West European Studies

     A creative playwright like Euripides may or may not imagine the purposes his or her play would eventually serve.  It is for spectators and readers to decide whether a play serves any purpose whatsoever beyond its essential literary merit.  To the ancient Greeks, Medea by Euripides was another Greek tragedy.  They were accustomed to this genre.  Besides, Medea spoke of ancient Greek gods and goddesses  referred to as myths in modern writings about ancient Greek religion  as did various other writings of the time, including Euripides works.  Hence, Medea must have been another addition to Greek tragedies speaking of gods and goddesses, thereby adding value to literature of the time whilst allowing the spectators and readers of the play to make connections between Medea and other Greek tragedies speaking of gods and goddesses.   

     Medea, the passionate woman in Euripides play of the same name, is divine enough to ride the sun god of the pagans, Helios chariot.  Yet she is wicked and ruthless, and she understands that she is a barbarian.  She tells Jason, I am the mother of your children.  Whither can I fly, since all Greece hates the barbarian (Euripides).  She is a murderess, too, a woman who is capable of killing her own children.  Thus, she is in no position to teach ethics, morality or values to ancient Greek society where this play was aired the first time.  Then again, her divine persona serves as an excuse for her barbaric mindset and behavior.  Should ancient Greek women take her for a model to emulate  If so, the entire ancient Greek society would turn barbaric seeing that all mothers would be contemplating murders of their children.  Because all ancient Greek writings do not show barbaric women, as oppressive and cold-blooded as Medea, however, it must be assumed that Medea is an example not to follow.  If she had been perceived as a good character, or a pardonable one, other ancient Greek writings would most likely show the effect or ancient Greek history would reveal that most women took Medea as a model to emulate.  But, this did not happen. 

     In fact, Medea, the play, makes a mockery of ancient Greek gods and goddesses.  It also takes a critical look at ancient Greek culture.  Jason has betrayed his wife, Medea, and yet he claims that he has done what he considered was best.  He even claims that he has behaved like a civilized man rather than the barbaric ones that Medea would be exposed to in her own place of origin.  Medea, the play, considers the fact that people who claim to be civilized  as did the ancient Greeks  do not necessarily behave like cultured people with ethics.  Perhaps Euripides knew that this was happening in every other rich home in ancient Greece.  Regardless, the play looks upon ancient Greek society realistically.  Ethical problems are everywhere, which is why ancient Greece created great philosophers of morality such as Socrates.

     Thus, the main purpose of the play, Medea, in the time that it is set is truth telling or exposure of societal realities.  Euripides could have written about a refined woman instead  one who handled her emotional problems in a peacable manner.  What is more, Medea could have been a model to emulate given her divine persona.  However, Euripides would like to expose the flaws in ancient gods and goddesses, just as he allows truth to be told when it comes to ancient Greek culture.  Jason could have been a sophisticated man behaving ethically.  But, Euripides knows that all men who claim to be civilized do not always behave ethically.  Hence, the exposure of incivility in ancient Greek civilization must have been thought-provoking for the people of the time.  Many spectators and readers of Medea in ancient Greece must also have identified with the main characters of the play.  

     To modern readers, Medea is not really a divine figure, and ancient Greek religion is only paganism.  Nobody looks up to Medea as a goddess.  Modern civilization also does not make high priests of morality such as Socrates.  Furthermore, nobody believes that people in the civilized world are always mindful of morality and ethics.  Imagine if Bill Clinton had addressed Hillary Clinton with the words of Jason once his affair with Monica Lewinsky had been publicized
         It is not now I first remark, but oft ere this, how unruly a pest is a harsh temper. For
         instance, thou, hadst thou but patiently endured the will of thy superiors, mightest have
         remained here in this land and house, but now for thy idle words wilt thou be banished. Thy 
         words are naught to me. Cease not to call Jason basest of men but for those words thou
         hast spoken against our rulers, count it all gain that exile is thy only punishment. I ever   
         tried to check the outbursts of the angry monarch, and would have had thee stay, but thou
         wouldst not forego thy silly rage, always reviling our rulers, and so thou wilt be banished
         (Euripides)

Passionate women, both adulteresses and murderesses, abound in modern literature and films.  Thus, Medeas mindset and behavior is not as shocking to the modern reader as it may have been to ancient Greeks.  Modern civilization also does not frown upon criticism of rulers or political leaders.  If societal flaws are exposed through films, literature or modern media, viewers and readers are expected to learn their lessons from this exposure, that is, to refrain from following the example of individuals such as Medea and other criminals.  Even the likes of Jason and Bill Clinton are not expected to serve as models to emulate in every way, seeing that these individuals pretend to be cultured when, in fact, their moral flaws have been exposed.  Assuming that the ancient Greeks did not appreciate Jason and Media as models to emulate either, public reaction to the play, Medea, in the context of ethics and values must be the same then and now.  Then again, Jason and Medea are not divine characters for modern-day readers.  The play does not mortify the modern civilization as it did the ancient Greeks.

     Lastly, modern civilization has developed feminist theories around facts of gender inequality in literature, arts, economics, sociology, philosophy, anthropology and all other areas of knowledge with elements of feminist politics.  Feminist philosophy was unheard of at the time Medea was first published.  The woman, Medea, is reacting to Jasons insult.  Although women continue to be abused in modern-day literature and films, there are plenty who fight back as well.  More importantly, they know that they cannot easily fly away from social control, including laws, after behaving brutishly like Medea.  After all, Medeas divine nature was only fictional.  Women have to deal with modern-day realities as they tackle injustice.  Nevertheless, many readers of Medea would identify with the characters of Euripides play.  Female readers may even experience the sprinkling of salt on their wounds as they peruse this play.