Thursday, September 16, 2010

It is hard to sympathize for Medea by the end of the tragedy. At first I feel for Medea because she gives up everything to be with a man who eventually leaves her for another person. However, even early on, Medea portrays inhumane and sadistic behavior when she murders her own brother and cuts him into pieces. By the end of the story, it is nearly impossible to sympathize for Medea because she poisons the innocent princess and the beloved king. Later on, she slaughters her own children. I, personally, could never identify with a person willing to kill her own children and thus have zero pity or sympathy for Medea by the end of the play.

What do you guys think? Do you sympathize for Medea?
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4 comments:

Julia Dean said...

Although I agree with you for the most part, Blaine, I have a smidgen of sympathy for Medea. She gave up her family, kingdom, and former life for her lover, who then deserted her. Medea felt vulnerable, and, as a strong willed woman, felt she must defend herself. Though the way she massacred her children, Kreon, and Kreon's daughter seemed insane, by examining her background we can at least attempt to understand her actions.

September 16, 2010 at 10:18 PM
chrissy said...

I understand where you're coming from Julia. A reader can easily fall into having sympathy for Medea because of what you stated, she did give up everything for Jason. However, her true colors were shown when she was willing to murder the people who should be the ones she loves most, her children. If you are willing to to put yourself through so much pain and guilt by murdering your children just to get back at your husband who left you, then you are seriously troubled.

September 19, 2010 at 4:54 PM
efabio said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
September 22, 2010 at 11:01 PM
efabio said...

I agree completely with Blaine here. She murdered her own children just to get revenge on her husband. While he certainly deserved some kind of retribution for his actions, she could easily have hurt him in other ways. Her actions are the definition of "cutting off your nose to spite your face". She is so enraged she is willing to kill her own children even though it will hurt her as well, but why not just abscond with them? That would hurt Jason and deprive him of his precious children. Instead she does something seemingly inhuman, which is why i am unable to sympathize with her. I just have no conception of the thought process that could lead one to such an act

September 22, 2010 at 11:03 PM

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