The Theme Of Revenge In Medea

Revenge to some people is an unnecessary act because it often times leaves one feeling guilty while also not solving any problems. In Medea’s case however, revenge seems to be the only option. In the play Medea, Euripides tells a tale about an intelligent and feisty woman who has been shamefully wronged by her husband. Jason has taken another wife into his home and isn't fazed when his father-in-law requests for Medea and their children to be banished. Throughout the play however, Medea seems to be anything but sympathetic to the whole situation along with those affected by it. She’s utterly abhorrent while she threatens everyone's lives in the palace, kills her husbands new wife, and worst of all during the execution her children. In the opening scene of the play, Medea locks herself inside the palace. She wails and groans about how horribly wronged she's been by her husband. She even goes as far as to plead for death to come knocking on her door to
By this time, the reader may still have hope that Medea won't go through with this atrocious crime. However Euripides writes in an unusual twist of dialogue between Medea's good and bad sides that reveals her true intentions. During this speech Medea argues with herself on whether or not she should go through with her plan to kill the children. She says, “enough of those former plans!/ I will take my children out of the country/ why must I hurt their father with evils/ that will hurt me twice as badly?” (1065-1069). Her reasonable side begins to reappear but instantly vanishes just a few lines later. “Although, why should I suffer?/ will I endure the mockery of my enemies/ when I've let them get off unpunished? […]/ go inside children […]/ I am learning what evils I am about to commit” (1070-1099). Following this speech she enters the palace and executes her two sons with a sword while they cry out for