World Literature Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

World Literature - Essay ExampleSet in Corinth in Greece, the whole scat is enacted in a single scene in front of Medeas house. The nurse and chorus act as conscious-keepers of Medea and the attenders and messengers are employed by the playwright to get scene shifts through their speech. In fact, the very opening of the play sets the tone of the horrific nature of change surfacets to follow. With a voice of doom of one of the nurses of Medea clearly indicates that her mistress, a victim of fate, is out to contrive some untoward scheme. The nurse acts as a foreteller of deeds to ensue. Through her speech we learn how in love she was with Jason and how her treacherous mood was capable of so much anger despicable. There is a subtle but fascinating theme of ethnic tension as Medea and Jason clank (Mazza, Michael J) throughout the play. Medea lies fasting and weeping ever since she learnt that she was wronged by her husband, recalling memories of her dear father, her country and her home, which she gave up to fuck away with the man who now holds her in dishonor. Medea had antagonized her father and even killed her own brother in order to run away from a barbarious land to a land of promise along with Jason whom she blindly loves. My love for you was great than my wisdom (lines 571-72) she says. After a series of adventures in which Jason is helped by Medea, they seek asylum in Corinth. Here they lead a respectable life and become two children till they almost reach their middle age. Trouble brews when Jason gets restless with his complacent life. He wants a secure, wealthy future for his wife and children and hence resorts to infidelity. He wins the heart of Glauce, the daughter of Creon, king of Corinth. He tells Medea that it was not for love that he had promised to marry the princess, but to win wealth and power for himself and his sons. besides Medea is infuriated and her unwearying love immediately turns to sheer anger. In a sense, it is Medeas own n ature and vicious temper that proves her undoing. Women dont like violence, but when their husbands desert them, that is different. In life, the worst disasters come from passion (lines 467-69) Medea gets into a constant state of confusion and anxiety. Initially she weeps over her hapless situation. She feels women are most wretched because they care for one man only. But she gains a little confidence when Aegeus, King of Athens grants her asylum in exchange for helping him beget children by her skills in sorcery. Aegeus realizes that her scorn is justified and sees her as a woman with remarkable forethought. A brain like yours is what is needed he says. He fully believes in her powers of creation which is equal to her powers of destruction, which is why he uses her witchcraft to make his queen beget children. With the success of each scheme Medea devises, her resolve hardens and reaches a point of no return. One can clearly character the progression within the play of a victim wit h certain heroic traits who, because of her ill fate and her ruthlessness, becomes a villain (Kliegl, Michael) Deciding to take her plans forward, she manages to buy a days time from Creon before she is sent on exile. Creons fate is sealed even though he knows that Medea is A clever woman, very experienced in evil ways (lines