THIRD EPISODE
Examine Medea’s behaviour with Creon: what strategies does she use to manipulate him?
How does Medea’s speech after Creon’s exit give us further insight into her character?
Creon has made up his mind that he is going to put Medea into exile after the rebellious actions she committed. He suspects that she might be plotting against them to take revenge as she said, “ your words are gentle, but my blood runs cold to think what plots you might be nursing within your heart. Creon kept on insisting that whatever Medea tries to say she will never change his mind about banishing her and that she has to leave Corinth immediately. With her manipulative skills, Medea plays Creon’s emotions reminding him that as he is a parent, he should have some compassion for a mother trying to provide safety for her children. For instance she said to him, “ show some pity, you are a father too, you should feel kindly towards them. For myself exile is nothing. I weep for them. Their fate is very hard.” Moreover, Medea constantly clings to him to get him to create some kind of emotional appeal and get him to sympathise with her. Creon is very clear about his terms of Medea’s banishment, but through this manipulation, Creon grants Medea one day to remain in Corinth.