Euripides was the youngest of Athens' three greatest tragic poets. Euripides was probably born between 485 and 480 BCE. He was undoubtedly the bad boy of Greek tragedy. He is arguably the darkest and most disturbing of the Greek playwrights. He wrote about 92 plays, of which 18 of them where tragedies. His most famous work includes Medea. Medea was produced Euripides in about 431(BCE). This play is about love, jealousy, betrayal, revenge and incantation. The story begins when Jason, Medea husband, abandoned her and their two children in a plan to remarry Glauce, the daughter of Creon the king of Corinth the Greek city where the play took place. Jason wanted to advance his station, and by marring Glauce he would, that is what motivated the abandonment of his wife and children. Medea became furious when she knew his plans and turned into a mad woman with justification. Medea took the ultimate revenge on Jason, Glauce and Creon.by performing spells and killing their children. .
Before I get into the play itself, it is useful to know the history about Medea and Jason. Medea was born into a magic filled kingdom named Colchis in northeast Turkey. Medea's mother died while giving birth to her. She was raised by her aunt Circe who was notorious for turning men into pigs. Circe taught her how to call upon the gods to aid her sorcery. Jason can be considered the play's villain, though his evil stems more from weakness than strength. Jason in quest for the Golden Fleece asked Medea to use her sorceress powers to help him obtain the Golden Fleece. She fell in live with him soon they married and fled her country to live in Iolcus. Jason and Medea settled in Corinth, where Euripides play takes place. There they procreated two children and gained a favorable reputation. Now we get into the play it self! First scene is where Jason has divorced Medea in order to marry Glauce, the beautiful young daughter of Creon, King of Corinth, and hoping to advance his station through this second marriage.
