Development of Medea

In the ancient play “Medea,” Euripides uses such devices as irony, conflict, foreshadowing, and stereotype to develop the character of Medea. Various examples can be seen within each of the episodes of the book. Within the Prologue of “Medea,” there is a vivid image of Medea guarding her children like a lioness guarding her cubs. At this point in the play, this image shows that Medea is a compassionate and loving mother figure. The comparison …

…throughout the play symbolize innocence, and when Medea kills her children, she has also metaphorically destroyed her own innocence and has become truly sinister. Then Medea escapes at the end, and this is a stereotype of how evil is never caught. Such a stereotype further goes to show how cunning Medea is to have escaped all troubles. Euripides’ play, “Medea,” uses such devices as irony, conflict, foreshadowing, and stereotype to develop the character of Medea.