Cassandra Jackson
Humanities
Dr. Mathew Roberts
August 15, 2013 The Comparison of Qualities of the Protagonist in Odyssey by Homer and Medea by Euripedes The comparison of Medea by Euripedes and Odyssey by Homer show many similarities as well as differences. Let’s begin with the character of Medea. After reading Medea by Euripedes the character of Medea shows that she was a barbarian by nature, and she was considered a foreigner. Medea states that “I am the mother of your children, wither can I fly, since all Greece hates the barbarian ( www.theatre history.com). Medea tells this to Jason after the king tells her she must leave his kingdom. She was a beautiful intelligent woman, but she was a woman scorned. She displayed a woman who could not accept rejection, or by no means could she forgive. Medea was a mother, a lover a wife. She also was a loyal person. She displayed this by no matter what it took to help Jason, she took all necessary steps to fulfill her wishes so that she would be able to be with him. You ask yourself was Medea this way before Jason, yes I believe she was. This goes back to the fact that she really was a barbarian in a foreign land. In this story I came to the conclusion that Medea actions showed a woman who was truly mad. She was not aware of the cruel and barbaric actions she took out on people she knew and love. I felt this because she showed no compassion. She felt she was only doing what was necessary to have what she wanted, and that was to have Jason, or her revenge. The actions she demonstrated throughout the story shows that she felt these cruel actions were necessary and did not make her feel she was wrong. Medea only acted on her feelings of that this was necessary to fulfill her dreams. She felt that if she did what was necessary her dreams of being with Jason would come true. In the story you had to understand also that Medea was a foreigner in this new country. In this new country she had made trouble for herself and had offended the authority. There are times in Medea in her character we think that she will show compassion. Yet this is not the case, she stands steadfast on her belief and actions. She hesitates at times, but she still fulfills her mission, of what is necessary to be with Jason. She tells you of her sympathy for the king and his daughter, but they still must be dealt with for the union of her and Jason. Medea actions also were in use that she was a witch. She uses this skill in obtaining her revenge. Medea used witchcraft at the end to complete her revenge. Through all of the story of Medea she shows the insensitivity of a woman who has been hurt and has gone mad. She does not know though she is truly mad. She ends up completing her revenge but was her revenge bitter or sweet. She kills her nemesis the princess and the king, and her two children who are also killed. They are casualties in this revenge as well. The character I perceive her is that of a mad woman. A woman determined to fulfill her dreams by any means necessary. She feels compassion at the end for her children, but still completes her mission. The character of Odysseus in the “Odyssey” is one of a brave, strong handsome, loyal, arrogant and proud man. He showed characteristics of a simple hard working individual. He considered himself one of the other men, and would give his all . He would do and experience just as one of his men would do. He also showed traits of a taunt. He and Medea both showed traits of patience. Even though Medea showed she was heartless they both showed that they were good leaders. They both were good thinkers and crafty. Odysseus is a man of the people and for the people, and himself. Odysseus was an intelligent and skilled archer. He may even be considered a hero by some. Odysseus and Medea both want revenge, but for different reasons. They both want it and they both complete their missions. But in Medea’s case no one actually wins. She loses her children, her home, her life, and the man she truly loves. On the other hand Odysseus receives his rewards. Odysseus tells the suitors and other men in his kingdom that they have betrayed him “you dogs you never thought I would any more come back from the land of Troy, and because of this you despoiled my household, and forcibly took my serving women to sleep beside you and sought to win my wife while I was still alive, family neither the immortal gods who hold the wide hearts, nor any resentment sprung from men to be yours in the future”(Shmoop Editorial Team). Odysseus conquers and wins his kingdom and his wife. Odyssey throughout the story is distracted by many things from being with his wife. Odysseus shows his devotion and loyalty to his wife, even though he took advances that were offered to him, in the end he still wanted to be with his wife. The characters of both of these stories Medea and Odysseus puts you in the mind that revenge can be sweet but you should go about seeking it by the right way. If you believe that your revenge on someone is justified you may be able to have it without costly casualties. But is revenge without this? Can one have revenge without casualties. I don’t believe so because in the end someone loses. To achieve what you want comes out of hard work and patience and doing the right things. I believe if one does these things one will achieve success and revenge in that form. The characters Medea and Odysseus achieved revenge but both suffered loss, and they both showed their flaws in their characters. Even on the surface they would be considered intelligent, loyal, skillful and good leaders, but during the course of their revenge the real traits come out. The real traits of the two characters consist of determination, loyalty, intelligent, crafty and revengeful. I have concluded that the two characters have some like qualities and some qualities that are not alike.