Medea Prince Creon Character Analysis

In the play, Medea, by Euripides, Medea seeks revenge upon her unfaithful lover, Jason. She goes so far that in the process she poisons his new bride and murders the children of her own blood. Throughout the story Medea is characterized as an evil woman who is vengeful, deceitful, and insane. The characterization of Medea reveals that once a person decides on vengeance there is no stopping the devastation that follows.

Medea’s dialogue is the first thing that displays the destruction that will occur after her revenge is successful. Medea formulates a plan to bring maximum pain and suffering into Jason’s life, so she decides that she will “do it-(she’ll) kill (her) children now, without delay.” (1457) Medea is characterized as insane and cold-hearted because she voluntarily kill the children that she herself cared for and raised. Tragedy will occur soon after she creates her

Prince Creon is reluctant to allow Medea to remain in his kingdom for he knows that she is “a clever woman, very experienced in evil ways.” (331) Medea has a reputation for being sneaky and cunning in order to cause suffering to those around her. Prince Creon knows that by granting Medea a sliver of time it could come back to haunt him. The little time given to Medea allows her to create a plot of revenge that will hurt her enemies and loved ones. When Medea kills her children, the Chorus Leader tells her that she is a “hard and wretched woman, just like stone or iron.” (1517) The Chorus Leader is shocked that Medea would follow through with such a horrific deed. She calls her “hard and wretched” because she now knows that Medea will do anything, even the most unthinkable things, to cause her enemies and eternity of pain. When true evil is present it is not subtle, it makes itself evident to those that are surrounded by it’s wrath. Many citizens of Corinth say negative things about Medea because of her destructive