Analyze The Triangle of Medea by Ancient Greek Playwright (Essay Sample)

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English 101
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The Triangle of Medea
The play, "Medea" by the ancient Greek playwright, Euripides, is about this princess Medea, who is from Colchis, an island located in the black sea. Being a sorceress, she helped Jason, who is her husband, capture the Golden Fleece. Medea abandoned her family after falling in love with Jason and went to his hometown to live with him. After killing a couple important people on the way, Jason and Medea ended up settling in the town of Corinth, where the whole play is based. They both created a family and a good reputation for themselves in this town but that did not last for long. Jason ends up divorcing Medea and heading towards marrying the King Creon’s daughter. When Medea finds this information out she seeks revenge on Jason. The whole play is based on Medea and her taking revenge but the outline of the play highlights how women of the Greek society were looked upon. The play focuses on various themes such as betrayal, revenge, and defiance. This essay will discuss the various elements in the play that demonstrate the three themes. Specifically, the three themes are highlighted by the fact that the play was set up in a society that looked down upon women. Women had few or no rights at all. The theme of defiance will be highlighted, especially regarding Medea action of going against custom and culture that looks down on women. Women in general had very few rights. In Greek culture, women were to stay home and take care of housework, cooking, and the children. Women of that era, had no say to anything and this where that plays into the role. Jason divorces Medea as if it doesn't mean anything and marries the princess of Corinth and Medea could not do anything about that. She decides to go against all odds of what women could do and decides too take revenge on him. In this play, Medea, Jason, and King Creon all showcase a side of the rhetorical triangle. Medea displays pathos a lot as she deals with situations with emotions, Jason using logic portrays logos, and King Creon showcases ethos since he is in a very powerful position which is creditable.
Medea, who is the main character of this play uses all sides of the rhetorical triangle. She uses pathos and logos which are modes of persuasion used to convince the audience. Pathos are considered emotional appeals which an author uses to make the audience feel what he or she feels. Logos are considered appeals to the logic which state the facts and statistics on a particular subject. In this play, Medea used pathos at the beginning of the play when she was hurt that Jason did not want to be loyal to her. Which led to the people feeling sympathy for her. She is completely shattered by hearing what Jason, her husband has told her. "If only a flaming bolt from heaven would pierce my head!”(52) This quote out of the play shows how Medea is really hurt by this and how she feels about herself. The logical appeal that is used in this play shows how Medea was not worried about her kids well being but instead taking revenge. "I would not on any term resort to friends of yours or accept anything from you; make me no such offer; gifts from wicked people bring only harm." (64) Medea’s husband offers her whatever she wants to make her and the children satisfied. "Well anyway, I call the gods to witness that I am willing to do anything I can for both you and the children. But you are indifferent to these advantages and out of stubbornness you reject those who wish you well. This is why your pain is all the greater.”(64) This line from Jason goes to show that Medea is more focused on revenge than the benefit of good things from Jason for her and the children because he states this is why Medea is suffering.
Medea should have accepted his offer because perhaps in the far future if they were to marry again their children would hold royalty. According to the play and Sparknotes, she ends up killing her own kids because her emotions took over her. When talking about logos, the author makes the audience feel bad for the children who died because of their mother. He shows the reader the consequence of someone who lets their emotions control them. Jason was the son of Aeson, hero of the Golden Fleece, and the leader of the Argonauts. He met Medea when he was capturing the Golden Fleece and she was the hand behind his success with that. Jason and Medea ended up getting married and he fathered two children by her. Jason and his family were later exiled from his kingdom in Lolcus due to the actions of Medea lying. They end up in the town of Corinth where Jason starts to see the daughter of the King of Corinth. Jason ended up asking Medea for a divorce because he wanted to marry the princess of Corinth. Jason uses an appeal to logic here in order to obtain something valuable. Since leaving his hometown, they had pretty much lost all wealth and stable living conditions, Jason tried to do what was best for his family especially children.
Medea did not understand that, and that misunderstanding led to the downfall of everything. "None the less, in spite of all this, I have not disowned my family and here I am; I am looking to your future, my lady, to prevent your being driven out together with our children, either penniless or in need of anything else: many are the troubles that exile carries in its awake. You may feel hatred for me, but I could never wish you anything but good." (60) Jason wanted to marry the princess so his family will be wealthy and struggle free in Corinth. He used to logic to create a plan that would benefit him and his family. He tried to correct Medea’s wrong intentions that she had towards his actions. "No, my motives were different; above all I wanted us to live comfortably and not go without anything, for I know that an impoverished friend is shunned, given a wide berth by everyone he knows. I also wanted to raise my sons in a manner worthy of my house and, by producing brothers for my sons by you, to put them on equal footing and so, by joining our two families into one, to ensure my prosperity.”(62-63)
He tried to explain to Medea what he was doing. He wanted to combine the families of royalty with theirs so they can have a life of royalty. Back in that era, men were able to do whatever they want and the woman had no say or rights to winning anything. Unfortunately, Medea was not listening to anything Jason was talking about but instead she was asking him how dare he fall in love with another woman. Her misunderstanding led to a lot of people falling victim to the revenge plan she had for Jason. King Creon, the ruler of the kingdom of Corinth and the father of the daughter who was to marry Jason uses ethos in this play often. Ethos is considered ethical appeals that convince the audience that the author is worth listening to. In this case, King Creon shows credibility towards Medea by granting her wish. "I am no tyrant in my heart but a king; yet in showing respect to petitioners I have too often invited disaster. And now, too, woman, I see my own error but, for all that, your wish will be granted." (57) Here Medea begs the king to give her at least one day to make preparations for th...