The Analysis for the Prologue and the Chorus of Medea

• What is the significance of the information the Nurse gives the audience?

The Nurse reveals many aspects of the relationships between Medea, Jason, and their children. From what the Nurse says, we learn that “Jason has betrayed his own sons…”, while Medea “hates her sons” and “seeing them is no pleasure to her”. Furthermore, the Nurse is an observer, hence she is able to provide the readers with objective insight into the situation. Despite Jason’s betrayal and her personal resentment to him, the Nurse pushes Medea to stop wasting time with grief about Jason, which seems very rational. Generally, the Nurse is very close to the family as she feels empathetic towards the boys and Medea.

• How does it influence our impressions of Medea’s character before we see her?

The description that can be formed based on the dialogue between the Nurse and Tutor is that Medea is traumatized by Jason’s betrayal as she is looking forward to seeking revenge from her ex-husband. Immediately, Medea is not seen as a good parent as she is expressing hatred towards her own children and the hatred is being confronted by the Nurse, who says, “Why hate them”. However, we can also see where Medea’s anger is coming from because of the monologue between her and the Chorus, where she reveals her reasons. Medea explains that the man is “Possessor of our body” and, therefore, it is a burden for a woman to keep up with the standards and expectations.

• How does The Chorus develop the detail and themes outlined in the Prologue?

The Chorus plays a significant role in revealing the motives and reasoning behind Medea’s actions. The first encounter with the Chorus clearly indicates its confusion with Medea’s actions, which is seen through the Chorus saying “If only she’d drop her anger, unburden her burning spirit, let go of this weight of madness”. However, from the dialogue between the two, we can reshape our first impression of Medea as she is no longer seen as unreasonably anger and cruel. The Chorus is playing the role of a negotiator as it fosters the dialogue with Medea and allows us to see the motive behind her actions. The phrase “I’ll do ask you ask. You’re justified, Medea, in paying your husband back” gives a concrete understanding of Medea’s struggle and preconditions behind the revenge.

• What dramatic effect is created?

The play is implementing the elements of storytelling and the rising action plays a big role in bringing in the dramatic aspect of the story. We are not given a clear exposition of the story, however, the conversation between the Nurse and the Tutor creates a sense of excitement for the unknown. Furthermore, the shocking news of Creon’s plans to banish Medea and her sons marks the noticeable part of the rising action, which keeps the viewers waiting and guessing.

• How does Medea characterize her suffering to the audience in her initial address?

Medea describes her suffering as an unbearable burden, which is clearly evident through the lines “The pain that I’ve suffered, I’ve suffered so much, worth the oceans of weeping” and “I wish I could die”. Her suffering could be described as the urge for blunt action or seeking for revenge to numb the pain.