“Medea is more sinned against than sinning.” Justify the statement.
Medea is a notable literary work by Euripides. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of Medea.
Answer
“Medea is more sinned against than sinning.” Justify the statement. [NU: 2015, 22] ★★★
In “Medea” (431 BCE), Euripides (c. 480–406 BCE) presents the tragic story of a woman betrayed by her husband. Medea suffers deeply because of Jason’s unfaithfulness. Her revenge is cruel, but her pain is greater. She is more sinned against than sinning.
Betrayal by Jason: Jason betrays Medea after gaining everything through her help. She saved his life and left her family for him. But Jason marries Glauce for power. Medea cries,
“We women are the most unfortunate.”
Her sorrow is born from betrayal. She loses love, respect, and home. Jason’s act is selfish and ungrateful. His betrayal starts the chain of tragic events. Medea’s anger and revenge come from this deep wound. So, her sin grows from Jason’s sin against her.
Suffering and Exile: After betrayal, Medea faces exile. King Creon orders her to leave Corinth with her children. She becomes homeless and hopeless. Her grief is natural and human. She stands alone in a foreign land. Her suffering makes her desperate. The Chorus feels her pain and supports her. Medea’s exile is another punishment she does not deserve. She becomes the victim of men’s power.
Revenge and Madness: Medea’s revenge is terrible, but it comes from pain. She kills Glauce and Creon with poisoned gifts. She even kills her children. Yet her heart breaks while doing it. The Chorus cries,
“It’s a fearful thing for men
to spill the blood of gods.”
Her revenge is both sin and sorrow. She sins because she is sinned against. Her actions are wrong, but her suffering makes them understandable. Euripides shows her as both guilty and pitiful.
Thus, Medea’s sins are born from betrayal and pain. Jason’s cruelty and society’s injustice make her suffer. Euripides makes us pity her. She is indeed more sinned against than sinning.