Glauce has been killed by the poisoned robe, and Creon has also been killed by the poison while attempting to save her, both daughter and father dying in excruciating pain. She calls for Jason once more, pretends to apologize to him and sends the poisoned robe and crown as a gift to Glauce, with her children as the gift-bearers.Īs Medea ponders her actions, a messenger arrives to relate the wild success of her plan. She resolves to kill her own children as well, not because the children have done anything wrong, but as the best way her tortured mind can think of to hurt Jason. Medea tells the Chorus of her plans to poison a golden robe (a family heirloom and gift from the sun god, Helios) which she believes the vain Glauce will not be able to resist wearing. In return, Medea asks for his protection and, although Aegeus is not aware of Medea‘s plans for revenge, he promises to give her refuge if she can escape to Athens. Medea is then visited by Aegeus, the childless king of Athens, who asks the renowned sorceresss to help his wife conceive a child. Medea hints darkly that he may live to regret his decision, and secretly plans to kill both Glauce and Creon. She also reminds him that it was she herself who saved him and slew the dragon which guarded the Golden Fleece, but he is unmoved, merely offering to placate her with gifts.
She reminds him that she left her own people for him, murdering her own brother for his sake, so that she can never now return home. Medea and the Chorus of Corinthian women do not believe him. He says that he does not love Glauce but can not pass up the opportunity to marry a wealthy and royal princess ( Medea is from Colchis in the Caucusus and is considered a barbarian witch by the Greeks), and claims that he hopes one day to join the two families and keep Medea as his mistress. Jason arrives and attempts to explain himself.
Medea begs for mercy, and is granted a reprieve of one day, all she needs to extract her revenge.
King Creon, also fearing what Medea might do, banishes her, declaring that she and her children must leave Corinth immediately. Her elderly nurse and the Chorus of Corinthian women (generally sympathetic to her plight) fear what she might do to herself or her children. The play opens with Medea grieving over the loss of her husband’s love. However, he then left her, seeking to advance his political ambitions by marrying Glauce, the daughter of King Creon of Corinth.
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