Medea Revenge Quotes

Euripides doesn't shy away from some pretty obvious foreshadowing here. Medea's path of revenge is pretty clear even from the opening moments of the play. Of course, the Athenian audience the play was written for would've already know the Medea myth quite well.

The Nurse points out the irrationality of Medea's rage. This lady is so out of control that she plots to annihilate all products of she and Jason's union. The boys' innocence is no defense against the irate Medea

There's an incongruity here. Medea does end up killing Creon and his daughter, but doesn't make any attempt to kill Jason. Also, she makes no mention here that she plans to kill her sons. It's unclear if she just changes her mind somewhere along the way, or if she's lying about her exact plans. Of course, it could also be sloppy plot-making on the part of Euripides.

Jason seems to feel guilty about the way everything is going down. By denying his help in exile, Medea keeps him from easing his conscience. It's yet another way that she gets revenge on her husband.

Medea's hatred for Jason is so fierce that she'll go to any lengths to hurt him. She feels that her revenge wouldn't be complete if the boys are left to live. By the end of the play, Jason is destroyed.

It's open to interpretation as to exactly why Medea is crying here. They could be fake tears, meant to convince Jason of her sincerity. She could also be lamenting the fact that she's going to murder her sons in a very short period of time.

Some scholars claim that this is Medea's best argument for the murder of her sons. They represent her marriage, which has been tainted by Jason. Therefore, they must be destroyed.

Here Medea seems to sincerely waver in her resolve. She is touched by the closeness of her sons. This softer moment reveals a tender side of the character, which is often overlooked.

Medea seems to sincerely enjoy all the gruesome details of that the messenger relates. Her revenge satisfies her greatly. She differs from most tragic protagonists because she doesn't end up regretting her actions. Ultimately, she's OK with how everything turns out.

If Medea were like most Greek tragedies, Jason would be right about this. However, Medea, gets off scot free. Nobody takes out any revenge on her and, though she shows some regret about murdering her children earlier in the play, she doesn't seem all that bummed out as flies away on her dragon chariot.