Themes In Medea
Beginning of paper
1. Why does Medea kill her children:
1. Jason has betrayed her
2. Vengeance: to leave him childless in old age
3. Failed heroism
2. Revenge-drama:
1. Medea gravely wronged by Jason
1. Jason a non-citizen and exile offered opportunity to marry princess of Corinth, inherit throne
2. Medea r ....
Middle of paper
.... prophecy
3. Institution of rites for children
3. Transcending female nature--denial of maternity
Medea as Archetype of Child-Murderess
1. Original myth: Corinthians kill children in retribution for death of Creon
Crossing of Gender Boundaries
1. Medea as female
1. Incorporates forces of chaos
2. Represents the non-human and non-Greek
2. Medea as male
1. Successfully avenges slighted honor
2. Punishes breaker of oaths and so acts as agent of divine justice--classic patriar ....
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Word count: 673
Page count: 3 (approximately 250 words per page)
