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The Curse of a Fatal Flaw Every highly tragic and dramatic figure has a fatal
flaw that leads to his or her downfall. The character of Medea fits into this
category perfectly. Excessive passion is what leads Medea to her destruction.
Her love for Jason, her selfishness, and her rage are all factors of Medea's
harmartia. First, the strongest factor contributing to Medea's fatal flaw is her
love for Jason. During Jason's quest of searching for the Golden Fleece and
meets the Princess of Colchis, Medea falls madly in love with Jason and runs off
to lolcos with him. Medea and Jason get married and have two children. Medea's
excessive love for Jason started showing when she killed his uncle, who was the
king of lolcos at the time, so that Jason could take over the throne and rule.
But his uncle's murder resulted negatively for Medea and Jason. They were forced
to flee from lolcos to the kingdom of Corinth. Once in Corinth, Jason meets the
king of Corinth's daughter. He leaves Medea and their two children and marries
the princess. Because Medea is madly in love with Jason, Medea is crushed to
find out that Jason has left her. Medea explains to the women of Corinth that,
It has crushed my heart. Life has no pleasure left, dear friends. I want to die.
Jason was my whole life; he knows that well (24). Therefore, Medea becomes
outraged and over powered with excessive passion. Secondly, Medea's selfishness
provides power to her fatal flaw. Medea's selfishness is displayed through the
act of killing her own two sons. Medea understands that the slaying of her
children will make Jason miserable. During this time, the chorus recognizes her
self-worship and states, O miserable mother, to destroy your own increase,
murder the babes of your body! Stone and iron are you, as you resolved to be
(56). Medea does not stop to think what pain she may cause to herself by
murdering them. She is only concerned about her happiness that will be derived
from Jason's grieving. Medea comes to the conclusion that it is worth the
suffering just to see her ex-husband unhappy. Medea states, ...my pain's a fair
price, to take away your smile (59). This exhibits Medea's selfishness by the
slaying of her sons just to cause sorrow to Jason for her own pleasure.
Therefore, selfishness contributes to Medea's harmartia. Medea's rage also leads
to her fatal flaw of excessive passion. Her excessive passion, fed by rage,
leads to Medea to do uncalled for acts of violence and murder. Medea kills
Jason's uncle in lolcos for the reason that she wanted Jason to be the ruler.
The murder of the princess of Corinth is another example of Medea's rage. Her
passion drove her to poison clothing and send it to the princess. Not only is
Medea proud that she killed her, but when the messenger tells her of the death
of the princess, Medea responds by saying, ...But take your time now; tell me,
how did they die? You'll give me double pleasure if their death was horrible
(52). Also, the Nurse acknowledges Medea's rage. While in conversation with the
tutor she says, She'll not relax her rage till it has found its victim (20).
This proves to be true since Medea does not give up until she has made Jason
miserable. These acts of murder show the wrath of Medea's rage. In conclusion,
Medea's fatal flaw of excessive passion is due to the three main reasons of her
love for Jason, her selfishness, and her rage. These factors all contributed to
the downfall of Medea's character.
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