Melodrama And Realism In Medea

Guadalupe Martinez

July 8, 2015

AP Literature

Medea

Realism and melodrama are two elements that make a play both interesting and emotional. Realism is the attitude of accepting a situation as it is and being able to prepare to deal with is accordingly. Melodrama is a sensational dramatic piece with exaggerated characters and exciting events intended to appeal to the emotions. Euripides was a great writer of tragedy plays in the golden age of the Athens. In the play Medea, he placed a feature of strong dramatic situations with an unusual part for the heroine, who is filled with feminine pride and revolt against tradition.

Medea is a tragic play that takes place in the city-state Corinth. At the beginning of the play medea is filled with pain

and sorrow because she was left by her husband Jason, who married Creon’s daughter. On top of this, Creon tells Medea she must leave the land with her two children, because he is scared she will try to do something against him or his daughter. Medea, however, does not want to leave the land with her hands empty and therefore, swears bloody revenge against all who have wronged her. First, she convinces Creon to allow her to stay one day. This gives her enough time to plan out her revenge. Next, she coincidentally sees Aegeus, who offers her welcoming into his land in exchange for his help. Medea agrees because she needs a secure and safe place to stay in after she is done with her plan. After this she commences her plan. She talks to Jason making him believe that she agrees with the marriage, but first he must ask the king if he can allow the children to stay. Jason agrees to make an attempt, and so his children and him head off to see the bride with a gown and a golden crown with hope in their hearts. Although what they didn’t know was that the gifts were poisoned. Later came the messenger who told Medea the horror that had occurred. The princess wore the gown and the crown without knowing that it would lead her to her death. As her corpse laid on the floor, Creon rushed into her room and hugged her as he slowly also began to die. Once Medea heard this, she knew she only had one thing left to do, kill her kids. Even though she knew she would be devastated,she was aware it was the only way to leave Jason completely devastated. Medea then drags her children and kills them, carrying their corpses onto her chariot. Jason arrives and begs to be able to bury his children, but Medea refuses and flies away triumph with the bodies.
This play features strong dramatic situations in which the characters express different emotions and actions that help them deal with their reality.

Euripides brought both elements of realism and melodrama into this play, which are evidenced through the actions, characteristics, and emotions that the characters posses. Throughout the entire play we receive a sense of melodrama because we are torn with emotions between the characters. At first we sympathize with Medea because she has transformed into the sort of wife that is required in society, but is still abandoned by Jason. She reacts in accordance with her qualities and in the nature that a woman who is betrayed would react to. In the beginning of the play, the nurse says,”And poor Medea is slighted, and cries aloud on the vows they made to each other, the right hands clasped.”(1) This quote allows us to image the pain that Medea must be feeling, and therefore we become aware that she is a prideful woman that will not under any circumstances just sit around all alone in misery. Once Medea realizes that she wants to take matters into her own hands and seek revenge, she says,”It is best to go straight road, the one in which I am most skilled, and make away with them by poison.”(13) It is at this point at which we realize the plans that Medea is planning and we begin to sympathize Jason. Although what he did was unjust and coward like, we feel that no father should be put in a position in which he is incapable of saving

his children from the hands of their own mother. Euripides really showcases a type of drama that makes us feel disturbed and makes us question our belief system.
Medea’s revenge is immortal, leaving the readers feeling troubled and perturbed. Throughout the entire play we are surprised because the dramatic situations come unexpected and we begin to question all the actions of the characters. For example, when the Chorus asks Medea,”But can you have the to kill your flesh and blood.”(26) With this quote we are given a sense of fear and it is when Euripides once again plays with our emotions. It is at this point where we also question Medea because even though she was betrayed, we wouldn't consider this a very common reaction. I believe that children shouldn’t pay for the price for the mistakes that the parents make, but it is here where we create more questions. When Medea is talking to the chorus she says,”Women, my task is fixed: as quickly as I may kill my children, and start away from this land,and not,by wasting time, to suffer my children,to be slain by another hand less kindly to them.”(40) This quote makes Medea seem heartless and as if she only thinks for herself. Although, these lines may make us think, why would Medea do such thing to her own kids, knowing that she will be devastated? Well, this quote also infers that Medea would rather have her children dead and at peace, than to be attacked and hated by everyone surrounding them for what she did to the kingdom.
Euripides gave Medea a role that made it possible to showcase dramatic scenes that played with our human emotions and help us relate the play with real life situations. For example, when the tutor says,"That everyone loves himself more than his neighbor? Some have good reason, others get something out of it."(4) We can totally relate to this quote in our everyday lives because it's is sadly a true fact. We live in a world that has many beautiful things, but sadly it has the same amount of terrible things. In this world our priority will always be us and in every situation we will first think for our sake before we think of others because it is very rare if someone cares for others rather than themselves. Euripides input of realism is also evidenced when the chorus tell Medea,"God will be your friend in this."(6) This quote allows us identify ourselves with the characters because similar to Medea, in many situations where we feel vulnerable, we seek refuge in God. When talking to the chorus, Medea also said,”We women are the most unfortunate creatures.”(8) This quote also proves the realism that is expressed in the play because women in this society can totally relate to how Medea feels. Even though times have changed, we still live in a society that is mostly dominated by the male figure and women don't really have a voice. As Medea says,”But we are forced to keep our eyes on one alone.”(9) This means that men have more liberty to do anything they want, while women in her society have to live under their shadow. Men can go and marry other women, but women can only marry one.
Medea is a character who is brave, but holds a lot of pride and resentment in her heart. Pride is a quality that all human beings possess, and it is a factor can potentially prevent us from being happy. Euripides gives us proof of Medea’s pride when she is talking to Jason. She says,“I shall never accept the favors of friends of yours, nor take a thing from you, so you need not offer it. There is no benefit in the gifts of a bad man.”(20) This quote lets us know that Medea can’t forgive Jason, therefore she isn’t willing to think straight and accept anything he gives her. Euripides also gave us examples of life dilemmas that we constantly face on a day to day basis. This is proven when the Messenger tells Medea,“Our human life I think and have thought a shadow, and I do not fear to say that those who are held wise among men and who search the reasons of things are those who bring the most sorrow. If wealth flows in upon one, one may be perhaps luckier than one’s neighbor, but still not happy.”(39) This quote is a real life problem that humans have to overcome because although money is very important in this world, it can’t ensure and buy happiness.
Euripides did an incredible job at bringing innovations such as realism and melodrama into a well put together play. This play really makes us think and reflect because it plays with our emotions and makes us question what is correct. We can’t really judge Medea for what she did because we haven't been in that situation. In order to fully understand her we must take a minute and step in her shoes because as she said,”For being clever, I find that some will envy me, others object to me.”(10)
Guadalupe Martinez
July 8, 2015
AP Literature
Medea
Realism and melodrama are two elements that make a play both interesting and emotional.

Realism is the attitude of accepting a situation as it is and being able to prepare to deal with is accordingly. Melodrama is a sensational dramatic piece with exaggerated characters and exciting events intended to appeal to the emotions. Euripides was a great writer of tragedy plays in the golden age of the Athens. In the play Medea, he placed a feature of strong dramatic situations with an unusual part for the heroine, who is filled with feminine pride and revolt against

tradition.
Medea is a tragic play that takes place in the city-state Corinth. At the beginning of the play medea is filled with pain and sorrow because she was left by her husband Jason, who married Creon’s daughter. On top of this, Creon tells Medea she must leave the land with her two children, because he is scared she will try to do something against him or his daughter. Medea, however, does not want to leave the land with her hands empty and therefore, swears bloody revenge against all who have wronged her. First, she convinces Creon to allow her to stay one day. This gives her enough time to plan out her revenge. Next, she coincidentally sees Aegeus, who offers her welcoming into his land in exchange for his help. Medea agrees because she needs a secure and safe place to stay in after she is done with her plan. After this she commences her plan. She talks to Jason making him believe that she agrees with the marriage, but first he must ask the king if he can allow the children to stay. Jason agrees to make an attempt, and so his children and him head off to see the bride with a gown and a golden crown with hope in their hearts. Although what they didn’t know was that the gifts were poisoned. Later came the messenger who told Medea the horror that had occurred. The princess wore the gown and the crown without knowing that it would lead her to her death. As her corpse laid on the floor, Creon rushed into her room and hugged her as he slowly also began to die. Once Medea heard this, she knew she only had one thing left to do, kill her kids. Even though she knew she would be devastated,she was aware it was the only way to leave Jason completely devastated. Medea then drags her children and kills them, carrying their corpses onto her chariot. Jason arrives and begs to be able to bury his children, but Medea refuses and flies away triumph with the bodies.
This play features strong dramatic situations in which the characters express different emotions and actions that help them deal with their reality. Euripides brought both elements of realism and melodrama into this play, which are evidenced through the actions, characteristics, and emotions that the characters posses. Throughout the entire play we receive a sense of melodrama because we are torn with emotions between the characters. At first we sympathize with Medea because she has transformed into the sort of wife that is required in society, but is still abandoned by Jason. She reacts in accordance with her qualities and in the nature that a woman who is betrayed would react to. In the beginning of the play, the nurse says,”And poor Medea is slighted, and cries aloud on the vows they made to each other, the right hands clasped.”(1) This quote allows us to image the pain that Medea must be feeling, and therefore we become aware that she is a prideful woman that will not under any circumstances just sit around all alone in misery. Once Medea realizes that she wants to take matters into her own hands and seek revenge, she says,”It is best to go straight road, the one in which I am most skilled, and make away with them by poison.”(13) It is at this point at which we realize the plans that Medea is planning and we begin to sympathize Jason. Although what he did was unjust and coward like, we feel that no father should be put in a position in which he is incapable of saving his children from the hands of their own mother. Euripides really showcases a type of drama that makes us feel disturbed and makes us question our belief system.
Medea’s revenge is immortal, leaving the readers feeling troubled and perturbed. Throughout the entire play we are surprised because the dramatic situations come unexpected and we begin to question all the actions of the characters. For example, when the Chorus asks Medea,”But can you have the to kill your flesh and blood.”(26) With this quote we are given a sense of fear and it is when Euripides once again plays with our emotions. It is at this point where we also question Medea because even though she was betrayed, we wouldn't consider this a very common reaction. I believe that children shouldn’t pay for the price for the mistakes that the parents make, but it is here where we create more questions. When Medea is talking to the chorus she says,”Women, my task is fixed: as quickly as I may kill my children, and start away from this land,and not,by wasting time, to suffer my children,to be slain by another hand less kindly to them.”(40) This quote makes Medea seem heartless and as if she only thinks for herself. Although, these lines may make us think, why would Medea do such thing to her own kids, knowing that she will be devastated? Well, this quote also infers that Medea would rather have her children dead and at peace, than to be attacked and hated by everyone surrounding them for what she did to the kingdom.
Euripides gave Medea a role that made it possible to showcase dramatic scenes that played with our human emotions and help us relate the play with real life situations. For example, when the tutor says,"That everyone loves himself more than his neighbor? Some have good reason, others get something out of it."(4) We can totally relate to this quote in our everyday lives because it's is sadly a true fact. We live in a world that has many beautiful things, but sadly it has the same amount of terrible things. In this world our priority will always be us and in every situation we will first think for our sake before we think of others because it is very rare if someone cares for others rather than themselves. Euripides input of realism is also evidenced when the chorus tell Medea,"God will be your friend in this."(6) This quote allows us identify ourselves with the characters because similar to Medea, in many situations where we feel vulnerable, we seek refuge in God. When talking to the chorus, Medea also said,”We women are the most unfortunate creatures.”(8) This quote also proves the realism that is expressed in the play because women in this society can totally relate to how Medea feels. Even though times have changed, we still live in a society that is mostly dominated by the male figure and women don't really have a voice. As Medea says,”But we are forced to keep our eyes on one alone.”(9) This means that men have more liberty to do anything they want, while women in her society have to live under their shadow. Men can go and marry other women, but women can only marry one.
Medea is a character who is brave, but holds a lot of pride and resentment in her heart. Pride is a quality that all human beings possess, and it is a factor can potentially prevent us from being happy. Euripides gives us proof of Medea’s pride when she is talking to Jason. She says,“I shall never accept the favors of friends of yours, nor take a thing from you, so you need not offer it. There is no benefit in the gifts of a bad man.”(20) This quote lets us know that Medea can’t forgive Jason, therefore she isn’t willing to think straight and accept anything he gives her. Euripides also gave us examples of life dilemmas that we constantly face on a day to day basis. This is proven when the Messenger tells Medea,“Our human life I think and have thought a shadow, and I do not fear to say that those who are held wise among men and who search the reasons of things are those who bring the most sorrow. If wealth flows in upon one, one may be perhaps luckier than one’s neighbor, but still not happy.”(39) This quote is a real life problem that humans have to overcome because although money is very important in this world, it can’t ensure and buy happiness.
Euripides did an incredible job at bringing innovations such as realism and melodrama into a well put together play. This play really makes us think and reflect because it plays with our emotions and makes us question what is correct. We can’t really judge Medea for what she did because we haven't been in that situation. In order to fully understand her we must take a minute and step in her shoes because as she said,”For being clever, I find that some will envy me, others object to me.”(10)