Medea by Euripides

Tragedy. This was a tragedy, a confusing one at that. Medea betrayed her family and homeland, killing a brother in the process for a man. She married Jason and had his children then he left her for a princess. He said it was to secure their family. Obviously. After being exiled by the princess' father she decided to kill them all...because that is the natural thing to do. What follows is a gory death scene for the new woman and her dad (the king), killing her children and her escape with her children's bodies in the sun chariot is how this macabre play ends.  I'm left with an unsettled feeling, certain that I'll be up the rest of the night.

Seriously? This sounds like a reality T.V. episode on steroids.  Each character has its pity and contempt. Jason sounds pitiful because he just fell in love, twice, and lost everything in the process. But contempt wins out because who in their right mind tries to justify adultery saying he did it to better them all? 

Medea is the poor left wife. She makes a pitiful remark that she should have happily stood by and smiled at his new nuptial bed...even though she's planning murder at this point...it's still pitiful. Contempt certainly overshadows any shred of pity I could have for her because she murdered the other woman, her father, and then her own children just to make Jason miserable. 

I guess, and I say this very very loosely, I might be sympathetic if she just killed the other woman and her ex. But killing your own children just to make your ex hurt is low. She claims it's because she didn't want anyone to kill them in vengeance. Because that makes so much sense. 

It's somewhat beautiful to read such a tragic play because it helps me see that even at my worst I can say at least I'm not a vengeful murdering lunatic. But this play is best left for horror reads during halloween. Seriously...I'm going to have trouble sleeping tonight. 

4 down, 196 to go.