“If only they had never gone…to fetch the Golden Fleece! Then neither would Medea, my mistress, ever have set sail for the walled town of Iolcus, mad love for Jason…” (Sanderson 14). This quote is the opening lines to Euripides’ tragic play, “Medea” (Blaiklock 234). Their predestined fates all begin with Jason and his conquest for the Golden Fleece (Hamilton 161). Medea, known to be a powerful sorceress, was hit by Cupid’s arrow and fell madly in love with Jason (Sanderson 3). It was Aphrodite and Hera’s plan for Medea to aid Jason in his adventures even though it meant betraying her father, her homeland, and the death of her brother (Hamilton 168). Going against her father, Medea retrieved the Golden Fleece from the sacred grove and fled to Greece with Jason (Hamilton 173). Medea’s brother was sent to stop them, but Medea tricked him into meeting her at a temple where Jason was waiting to kill him (Sanderson 4). Medea was overcome with love and would do anything in her power to help Jason (Hamilton 172). All she received in return was treachery (Hamilton 175). Jason and Medea returned to Corinth where they were married and lived happily together for ten years (Paranda 3). Medea’s exile from her homeland and loss of her family seemed irrelevant compared to her great love for Jason and the birth of her two sons (Hamilton 175). After all the sacrifices Medea had made, Jason violated his sacred oaths and promises (Hamilton 175). He grew tired of Medea and wanted a younger and more representative wife (Paranda 3). In thoughts of his own selfish ambition, Jason was to marry the daughter of the King of Corinth (Hamilton 176). Humiliated and disturbed, Medea sought revenge (Paranda 3). This led to tragedy (Parada 3). She knew of only one way to make Jason pay for his betrayal: “By death, oh, by death, shall the conflict of life be decided, Life’s ...
