“My misery is my own heart, which will not relent.” (Page 49)
Medea by Euripides
Although this quotation is fairly short, it may not seem significant to those who have not read this play, but this line holds more power than an entire descriptive paragraph. I read the play Medea by Euripides, and within its thin binding was a story so outrageous, I could not believe that it was put together in a mere 42 pages. And yes, I know that it was a short read, but it was so full of detail and drama, I couldn’t help but become enthralled by its temerity.
This play was about a woman who abandoned by her husband, who ended up taking her rage out on him, his new family, and even her children. This quote sums up the play because it shows what was going on in Medea’s mind at the time. She was overwhelmed with grief and sadness and did not know how to cope. The only thing that seemed reasonable was revenge. This woman loved her husband and bore two sons for him, yet he still left her; so of course she was extremely hurt. Secondly, she was distressed because she knew in her heart that she did not want to hurt her ex-husband and her children, but at the time, she figured that murder was the only way to cure her pain. Medea struggled with these decisions, especially the one about killing her two sons, which I personally cannot blame her for. However, she went through with her original plans, killing her husband’s new lover, his lover’s father, and her two sons. Ironically, her husband Jason’s new lover happened to be the Princess of Corinth, her father then being the king. Medea murdered them all, except her ex-husband because she wanted him to suffer the way she did. The quote states that her pain and misery is her heart, her own fault, and it will not end. She wants the same pain forced upon Jason.
I believe that this quote is extremely important to the play because it shows the reader that Medea is not this cold hearted woman, but a woman who is hurt by her husband’s infidelity. She had to contemplate one of the most drastic decisions ever created, and it really weighed on her heart. She would be crazy(er) if she was completely okay with all of this murder. This quote shows the deeper intellect of the human mind. Medea knows that the problem lies within herself. She could have been a good wife and stayed at home and tended to the kids, but no; she reacted in a way that made her look like a real human being, instead of an irrational crazy lady.
All in all, I absolutely loved this play. It was so full of chaos and drama, it was nearly impossible to take a break from it. Although the story line seemed a little ridiculous, it was a great read. I recommend this book to absolutely everyone. No matter what kind of literature you enjoy, this play has it all.
Based on the description you gave of the story, this quote is the soul of the entire plot. For one, I think Medea is a crazy...female dog...But the pain she feels is real and anyone can relate to coping with something that hurts. Now I mean...killing your kids...I don't really see why that would solve anything they didn't ask for the baby's daddy to just jet, but then again, she was just trying to find a way to make the pain go away, and I can relate to that. I kind of want to read it now.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you completely! This play was amazing and fairly easy to get into. It is filled with drama, suspense, betrayal, and romance that inevitably create the perfect tragedy. Medea's quest for revenge essentially leads to the plot of the entire story. her revenge towards Jason causes much chaos within Corinth. Eventually everyone dies in the end, which for me made the play even more amusing.
ReplyDeleteI think you grasped the overall purpose of the play. You're description of Medea was dead-on and precise :)
I agree with Sydney, the quotation you chose represents the plot of the play perfectly. Medea seems like a very complex character, her actions make the play exciting, however; I do believe that her actions would be over the top in any time period. I understand that she's not completely crazy, because she does feel remorse for her actions, but you do have to be deranged in order to kill your own children. Medea reminds me of the Count of Monte Cristo, just like Medea, the Count of Monte Cristo killed and hurt so many individuals just to seek revenge. You made the play sound very interesting and I do want to read it now.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read this play but i'm guessing its pretty good. I like this quote and think that the plot of the play is pretty crazy. So much death in one play is crazy. From your description I feel like Madea is a ruthless monster but i kind of see your point. The quote itself is nice because its true. It applies to all of us. I interpreted it as us being able to live with ourselves is more important than us being able to live with others. I really like the quote and the play seems interesting.
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