Medea Exile Quotes

How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Act.Scene.Line). Every time a character talks counts as one line, even if what they say turns into a long monologue. We used Paul Roche's translation.

Quote #1

Nurse: [Medea] might be a rock or wave or the sea, for all she heeds of sympathy from friends, except sometimes to […] moan to herself about her father--whom she loved--and her country and the home she sacrificed (1)

Medea gave up everything to help Jason in his quest for the Golden Fleece. She made herself an exile out of love for Jason. Ironically, his betrayal has made her an exile once more.

Quote #2

Nurse: She never would have baited Pelias' daughters
to the murder of their father. (1)

Pelias was the king of Iolcus and Jason's uncle. Medea tricked his daughters into chopping him up, hoping to help Jason gain the throne. The people of the city didn't take it so well and chased Medea and Jason from the city. In effect, both Medea and Jason have been exiles the entire time they've lived in Corinth

Quote #3

Nurse: Ah, she [Medea] has merited this city's good opinion,
exile though she came (1)

It says a lot that Corinth previously thought well of Medea. Especially after the mischief she got up to in Iolcus. We wonder what exactly made the Corinthians accept her. Maybe, it was all her smarts and skills. Probably, though, they just accepted her because Jason was a famous hero, and it was widely known that she was instrumental in his quest.