Your ultimate guide to Medea by Euripides for VCE English Section A

If you’re studying ‘Medea’ by Euripides for VCE English this year, then you’re dealing with (arguably!) one of the most complex, yet confronting plays in classical literature. Such complexity demands a clear grasp of several non-negotiable concepts and features to ensure nuanced analysis. Don’t stress: this guide will cover plot, context, key themes, devices, and tips on writing a stellar essay on the text.

What is ‘Medea’ about?

At its core, Medea is a tragedy about betrayal, revenge, and power. Medea, a foreign woman in Corinth, has sacrificed everything for her husband Jason, including betraying her own family. However, Jason abandons her to marry Glauce, the daughter of King Creon, in order to elevate his social status.

Jason’s betrayal precipitates a primal desire for revenge: She manipulates Creon into granting her one extra day before exile, sends poisoned gifts to Glauce, killing both her and Creon, and most shockingly, kills her own children to punish Jason.

The play ends with Medea escaping (deus ex machina), leaving Jason completely destroyed.

Key Context

Having a strong understanding of context will allow you to better understand the playwright’s intentions with the text (i.e. WHY did they write the text?). Further, VCAA Examiners reward responses which strongly demonstrate contextual knowledge and can link elements of the play to the playwright’s views and values.

Understanding Ancient Greek society

• Patriarchal/androcentric: Women had very little power
• Medea challenges this by being intellectually and rhetorically strong.

Role of women

• Women were expected to be obedient and subservient
• Medea subverts this by being outspoken, strategic, and articulate

Foreignness

• Medea is from Colchis, thus viewed as an outsider
• Greeks often viewed foreigners as irrational or inferior
• Euripides complicates this notion by presenting Medea as often more logical than the Greeks

Key Themes

1.   Revenge and Justice

At the heart of Medea is the question: is revenge ever justified? Medea sees her actions as just retribution for Jason’s betrayal which may otherwise be viewed as cruel, vindictive and malignant.

 Medea’s chilling resolve is evident when she declares she will “make corpses of three of [her] enemies,” immediately framing her revenge as deliberate rather than impulsive. This is reinforced by her assertion that “I will kill my children — my own,” a moment that shocks the audience yet underscores the extent to which vengeance overrides maternal instinct. However, Medea’s desire to make Jason suffer “as much as possible” transforms her revenge into something disproportionate and morally unsettling. The Chorus’ warning that “anger is a dangerous thing” reflects societal anxiety about unchecked emotion, while their horror at Medea’s plan highlights the extent to which her actions violate natural and moral laws.

2.   Passion and Reason

A central tension in Medea is the conflict between emotion and rationality, encapsulated in Medea’s admission that “my passion is master of my reason.” In contrast, Jason presents himself as rational and pragmatic, arguing that his remarriage is a logical step to “secure” a better future. Yet his cold reasoning lacks empathy, revealing that pure rationality can be just as flawed as uncontrolled emotion. Euripides ultimately suggests that both extremes are dangerous, reinforcing the Greek value of moderation.

3.   Gender Roles and Patriarchy

Euripides critiques the oppressive nature of patriarchal society by exposing the limited agency afforded to women. Medea laments that women are “forced to buy a husband” and must accept their fate without complaint, highlighting the transactional and restrictive nature of marriage. Her suffering is intensified by Jason’s betrayal, as he is able to abandon her without consequence while she is left “abandoned” and “homeless.” Through Medea’s extreme response, Euripides not only condemns the injustice of these gender roles but also demonstrates how such systemic oppression can give rise to destructive rebellion.

Literary Devices

The Chorus

The Chorus initially sympathises with Medea’s suffering and acknowledges the injustices faced by women, yet gradually recoils as her plans become more extreme. Their shift from empathy to horror reflects the audience’s own emotional journey, reinforcing the moral ambiguity of Medea’s actions.

Foreshadowing

Euripides builds tension through repeated warnings about Medea’s potential for violence, as characters express fear of what she might do. These early anxieties create a sense of inevitability, ensuring that the audience anticipates tragedy long before it unfolds and heightening the emotional impact of the final acts.

Animal Imagery

Medea is frequently associated with violent animal imagery, described in ways that liken her to a “lioness” or “bull”. This positions her as both powerful and threatening, suggesting that her actions transcend conventional human morality. At the same time, it reflects how society perceives her as “other,” reinforcing her marginalised status as an ‘outsider’.

Symbolism

The poisoned gifts, particularly the crown, represent the corruption of power and the deadly consequences of deception. Similarly, Medea’s children, who traditionally symbolise innocence and legacy, become instruments of revenge, highlighting the extent to which her desire for vengeance overrides natural bonds. The divine chariot that carries Medea away at the end suggests a form of divine sanction that unsettles the audience’s expectations of justice.

Tips on Writing an A+ Text Response

1. Always develop a clear and COMPLEX contention. Instead of simple contentions like ‘Medea is about revenge’, which limit avenues for nuanced analysis, try something like this:

‘Euripides presents revenge as both a justified response to betrayal and a destructive force that ultimately erodes moral boundaries.’ 

2. Focus on ‘views and values’. Ask questions like:

• What is Euripides critiquing?
• What is he warning the audience about?

And use phrases like:

• Euripides challenges…
• Euripides exposes…
• Euripides warns against…
• Euripides condemns…

3. Thoroughly familiarise yourself with conventions of a tragic Greek play. This includes:

• Play structure
• Relevant Greek metalanguage (sophrosyne, hamartia, polis, agon, catharsis)

Remember to mention these and their effects in your essay!

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Written by a KIS Academics Tutor for VCE English, Kartiya Gunarathna. Kartiya graduated with a 50 study score in English and is currently studying Law/Commerce at Monash University. She has over two years of tutoring experience and has helped numerous students achieve 40+ study scores. You can view her profile here and request her as a tutor.