Essay about Strategic Use of Dialogue in Euripides Medea

Strategic Use of Dialogue in Euripides Medea Euripides employs the technique of dialogue between two solo actors on stage throughout Medea to dramatize the core values underlying these conversations. In particular, through the conversations that Medea holds with three different males, she shows herself to be a person of great intellect. Females were rarely valued for their intelligence because the Athenians had a complacent pride in the superiority of the Greek masculinity (page 641 ). Men and women were considered to have very different roles in society with men being the far superior species. Thus, Euripides uses Medeas [Note the specific claim/thesis conversations with Kreon, Aigeus, and Jason to showcase her†¦show more content†¦Thus, Medea gains control of the conversation, and she is able to make Kreon conform to her agenda. Throughout this dialogue, Medea : I maintains her composure, which allows her intelligence to become apparent through her persuasive speech. Yet the way in which Medea boldly interacts with Kreon would most likely be a shocking sight for the audience. Remember that Kreon is the King of Corinth, the most powerful man in the nation-state. Yet Medea, a foreign woman, is standing before him in an attempt to persuade him to alter his decision about her exile. Furthermore, Medea manipulates their conversation, so that Kreon will verify her ultimate wish. As the importance of the discussion increases, the dialogue becomes a series of single lines spoken back and forth between Medea and Kreon. With the level of intensity rising, Medea first seems to plead with Kreon to allow her to remain in Corinth permanently. Kreon refuses the proposal because he knows her to be a powerful woman capable of great evils; however, she then states that her true desire is to stay in Corinth for this one day (337). This seems like a minor request to Kreon, so he surrenders his will and grants Medea the right to remain in Corinth for one more day. Thus, Kreon gives Medea the window of time that she needs to murder his young daughter and himself. Kreons decision will lead to his demise and is the stepping stone on which Medea will be able to accomplish her revenge in