Post a two paragraph response to this question: What impression do you have of the character Madea when you are first introduced to her in the play?
Post a two paragraph response to this question:
What impression do you have of the character Madea when you are first introduced to her in the play?
i need this as soon as possible the story is attached
1
Euripides
Medea
431 BC
This translation by Ian Johnston of Malaspina University-College, Nanaimo, BC, has certain
copyright restrictions. For information please use the following link: Copyright. For comments or
question please contact Ian Johnston.
This translation is available as a paperback book from Richer Resources Publications.
Euripides
Medea
Dramatis Personae
Nurse: a servant of Medea.
Tutor: a servant assigned to Jason’s children.
Medea: wife of Jason.
Chorus: a group of Corinthian women.
Creon: king of Corinth.
Jason: husband of Medea.
Aegeus: king of Athens.
Messenger: a servant of Jason’s.
Children: Medea’s and Jason’s two young sons.
Attendants on Creon and Jason.
[Outside the home of Jason and Medea in Corinth. The Nurse, a slave who serves Medea, is standing by herself]
NURSE
Oh how I wish that ship the Argo
had never sailed off to the land of Colchis,
past the Symplegades, those dark dancing rocks
which smash boats sailing through the Hellespont.
I wish they’d never chopped the pine trees down
in those mountain forests up on Pelion,
to make oars for the hands of those great men
who set off, on Pelias’ orders,
to fetch the golden fleece. Then my mistress,
Medea, never would’ve sailed away 10
to the towers in the land of Iolcus,
her heart passionately in love with Jason.
She’d never have convinced those women,
Pelias’ daughters, to kill their father.
She’d not have come to live in Corinth here, [10]
with her husband and her childrenwell loved
in exile by those whose land she’d moved to.
2
She gave all sorts of help to Jason.
That’s when life is most secure and safe,
when woman and her husband stand as one. 20
But that marriage changed. Now they’re enemies.
Their fine love’s grown sick, diseased, for Jason,
leaving his own children and my mistress,
is lying on a royal wedding bed.
He’s married the daughter of king Creon,
who rules this country. As for Medea,
that poor lady, in her disgrace, cries out, [20]
repeating his oaths, recalling the great trust
in that right hand with which he pledged his love.
She calls out to the gods to witness 30
how Jason is repaying her favours.
She just lies there. She won’t eather body
she surrenders to the pain, wasting away,
always in tears, ever since she found out
how her husband has dishonoured her.
She’s not lifted her eyes up from the ground,
or raised her head. She listens to advice,
even from friends, as if she were a stone,
or the ocean swell, except now and then
she twists that white neck of hers and weeps, 40 [30]
crying to herself for her dear father, her home,
her own land, all those things she left behind,
to come here with the man who now discards her.
Her suffering has taught her the advantages
of not being cut off from one’s own homeland.
Now she hates her children. When she sees them,
there is no joy in her. And I’m afraid
she may be up to some new mischief.
Her mind thinks in extremes. I know her well.
She’ll not put up with being treated badly. 50
I worry she may pick up a sharp sword
and stab her stomach, or else she’ll go [40]
into the house, in silence, to that bed,
and kill the king and bridegroom Jason.
Then she’ll face an even worse disaster.
She’s a dangerous woman. It won’t be easy
for any man who picks a fight with her
to think she’s beaten and he’s triumphed.
[Enter Medea’s and Jason’s children with their Tutor]
Here come her children. They’ve finished playing.
They’ve no notion of their mother’s troubles. 60
Young minds don’t like to dwell on pain.
TUTOR
Old slave from my mistress’ household,
why are you here, standing by the gate, [50]
all alone, complaining to yourself
3
about what’s wrong? How come Medea
is willing to stay inside without you?
NURSE
Old servant of Jason’s children,
when a master’s lot falls out badly,
that’s bad for faithful servants, too
it touches their hearts also. My sorrow 70
was so great, I wanted to come here,
to speak to earth and heaven, to tell them
about the wrongs inflicted on my mistress.
TUTOR
Unhappy lady! Has she stopped weeping yet?
NURSE
Stopped crying? I envy your ignorance. [60]
Her suffering has only just begun
she’s not even half way through it.
TUTOR
Poor fool
if I can speak that way about my masters
she knows nothing of her latest troubles.
NURSE
What’s that, old man? Don’t spare me the news. 80
TUTOR
Nothing. I’m sorry I said anything.
NURSE
Come on, don’t hide it from a fellow slave.
I can keep quiet if I have to.
TUTOR
Well, I was passing by those benches
where the old men gamble by Peirene,
at the holy spring, and I heard someone say
(I was pretending I wasn’t listening)
that Creon, king of this country, intends
to ship the children away from Corinth, [70]
with their mother, too. I’ve no idea 90
if the story’s true or not. I hope it’s not.
NURSE
But surely Jason wouldn’t let his children
go into exile, even if he’s squabbling
with their mother?
TUTOR
Old devotions fade,
pushed aside by new relationships.
Jason is no friend of people in this house.
NURSE
If we must add these brand-new troubles
4
to our old ones, before we’ve dealt with them,
then we’re finished.
TUTOR
But listenthe time’s not right 100 [80]
to let your mistress know about these things.
So keep quiet. Don’t mention anything.
NURSE
Children, do you hear what sort of man
your father is to you? My curse on him!
No. He is my masterbut a bad man
to his own family. Of that he’s guilty.
TUTOR
What mortal man is not? Don’t you know yet
all men love themselves more than their neighbours.
And some are right to do thatwhile others
just want some benefit. But this father, 110
with his new wife, has no love for his children.
NURSE
Come on, children, get inside the house.
Things will be fine. [To the Tutor] You must keep them away [90]
as far as possibleand don’t bring them
near their mother when she’s in this state.
I’ve seen her look at them with savage eyes,
as if she means to injure them somehow.
I know this anger of hers will not end,
not before she turns it loose on someone.
I hope it falls on enemies, not on friends! 120
MEDEA [crying from inside the house]
I can’t stand this pain, this misery.
What do I do? I wish I could die!
NURSE
My dear children, you hear your mother’s cry.
Her heart’s upset. Her anger’s growing, too.
So quickly now, run off inside the house. [100]
Stay out of sight. Don’t try to go and see her.
She’s fierce, headstrong by nature. Take care.
So go nowinside as quickly as you can.
[The Tutor and children enter the house]
It’s obvious the cloud of bitter grief
rising inside her is only just the start. 130
As her temper grows even more intense,
it will soon catch fire. She’s a passionate soul,
hard to restrain. What will she do next,
now her heart’s been bitten by these injuries? [110]
MEDEA [from inside the house]
The pain of this sufferingthis intense pain.
Am I not right to weep? Oh my children,
cursed children of a hateful mother
5
may you die with your father, all his house,
may it all perish, crash down in ruins.
NURSE
Oh the sorrow of it all. Poor woman! 140
Why link your children with the nasty things
their father’s done? Why do you hate them so?
I’m terrified the children will be hurt.
The pride of rulers is something to fear
they often order men, but seldom listen. [120]
And when their tempers change it’s hard to bear.
It’s better to get used to living life
as an equal common person. Anyway,
I don’t want a grand life for myself
just to grow old with some security. 150
They say a moderate life’s the best of all,
a far better choice for mortal men.
Going for too much brings no benefits.
And when gods get angry with some home,
the more wealth it has, the more it is destroyed. [130]
[Enter the Chorus of Corinthian women]
CHORUS LEADER
I heard her voice, I heard the cries
of that sad lady here from Colchis.
Has she not calmed down yet? Old nurse, tell me.
I heard from some household servant in there
that she’s been screaming. I find no pleasure 160
in this house’s suffering. We’ve been friends.
NURSE
This house is finishedalready done for.
For Jason’s bound by his new marriage tie [140]
to the king’s daughter. As for my mistress,
her tears are washing away her life in there,
inside the house. She finds no consolation
in the words of any of her friends.
MEDEA [still from inside the house]
Oh why can’t a bolt of lightning strike me?
What point is there in living any more?
I want death to come and sweep me off 170
let me escape this life of suffering!
CHORUS
Oh Zeus and Earth and Sun
do you hear how this young wife
sings out her misery? [150]
Thoughtless lady,
why long for death’s marriage bed
which human beings all shun?
Death comes soon enough
and brings and end to everything.
You should not pray for it. 180
6
And if your husband
devotes himself to some new bed,
why get angry over that?
Zeus will plead for you in this.
Don’t waste your life away,
with too much wailing for your husband.
MEDEA [within]
O great Themis and noble Artemis, [160]
do you see what I am having to endure,
when I’m the one who bound that cursed man,
my husband, with strong promises to me? 190
Oh, how I want to see him and his bride
beaten down, destroyedtheir whole house as well
for these wrongs they dare inflict on me,
when I’ve done nothing to provoke them!
O father and city, I left you behind
in my disgrace when I killed my brother.
NURSE
Do you hear what’s she’s saying, how she calls
to Themis, who hears our prayers, and Zeus,
who guards, they say, the promises men swear. [170]
She’s bound to do something quite serious 200
before this rage of hers comes to an end.
CHORUS LEADER
I wish she’d let us see her face to face
and listen to what we have to tell her.
That might calm down her savage temper,
the fury in her heart. I’d like the chance
to show good will to a lady whom I like.
Go nowbring her here outside the house. [180]
Tell her she’ll be among some friends of hers.
And hurry, before she harms someone in there
that power in her grief will make her act. 210
NURSE
All right, though I’m afraid I won’t persuade
my mistress. Still, as a favour to you,
I’ll see what I can do. Right now she glares
at servants when they come close to her
to tell her something. She’s like a bull,
or lioness with cubsthat’s how she looks.
Those men from long agoyou’d not be wrong [190]
to call them fools without much wisdom.
They thought up songs for celebrations,
feasts and banquets, bringing to human life 220
delightful music. But they found nothing
in music or the lyre’s many strings
to end the bitterness of human life,
the pain in living, sorrows bringing on
the deaths and horrifying disasters
7
which destroy whole families. What a blessing
it would be for human beings if music
could cure these sorrows. When people feast, [200]
why should people sing? It’s a waste of time.
People who eat well are happy anyway 230
they’ve enjoyed the pleasure of the meal.
[Nurse exits into the house]
CHORUS
I have heard Medea’s crying,
full of sorrow, full of tears,
her shrill accusations against Jason,
the husband who’s betrayed her.
Suffering such injustice, she cries out,
calling the godscalling Themis,
Zeus’ daughter, goddess of those promises
which carried her across the ocean
to Hellas, through the black salt seas, 240 [210]
through the place which few men penetrate,
the strait which guards the Pontic Sea.
[Enter Medea with the Nurse]
MEDEA
Women of Corinth, I’m coming here,
outside the house, so you won’t think ill of me.
Many men, I know, become too arrogant,
both in the public eye and in their homes.
Others get a reputation for indifference,
because they stay at ease within the house.
There’s no justice in the eyes of mortal men.
Before they know someone’s deep character, 250 [220]
they hate her on sight, though she’s not hurt them.
A guest of the city must comply, of course,
act as the city wants. I don’t commend
a stubborn man, not even a citizen,
who thanks to his stupidity annoys
his fellow townsmen. But in my case,
this unexpected blow that’s hit me,
well, it’s destroyed my heart. My life is gone,
dear friends. I’ve lost all joy. I want to die.
The man who was everything to me, 260
my own husband, has turned out to be
the worst of men. This I know is true.
Of all things with life and understanding, [230]
we women are the most unfortunate.
First, we need a husband, someone we get
for an excessive price. He then becomes
the ruler of our bodies. And this misfortune
adds still more troubles to the grief we have.
Then comes the crucial struggle: this husband
we’ve selected, is he good or bad? 270
8
For a divorce loses women all respect,
yet we can’t refuse to take a husband.
Then, when she goes into her husband’s home,
with its new rules and different customs,
she needs a prophet’s skill to sort out the man
whose bed she shares. She can’t learn that at home. [240]
Once we’ve worked hard at this, and with success,
our husband accepts the marriage yoke
and lives in peacean enviable life.
But if the marriage doesn’t work, then death 280
is much to be preferred. When the man tires
of the company he keeps at home, he leaves,
seeking relief for his distress elsewhere,
outside the home. He gets his satisfaction
with some male friend or someone his own age.
We women have to look at just one man.
Men tell us we live safe and secure at home,
while they must go to battle with their spears.
How stupid they are! I’d rather stand there
three times in battle holding up my shield 290 [250]
than give birth once. But your story and mine
are not the same. For you have a city,
you have your father’s house, enjoy your life
with friends for company. But I’m alone.
I have no city, and I’m being abused
by my own husband. I was carried off,
a trophy from a barbarian country.
I have no mother, brother, or relation,
to shelter with in this extremity.
And so I want to ask something from you. 300
If I find some way to punish Jason [260]
for these injustices, and his bride, as well,
and father, too, say nothing. In other things
a woman may be timidin watching battles
or seeing steel, but when she’s hurt in love,
her marriage violated, there’s no heart
more desperate for blood than hers.
CHORUS LEADER
I’ll do what you request. For you are right
to pay back your husband. And, Medea,
I’m not surprised you grieve at these events. 310
[Enter Creon, with armed attendants]
I see Creon, king of Corinth, coming.
He’ll be bringing news, announcing
some new decision that’s been made. [270]
CREON
You there, Medea, scowling in anger
against your husband. I’m ordering you
out of Corinth. You must go into exile,
9
and take those two children of yours with you.
Go quickly. I’m here to make quite sure
that this decree is put into effect.
I’ll not go back to my own palace 320
until I’ve cast you out, beyond our borders.
MEDEA
Oh, now my sufferings will kill me. It’s over.
My enemies have set full sail against me,
and there’s no way I can avert disaster.
But, Creon, let me ask you something [280]
I’m the one abused, so why banish me?
What have I done?
CREON
I’m afraid of you.
I won’t conceal the truth. There’s a good chance
you might well instigate some fatal harm
against my daughter. Many things lead me 330
to this conclusion: you’re a clever woman,
very experienced in evil ways;
you’re grieving the loss of your husband’s bed;
and from reports I hear you’re making threats
to take revenge on Jason, on his bride,
and on her father. Before that happens,
I’m taking some precautions. Woman, [290]
it’s better that you hate me, than for me
to grow soft now and then regret it later.
MEDEA
Alas, this is not the first time, Creon, 340
my reputation has badly damaged me.
It’s happened often. No man with any sense
should ever educate his children
to know anything beyond what’s normal.
Quite apart from charges of idleness
which other people bring against them,
they stir up in their fellow citizens
a hostile envy. If you offer fools
some brand new wisdom, they’ll consider you
quite useless, not someone wise. And if, 350 [300]
within the city, people think of you
as greater than those men who seem quite wise,
you’ll appear a nuisance. So it is with me.
For I’m a knowledgeable woman. I make
some people envious. Others say I’m shy.
Some the opposite. Some say I’m hostile.
I’m not that clever, but still you fear me.
Have I hurt you at all, made you suffer?
Don’t fear me, Creon. It’s not in me
to commit crimes against the men in charge. 360
Besides, in what way have you injured me?
You’ve married your daughter to a man,
10
one your heart selected. My husband’s [310]
the one I hate. In my view, you’ve acted
with good sense in this business. So now,
I’ll not begrudge you your prosperity.
Have your marriage, and good luck to you.
But let me remain here, in this country.
Although I’ve suffered an injustice,
I’ll obey the rulers and stay silent. 370
CREON
What you say sounds comforting enough,
but I’m still afraid that heart of yours
is planning something evil. At this point,
I trust you even less than previously.
Passionate people, women as well as men,
are easier to protect oneself against, [320]
than someone clever who keeps silent.
No. You must leaveand right away.
No more speeches. I’ve made up my mind.
It’s not possible for you to stay here, 380
not with us, given your hostility to me.
MEDEA [kneeling in front of Creon]
No, don’t send me away. I’m begging you,
at your knee, in your daughter’s name.
CREON
Your words are useless. You won’t persuade me.
MEDEA
You’ll send me into exile without hearing
my supplication?
CREON
Indeed I will.
I don’t love you more than my own family.
MEDEA
O my homeland! How I’m thinking of you now.
CREON
Except for my own children, my country
is what I cherish most by far.
MEDEA
Alas, 390
love’s a miserable thing for mortal men. [330]
CREON
I think events determine if that’s true.
MEDEA
O Zeus, don’t overlook who bears the blame
for all this evil.
CREON
It’s time to leave,
11
you foolish woman. Time to rid myself
of all this trouble.
MEDEA
We have trouble enough
There’s no need for any more.
CREON
Come on
or my servants will throw you into exile.
MEDEA
No, don’t do that. I beg you, Creon . . .
[Medea seizes Creon’s hand]
CREON
Woman, it seems you’re trying to provoke me. 400
MEDEA
All right then. I will go into exile.
I wasn’t begging to escape from that.
CREON
Then why squeeze my hand so hard and not let go?
MEDEA
Let me remain here one day to prepare, [340]
to get ready for my exile, to provide
something for my children, since their father,
as one more insult, does nothing for them.
Have pity on them. You’re a parent, too.
You should treat them kindlythat’s what’s right.
If I go into exile, I don’t care, 410
but I weep for them in their misfortune.
CREON
For a tyrant my will is by nature tender,
and by feeling pity I’ve been hurt before,
more than once. And now, woman, I see
I’m making a mistake, for you can have [350]
your extra day. But let me warn you
if the sun catches you tomorrow
within the borders of this country,
you or your children, you’ll be put to death.
Don’t think I’m not telling you the truth. 420
So, if you must remain, stay one more day.
In that time you can’t do the harm I fear.
[Exit Creon with his attendants]
CHORUS LEADER
Alas for you, unfortunate woman
how wretched your distress. Where will you turn?
Where will you find someone to take you in?
What country, what home will you find yourself
to save you from misfortunes? [360]
12
MEDEA
Things have worked out badly in every way.
Who can deny the fact? But nonetheless,
you should not assume that’s how things will stay. 430
The newly wedded pair still face some struggles,
and the man who made this marriage happen
might have serious problems yet. Do you think
I’d prostrate myself before a man like that,
if there was no advantage to be gained?
If I didn’t have some plan in mind,
I’d not have talked to him or grabbed his hand. [370]
But the man’s become completely foolish
when he had the power to prevent me
from planning anything, by sending me 440
out of his land, he let me stay one day,
a day when I’ll turn three of my enemies
to corpsesfather, daughter, and my husband.
Now, I can slaughter them in many ways.
I’m not sure which one to try out first.
Perhaps I should set the bridal suite on fire,
or sneak into the house in silence,
right up to their marriage bed, and plunge [380]
some sharpened steel right through their guts.
There’s just one problem. If I get caught 450
going in their house, meaning to destroy it,
I’ll be killed, and my enemies will laugh.
No. The best method is the most direct,
the one at which I have a special skill
I’ll murder them with poison. Yes, that’s it.
But once they’re dead, what city will receive me?
Who’ll give me safe shelter as a guest,
and offer me physical protection?
There’s no one. Still, I’ll wait a little while.
If someone shows up who can shield me, 460 [390]
I’ll set my scheme in motion and kill them
without saying a word. But if events
force me to act openly, I’ll use a sword.
Even though it will bring about my death,
I’ll push my daring to the very limit
and slaughter them. By Hecate, the goddess
I worship more than all the others,
the one I choose to help me in this work,
who lives with me deep inside my home,
these people won’t bring pain into my heart 470
and laugh about it. This wedding of theirs,
I’ll make it hateful for them, a disaster
Creon’s marriage ties, my exile from here, [400]
he’ll find those bitter. So come, Medea,
call on all those things you know so well,
as you plan this and set it up. Let the work,
this deadly business, start. It’s a test of wills.
13
You see what you have to put up with.
You must not let Jason’s marriage make you
a laughing stock among Corinthians, 480
compatriots of Sisyphus, for you
trace your family from a noble father
and from Helios, the sun. So get to work.
Besides, we have a woman’s nature
powerless to perform fine noble deeds,
but very skilled in all the forms of evil.
CHORUS [chanting]
The waters in the sacred rivers [410]
are flowing in reverse.
And all well-ordered things
are once more turning on themselves. 490
Men’s plans are now deceitful,
their firm trust in the gods is gone.
My life is changingcommon talk
is giving me a better reputation.
Honour’s coming to the female sex.
Slander will no longer injure women. [420]
Those songs by ancient poets
will stop chanting of our faithlessness.
Phoebus, god of song and singing,
never put into our minds the gift 500
of making sacred music with the lyre,
or else I would have sung a song
in response to what the male sex sings.
For our lengthy past has much to say
about men’s lives as well as ours [430]
You sailed here from your father’s house,
your heart on fire, past those two rocks
that stand guard to the Euxine Sea.
You live now in a foreign land.
You’ve lost your marriage bed, 510
your husband, too, poor woman.
And now you’re driven out,
hounded into exile in disgrace.
The honour in an oath has gone.
And all throughout wide Hellas [440]
there’s no shame any more.
Shame has flown away to heaven.
So to you, unhappy lady,
no father’s house is open,
no haven on your painful voyage. 520
For now a stronger woman
rules in your household,
queen of his marriage bed.
[Enter Jason]
14
JASON
Right now is not the first time I’ve observed
how a harsh temper makes all things worse
impossibly so. It’s happened often.
You could’ve stayed here in this land and house,
if only you’d agreed to the arrangements,
showed some patience with those in command.
Now you’re exiled for your stupid chatter. 530 [450]
Not that I care. You don’t have to stop
calling Jason the worst man in the world.
But when you speak against the ruler here,
consider yourself very fortunate
that exile is your only punishment.
I’ve always tried to mollify the king
he has a vicious temperand have you stay.
But you just wouldn’t stop this silly rage,
always slandering the royal house.
That’s why you’ve got to leave the country. 540
Anyway, I won’t neglect my family.
I’ve come here, woman, looking out for you, [460]
so you won’t be thrown out with the children
in total need and lacking everything.
Exile brings with it all sorts of hardships.
Although you may well despise me now,
I could
