On the other hand, "there was almost no legitimate place for women's anger." (Burnyeat) Women were expected to have strong feelings, but to ignore them outwardly and keep all rage bottled up
Some historians believe that in ancient Greece, women were strongly associated with anger, but "this stereotype and the critique of anger functioned as an instrument of male domination." (Strijdom) Medea has this inner rage that was considered normal for all women to have
In this way they also symbolize the irresponsibility of Medea and Jason. " The children personify Jason and Medea's neglect of the household and their abandonment of responsibility for their past and present actions" (Tagle) Medea and Jason ignore the children and abandon them into the care of their nurse while passionately ranting at each other
"As a female foreigner whose relationship with Jason was only formalized with the birth of the children, Medea would have been viewed as an irregular companion, and after Jason's betrothal to Glauce, she would be reduced to the status of concubine." (Guastella in Claus) This makes them a helpful tool in securing her bond to Jason
" (Euripides) In this moment, she gives warning that her wrath will fall upon those that have wronged her, but the women of the city do not wish to betray her. Similar to modern stories such as Andrea Yates (Ramsland) who told several people she intended to kill her children before committing the act, the women of Corinth are not simply negligent in preventing her from committing the act, but actually feel she is justified in seeking revenge
Their na vete is made apparent at the play's opening, as they happily frolic onstage, completely disregarding their mother's growing wrath and desperation." (Tagle) These are lighthearted children that are not aware of the sins committed by their father which has caused Medea to seek revenge
This makes her different than all the other Greeks around her. In his Civilization and Its Discontents, Sigmund Freud describes this xenophobia as "the narcissism of minor differences," (Freud 72)
Essentially, this play also represents the unspoken desires of betrayed women. This work is in itself a myth, and according to Riitta Sirola "Similar to a dream, a myth is viewed as an enigma; it may contain hidden wishes; its magic circle may turn events into their opposites and it can change its object by wrapping it in disguise," (Sirola 94)