In classical times, women were expected to be gentle, helpless creatures, and when they were not, they were generally considered hysterical. Medea's strength is described as her madness as she takes control and decides the fate of her enemies. Medea breaks this rule in the manifestation of madness that poisons her mind. Medea left everything to be with Jason, she even went so far as to abandon her father and murder her brother to go with Jason: “Oh, my father! O my country! In what dishonor / I left you, killing my own brother for it” (164-65). Perhaps this should have been a wake-up call to Jason realizing how she had killed his own flesh and blood and should have been an indicator of the evil that resided within her. Medea is in Jason's territory and here she is considered an outsider, she now defines herself through her marriage to Jason. Ultimately, when she loses him to a younger wife, she also loses her ability to think rationally. Euripides allows Medea to have a voice and thus provides insight into how what is happening affects her psyche. Medea's madness stems from Jason's actions in marrying Creon's young daughter, who is the princess of Corinth. This leaves Medea desperate and those around her fearing for their children. The nurse shouts: Come inside, children. It will be the best thing... Don't bring them closer to their mother in her angry mood. Because I've seen her give them blazing eyes before, like she wants to do harm, and I'm sure she won't stop raging until she does. hit someone. (89-94) The nurse believes she could harm the children and foreshadows their actual death. After hearing Medea curse her sons, she tries to influence Medea towards more logical thinking...... middle of paper ... powerful, manipulative and extremely intelligent, but because she is a woman, she has limits. social power. She has no chance of being a hero because she is acting out because she is hurt in her marriage and love has turned to hate. In Aeschylus' Oresteia, Agamemnon also kills his child, although this is not praised, he is still considered a hero after his death. Medea is portrayed as a selfish and ruthless woman, which makes her seem unnatural. Nonetheless, the audience finds themselves uncomfortably admiring Medea and her strength as a woman. Medea's Madness describes how a person's emotions can lead to harmful outcomes rather than appealing to reason. She is driven by her desire for revenge and will stop at nothing to burn her husband Jason like he did to her. Works Cited Lawall, Sarah N. “Medea.” The Norton Anthology of Western Literature. 8th ed. Flight. 1. New York: WW Norton, 2006. 690-720. Print.