Medea and the Chorus

A detailed Summary of Medea and the Chorus


The exchange that takes place between Medea and the Chorus serves several purposes in Euripides' tragedy, The Medea. It allows us to sympathize with Medea in spite of her tragic flaws. It also foreshadows the tragic events that will come to pass. Finally, it contrasts rationality against vengeance and excess. The Chorus offers the sane view of the world to the somewhat insane characters of Medea, Jason, and Creon.

As the passage begins on page 176, the leader of the Chorus reveals that she has high regards for Medea despite the fact that she is "savage still." She acknowledges Medea as a foreigner and an outsider and yet is sympathetic towards her. This alliance is apparently based on female bonds rather than on any kind of national loyalty.


This passage marks the last time that a civil exchange takes place for quite some time. Much of the rest of the play is spent on bickering, begging, and bad-mouthing.

Medea now has a chance to get a few things off her chest. She addresses the "Women of Corinth," reminding them that of "all things that live upon the earth and have intelligence we women are certainly the most wretched." She discusses the sad lot that women must deal with in marriage and again stresses the fact that she is an outsider, "alone, without / a city. Her speech is clever and compelling. It's a reminder that she is a very intelligent woman, certainly capable of outsmarting Jason or Creon. This leads us to her plot. She tells the Chorus that "a woman is timid in other things, and is a coward in looking on cold steel,

Some common words found in the essay are:
Jason Creon, Medea Chorus, Women Corinth, exchange takes, jason creon, medea chorus,

Approximate Word count = 538
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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