Sympathy In Euripides's The Medea

In Euripides’ text The Medea, Medea can easily be painted as the villian. She is a woman who killed her own children in an attempt to spite her husband. But, by examining the text, we can see that she deserves some sympathy. She has little to no control over her own life and has to rely on the will of men. And as a foreigner in Corinth abandoned by her husband, she faces even more challenges than the native women of Corinth did. She is not blameless, in what she did, but she deserves some sympathy because of how she was immobilized by all the duties thrown on her by her society.

Medea voices how she has been suppressed in her society. She notes, “We women are the most unfortunate creatures” (L 231). Medea’s tone throughout her speech is proper, confident, and angry. It is as if she is a military leader, preparing her troops for battle. She uses “we” to show connection between herself and the chorus. She states her points of why she has been wronged and we see this applies to the other women because the chorus fully supports and sympathizes with her. The chorus says, “You are right Medea” (L 266). She voices women’s loss of power over their bodies and economies. And how they became trapped in the their own household. Medea explains, “With an excess of wealth it is required/ For us to buy a husband” and notes to not take a “master” is worse (L 232-234). Here she passionately speaks out against the injustices she faces as a women. She explains how a woman 's wealth directly