According to Aristole, a tragic hero is one of noble status and greatness. In Medea, Medea has noble status and has greatness because she is the princess of Colchis and the wife of Jason, son of Aeson, King of Iolcos. Medea is a tragic hero because she is able to achieve her goal but at the end still suffers. Medea’s goal is to make her husband Jason, undergo suffering for his doings towards Medea. According to Medea, “I pray that I may see him, / Him and his bride and all their palace shattered/ For the wrong they dare to do me without cause” (Euripides, 698, 161-163). Medea specifically states that she wants harm brought upon Jason and his new wife. Medea portrays heroism because she is able to prove her point by standing up for herself. Something which was unheard of for a woman during those times. However, in the process of making her husband suffer, Medea kills her own two children. Thus, making herself endure pain as well. Therefore, Medea is a tragic hero because although she displayed a sense of heroism in her decision makings, her decision to kill her children was a tragic one, one that she bears for the rest of her life.
Ilir,
This is nice, but you could certainly go further. How, in the later books, is this idea reinforced? You call him cowardly, and then explain the absence of a father means that he cannot grow up properly – is that cowardly, or a victim of circumstance? You need to explain your ideas a little more clearly.
Ilir,
This is nice, but you start with Aristotle and then move away from that. If you’re going to deviate from the conventional explanation, then you have to explain why. Also, make sure you use MLA as required – it’ll cost you points.