Why Did Jason Marry Glauce in “Medea?”
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
Why did Jason marry Glauce in “Medea?”
In Euripides’ (C.480 BC – C.406 BC) “Medea” (431 BC), Jason’s marriage to Glauce, the daughter of King Creon. This is primarily driven by ambition and a desire for social advancement rather than love. His motivations are centred on securing a better position for himself and his family. However, these intentions ultimately lead to tragic consequences.
Desire for Power and Status: Jason marries Glauce primarily to gain a higher social standing and secure a better future. Glauce is the daughter of King Creon. By marrying her, Jason believes he can become closer to royalty and secure power. Jason openly admits this when he says,
It’s not the case I hate our marriage bed…The most important thing for us to do is to live well and not in poverty.
His focus on material gain and power highlights his practical and self-serving nature.
Economic Security: Jason also justifies his marriage to Glauce as a way to secure financial stability. He believes that by aligning himself with the royal family, he can ensure a prosperous life. He claims that his new marriage would prevent his family from falling into poverty. He states,
I wanted to raise them in the proper way…with a united family, I might prosper.
Jason’s argument is that the royal marriage will give his children opportunities and protection. However, Medea sees this as a mere excuse to hide his betrayal.
Jason’s Self-Interest: Lastly, Jason’s decision to marry Glauce is rooted in his own self-interest. He prioritizes his desires and ambitions over his loyalty to Medea and their children. He views his new marriage as a “wise and moderate” decision, but Medea criticizes him for breaking the promises he made. Medea says,
You’ve broken faith with me.
Jason’s true motivation is his own benefit, not the well-being of his family.
Jason’s marriage to Glauce reveals his ambition, selfishness, and disregard for Medea. While he tries to justify his actions as being for his family’s benefit, his betrayal of Medea and pursuit of power ultimately lead to tragic consequences.