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March 29, 2024, 07:52:35 pm

Author Topic: VCE Year 11 English - Medea topic question  (Read 1073 times)  Share 

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victoriasarafian

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VCE Year 11 English - Medea topic question
« on: March 22, 2021, 08:18:13 pm »
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Hey! It's my first time posting in ATARNotes, so hopefully I'm in the right place!

The topic I have is "No one loves his neighbour more than himself’. All characters are equally selfish in Medea. Discuss."

Could I have some insight into this topic? How I would construct topic sentences or an intro overall?
Thanks a lot!
« Last Edit: March 22, 2021, 08:35:53 pm by victoriasarafian »

tiredandstressed

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Re: VCE Year 11 English - Medea topic question
« Reply #1 on: March 26, 2021, 07:06:42 pm »
+1
First, consider are all the characters selfish?
Medea and Jason are the clear standouts- but are they equally selfish, that's what this question want you to discuss
You could examine Jason's betrayal as selfish
Spoiler
Euripides reveals that Jason’s betrayal destroys Medea, and as such limits her to live hopelessly where she can only act on passion and seek justice
•   The characterisation of Medea is intended to show that she is a mere victim of patriarchy, presented merely as a “weak and feeble woman” when Jason leaves her for “a princess’ bed”.
•   Medea is left with nothing when Jason leaves her, she reveals that she “is a plunder he brought back from a foreign land”. Euripides’ metaphor of Medea highlights that she has been de-humanised by a male-dominated society and thereby demonstrates to the audience that “women are the most miserable of specimens”.
•   Further, Euripides exposes that Medea’s mistreatment consequently left her with no choice, she was left only with vengeance. Medea's "troubled heart" triggers her to undertake her ruthless plan of revenge where she seeks to "...make corpses of... [her] enemies". Euripides highlights she is fuelled with hatred as she is confronted by the "sting of injustice”
•   due to being a foreign woman living in a xenophobic patriarchal society.
Jason- he is the embodiment of misogynistic views, strips Medea of all her rights
He goes on to demonstrate that Jason’s heinous actions as a sexist man, was unfair to Medea.
•   Jason is the embodiment of misogynistic views which consequently resulted in the loss he experienced.
•   His belief that the removal of women “would rid the world of all its troubles” limited him to the suffering he experienced, he is left “destroyed” by Medea’s vengeance.
•   Euripides illustrates Jason’s agony as an outcome of his selfishness, influenced by his discriminatory views towards women, he criticises his audience and warns them that they are no different from Jason, and can experience the same ordeal if they continue to mistreat women.
•   Thus, Euripides demonstrates that inequality can have threatening consequences towards society, he positions his audience to sympathise with Medea and condemn Jason
Therefore, Euripides reveals that Jason can be worthy of our contempt and that Medea was truly a victim of a patriarchal society
You could then explore Medea's uncontrolled vengeance as selfish
•   
Spoiler
Despite suffering from great injustice, Medea had no right to act violently, Euripides condemns her for acting out of extreme passion
Explanation & Evidence 1:
•Euripides highlights the moral degradation as caused by such acts of violence, as evident in the manner in which Medea’s decision to gain vengeance against Jason
•   This is seen when Medea reveals “you would make me twice as happy if they died in agony”, she tells the Messenger as the gruesome pleasure she takes from the deaths of Creon and Glauche highlights the disintegration of her moral character.
•   Here, Euripides demonstrates that Medea is no longer a reasonable being "...but a lioness, with the nature more savage than a Tuscan Scylla’s” as a consequence of becoming an "...unspeakable, children-killer".
•   This imagery of a lioness to describe Medea is used, to illustrate the dehumanisation of Medea's character as her "savage temperament" led her to such extremes, thus not only did Medea lose her children, she lost her morality as well.
•   Euripides criticises Medea’s actions as she acts selfishly, and reveals Medea is no longer desperate when she could choose whether or not to kill her children evident in her inner-conflict where she claims “I could not do it”, yet her violent actions were not justified.
•    As a result, Euripides disproves Medea’s cruel behaviour, he suggests to his audience despite being in true desperation, vicious acts of revenge can not be justified
Despite Medea able to achieve some justice, her revenge comes with devastating consequences, that will permanently affect her
•   Medea’s murders result in her being childless and a criminal
•   Consequently, Medea’s actions left undesirable consequences, Medea’s vengeance did not achieve justice for everyone, especially her children.
•   Evident when the “cry of children” does not trigger Medea to stop her murder, and despite her children’s last words “save us” Medea’s passion blinds her to reason, resulting her to “kill the fruit of the womb”
•   Despite, Medea receiving justice from the maltreatment she was exposed to, as a consequence she lost her children. Hence, Euripides highlights revenge is able to achieve justice, but it comes with a cost
•   Euripides uses the role of the Gods to reveal that Medea’s act of revenge and selfishness is rewarded, suggesting that justice can prevail through revenge
•   Medea is a descendent of the gods “Helios, my father’s father” allowed her to be free from the patriarchal society and “a chariot drawn by dragons” sent by the gods
•   Euripides uses the chariot as a symbolic representation of Medea achieving justice, as the gods were “frequently prayed upon” and were the thought to have the underlying power of the world, them supporting Medea suggests that her revenge enabled her to overcome the injustices she faced
•   Thus, Euripides asserts that selfishness can indeed overcome injustices, but he reveals that such acts of anger can have detrimental consequences to both an individual and society
Some characters were selfless
•   
Spoiler
Euripides further asserts Jason was the only man in her life that troubled Medea, the other male characters in the play, either unknowingly or willingly helped Medea for her plight of revenge
Explanation & Evidence 1:
•   Creon, although knowing that Medea is "no ordinary woman" and "clever" he decides to postpone Medea's banishment, not out of sympathy for Medea, but rather for her children.
•   Euripides highlights that Creon never intended to support Medea for he plans of revenge but rather his love for his children enables Medea to manipulate him to delay her exile, resulting in him to see "….[his] own error”.
•   Here, Euripides demonstrates Creon, as a man, although he had “a foolish mind” he unknowingly supports Medea and unlike Jason treats Medea fairly, and gives her a chance to stay in Corinth and his words are “[proved] true”
Explanation & Evidence 2:
Additionally, Aegeus willing provides Medea shelter in Athens upon her request, he is kind and sympathises for the mistreatment of Medea, although he supports her, despite being the king of Athens he does not attempt to break the patriarchy that is truly hurting Medea.
•    Medea is in desperate need for refuge away from Corinth as she prepares to commit a horrendous crime, requesting Aegeus to "...receive [her] in [his] country". Aegeus supports Medea by making a deal with Medea to "fulfil [his] desire for children”.
•   Euripides reveals, that unlike Creon,  Aegeus directly supports Medea by providing her sanctuary to a better life.
•   Yet, Euripides criticises Aegeus’ actions and reveals that despite being the King of Athens he does not provide a proper measure to end the patriarchy that broke Medea. His lack of understanding of Medea’s true desperation, demonstrates that although he isn’t despicable, he also does not have “a noble heart”, since a man with his power would be able to control his country,
•   Euripides reveals that it wasn’t Jason but rather the patriarchy she was exposed to that truly destroyed Medea and led Medea to become a desperate woman.
•   Despite, Aegeus’ good will, and his heartfelt actions that support Medea, Euripides reveals that it wasn’t Jason but rather the patriarchy she was exposed that truly destroyed her and led her to become a desperate woman
Thus, Euripides reveals although several male figures support Medea, none help end the patriarchy that truly causes Medea extreme suffering.
Hopefully this gets you started :)




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