Overview
This transcript is a dramatic retelling of the events from Euripides' "Medea." It focuses on Medea's betrayal by Jason, her banishment from Corinth by King Creon, the plotting of her revenge, and the tragic consequences for all involved.
Medea's Betrayal and Exile
- Medea regrets ever helping Jason and leaving her homeland for him.
- Jason has abandoned Medea to marry Creon's daughter for political gain.
- Medea is deeply hurt, despised, and feels isolated as a foreigner in Corinth.
- Creon decrees Medea and her children must be exiled immediately for fear of her wrath and sorcery.
- Medea pleads for more time and is reluctantly granted one more day by Creon.
Medea’s Alliance and Revenge Plot
- Medea secures a promise of refuge in Athens from King Aegeus, swearing an oath of protection.
- She pretends reconciliation with Jason, offering gifts for his new bride.
- Medea plans to use her magical knowledge to enact a deadly revenge.
The Gifts and Their Aftermath
- Medea sends her children with poisoned golden robes and a crown as gifts to Creon’s daughter.
- The gifts kill both Creon's daughter and Creon himself in agonizing fashion.
- News of their deaths causes panic and chaos in Corinth.
The Ultimate Tragedy
- Medea, driven by grief and vengeance, kills her own children to further Jason’s misery.
- She denies Jason the right to bury his children and escapes with their bodies, leaving Jason utterly devastated and alone.
Decisions
- Creon orders Medea's immediate banishment.
- Aegeus swears to protect Medea if she reaches Athens.
- Medea chooses to murder Creon, his daughter, and her own children as retribution.
Action Items
- Today – Medea: Prepare to leave Corinth within the day, as ordered by Creon.
- TBD – Medea: Seek refuge in Athens with Aegeus after escaping Corinth.
Questions / Follow-Ups
- Are there any consequences for Aegeus in Athens for harboring Medea?
- How will Corinth recover from the loss of its ruler and the royal family?