Because of the violent and repulsive nature of Medea’s crime, we can often only see Medea as a murderess. However, Euripides’ play is far more complicated than what a simple reduction of her identity to one adjective can possibly contain. Medea can and must be identified as woman, mother, wife, Athenian citizen, and other.

Why “must” we see these identities? Why does the murderess tag usually take precedence? By in a sense “ignoring” the other identities Medea claims, do we somehow contribute to the meaning of the story?

Because of the violent and repulsive nature of Medea’s crime, we can often only see Medea as a murderess. However, Euripides’ play is far more complicated than what a simple reduction of her identity to one adjective can possibly contain. Medea can and must be identified as woman, mother, wife, Athenian citizen, and other.

Why “must” we see these identities? Why does the murderess tag usually take precedence? By in a sense “ignoring” the other identities Medea claims, do we somehow contribute to the meaning of the story?