Euripides 472-473). Medea only does not listen to Jason’s command, she also threatens him by saying that he will regret his choice. Later when Jason talks to Medea, he states that he must “escape the wearisome storm of [Medea’s] words” (Euripides 521-522). With the use of nautical imagery, Jason compares Medea’s voice to that of a powerful storm. This contradicts the stereotypical portrayal of women in Ancient Greece as they are viewed as weak beings. After killing her children, Medea tells Jason that “[he] shall never lay a hand on [her]” (Euripides 1320-1322). Even in modern society, many women fall victim towards domestic violence from their husbands. Medea stands up to Jason’s abuse and shows no signs of fear due to this resistance. The chorus of the play even shares Medea...

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...e is like a source of entertainment as Jason’s suffering came from their children’s lives, and Creon and his daughter’s lives. Medea’s extensive use of manipulation and her thirst for revenge makes her a true villain.

Though she had a positive influence upon the women during her time, Medea is a true cynic. With her art of manipulation and her strive for vengeance, Medea becomes a killer who disregards even her children’s lives. In Ancient Greece, women were stereotypically regarded as weak and passive beings. But Medea, a woman during that era, contradicts what Greek society portrays women. She uses people’s feelings and lives as mere tools in order to push her agenda. A villain can be either a man or a woman, as gender is a mere shell of the true person inside.

Works Cited

Euripides. “Medea and Other Plays.” New York: Oxford University Press, 1998. Print.