Compare And Contrast Medea And Oedipus

Sophocles’ Medea and Euripides’ Oedipus are both horribly tragic characters. They are similar characters in that they worsen their situations through pride, duty, and rage. However, they also vary drastically in terms of morality, fate, and sophistication. Sophocles’ Medea and Euripides’ Oedipus clearly define two opposing sides of Greek tragedy. First, Medea and Oedipus similarly elevate the severity of their predicaments through pride. She clearly feels that she deserved far better from Jason. The play suggests that Medea believes that Jason would not have been successful without her. She, therefore, believes that she must, seek revenge to uphold her pride. She states, “Let no one think me a weak one, feeble-spirited, A stay-at-home, but rather just the opposite, One who can hurt my enemies and help my friends; For the lives of such persons are most remembered,” This demonstrates that Medea believes she must act, in order to uphold her pride. Again, Medea says, “You are a born woman: feeble when it comes to the sublime, marvelously inventive …show more content…
Medea feels that it is her duty to do what she feels was best for her family and just. She preforms her horrible actions largely, because she feels that Jason has betrayed his duty. Sophocles explains, “The father does not love his sons, but –his new wedding bed,” Medea followed her duty and behaved properly to Jason, until she was betrayed. This is explained by, “[Medea] was in everything Jason 's perfect foil, being in marriage that saving thing: a wife who does not go against her man,” Also, Sophocles suggest that Medea had to seek revenge because she felt Jason betrayed his duty. This is suggested when Medea pleas, “I even bore you sons—just to be discarded for a new bride. Had you been childless, this craving for another bedmate might have been forgiven,” Therefore, Medea’s situation becomes worse, as a result of her sense of