Euripides was born in 484 BC and took up drama at the young age of 25. At most drama competitions, however his plays came in last place until he was about 45 or 50 years old. In his entire life, he wrote 92 plays of which only five received first place awards at competition. Euripides despised women. He had been married twice to unfaithful women and had three sons. This hate of women is shown in his work of Medea.

Euripides' characterization of women is considered unique in the play Medea because the tragic Hero/ine - in this case Jason and Medea in each one's own sense - is done over by a woman after cheating on her with the princess of the King of Corinth. He places emphasis on human emotions and individual psychology in order to help the reader produce a clear picture of the characters. Medea features strong dramatic situations and a stirring part for the heroine, whose attitude of feminine pride and tradition is still popular in today's world.

The entire play takes place on the island of Corin

Nurse - The Nurse plays a somewhat minor role and yet influences the story of Medea. She is employed by Medea to look after the children but the Nurse also gossips and provides advice and assistance to Medea. She provides the audience with background information on the play and puts pieces together of the "big picture." The Nurse begs Medea to not do anything rash because of Jason but says that she knows Medea will so that foreshadows the though of tragedy in the play. She also sympathizes Medea but as soon as Medea is not looking, the Nurse criticizes her as being somewhat over reactive.

Medea's plan is to kill Jason's new bride and his two children she had bore for him and then flee for Athens. The chorus tries to console Medea and tell her not to do such horrid things to other people particularly her children. Medea ignores their request and is stuck with the decision of whether or not to kill her children. She loves them and does not want to but she knows she must kill them to get back at her husband who had wronged her though she had done so much for him.

Tragedy - a play, novel, or other narrative depicting serious and important events, in which the main character comes to an unhappy end.

th in present day Greece. Individual places such as Medea/Jason's home, and the palace of the king and princess are also spoken of and used in the play. It has an ancient Greek setting as well.

This story follows the usual Greek tragedy plot and story line and Euripides conveys his idea of a woman well. The concept of a dominant female is still applicable in today's world. Medea is still a popular story today because of this. The theme may not be one, which is "good" - that of revenge - but in the case of Medea it works well.

"O God, do you hear it, this persecution, these my sufferings from this hateful woman, this monster, murderess of children? Still what I can do that I will do: I will lament and cry upon heaven, calling the gods to bear me witness how you have killed my boy prevent me from touching their bodies or giving them burial. I wish I had never begot them to see them Afterward slaughtered by you."- Page 46 Jason crying out to Medea who had killed their two children to revenge what Jason had done to Medea (cheated on her). This quote exhibits the idea of a tragic hero. Jason, in other stories is by far a hero; a common practice amongst Greeks is to have more than one wife. Medea goes overboard and kills Jason's other life and the two children he and Medea had. This quote shows his misery over the loss of his children.

King Aegeus - The present King of Athens who is very sympathetic. He is friends with Medea and understands her problem. He tells her that she

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Approximate Word count = 1827
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)