Medea’s tragedy is bought about by her inability to control her emotions. How far do you agree?

PLAN 1. Medea’s passionate love for Jason has caused her to do many horrific things that in turn have isolated her from people who used to support her. o Killing her parents o Killing the king in Iolcus so her darling Jason could get that crown 2. Her extreme emotionality means she cannot understand Jason’s ration, if detached reasons for leaving her. If she had comprehended these motives to an extent and accepted his help rather than dismissing it and instead seeking revenge, she would be in a better position. 3. She looses all support in Corinth because she was unable to control her emotions and thus went to extremes to exact her revenge against Jason. 4. Although her emotionality did contribute to her tragedy, there were many other circumstances that contributed to her misfortunes e.g. status as a foreigner and woman.

Euripides reflects the ancient Greek aspiration to emotional balance and rational thought through his tragedy Medea. Euripides shows that through her extreme emotions, Medea isolates herself from her family, evades the support of Jason and eventually looses the encouragement of all the people of Corinth. Euripides intends to convey to the audience that extreme emotionality causes misfortune and difficulties for all involved. Euripides uses the character of Medea to endorse the ancient Greek objective to find a balance between emotionality and rationality and thus compels the audience to seek moderation for a happy life.

Euripides displays Medea’s extreme and passionate love for Jason has enabled her to commit atrocious acts to help him alleviate his position in life. These horrific acts have, in turn, caused her to be isolated and without support from the people around her. Throughout the play, the audience in shown that Medea is left without support due to various acts she has committed in order to help Jason. It is revealed that she killed her brother, thus severing her relationship with her family, in order to help Jason escape with the Golden Fleece. She disregarded the unfaltering nature of familial love and support, in order to follow her perishable passion for Jason . It is also revealed that Medea killed the king of Iolcus and manipulated his daughters, in hopes that Jason would be made king. This resulted in Jason and Medea being exiled from Iolcus. These instances show the audience that Medea acts passionately and emotionally, often committing appalling acts in an effort to help Jason. Euripides conveys shows that through these acts, Medea has guaranteed her inevitable downfall.

Medea’s extreme emotionality means she cannot understand Jason’s rational, if detached reasons for leaving her. Jason explains that he wished to provide monetary support and a good future for Medea and his sons. Although Jason is powerless to stop Medea from being exiled, he offers to implore his friends to help Medea and giver her place of refuge, and he also offers her money. Medea is too engulfed with rage and emotions and refuses both these offers. Medea’s stubborn emotive reaction to Jason’s actions, which she felt have attacked her pride not only render Jason reluctant to support her, but also enable her to refuse to understand his motives in this situation. If she had comprehended these motives to an extent and accepted his help rather than dismissing it and instead seeking revenge, Medea’s circumstances would be far less unfortunate.

Medea looses the final support and prospects she had in Corinth because she was unable to control her emotions and thus went to extremes to exact her revenge against Jason. Through the beginning of the play, Medea rightfully had the support and sympathy of many figures in the play. Society’s view, reflected through the actions and words of the chorus, was that Jason had wronged Medea, and she was validated to seek revenge or justice against him. Medea, however, was unable to control her excessive passions, and took extreme and unsupportable means to get this justice. Medea’s action of killing her children is deemed monstrous by the characters in the play. Those who once considered her “dishonored” now describe her as “wretched” and “deadly”. The only people left who supported her now see the lack of merit in her actions, and her last system of support turns against her. The audience is shown that Medea has destroyed all her chances with her extreme emotionality and inability to control her feelings.

Although Medea’s inability to control her emotions is a predominant factor in bringing about her downfall, Euripides shows that there are many other factors that have contributed to her immense suffering. He shows that her status as both a woman and a foreigner have elevated her struggles and made the situation much more difficult for her. In doing this, Euripides challenges the nature of society in ancient Greece. He also shows that her Hubris, or excessive pride, has enabled her to react so extremely to Jason’s betrayal. She feels humiliated and, as a powerful and potent figure, she cannot bear this attack on her pride, and thus lashes out in a violent and malevolent way. Euripides condemns this quality of hubris and warns the audience through the play to be cautious of allowing pride to influence their decisions.

Through his play Medea, Euripides shows how Medea’s extreme, uncontrolled emotions contribute immensely to her eventual downfall. Through this idea, Euripides endorses the ancient Greek of balance and rationality in the face of hardships, and cautions the audience to control their emotions.