2. Medea Background Info

3. Jason and the Golden Fleece
“Golden Fleece” – A gold colored ram. Sent from the gods. Very long story. It’s very far away from Greece.
A man named Pelias stole the crown from his brother – is told by an oracle that a kinsman with one sandal will kill him.
Pelias’s nephew, Jason, comes into town…wearing one sandal, and he says that he’s come to take his place on the throne.
Pelias says that he’ll willingly give up the throne if Jason retrieves the Golden Fleece, thinking that he won’t be able to do it.

4. Jason and the Golden Fleece, cont.
Jason and his crew (The Argonauts…because their ship is named the Argo) have a lot of adventures on their way to the Golden Fleece.
Jason meets the person currently holding the fleece, King Etes.
Etes says that he can have the fleece, but only after he does a seemingly impossible task that he believes will result in his death.
Meanwhile, Hera and Aphrodite arrange for Cupid to make Etes’s daughter, Medea, fall in love with Jason…for reasons…
Medea gives Jason a potion to make him invincible for the day. He survives and finishes his task.

5. Jason and the Golden Fleece, cont.
Etes doesn’t give up the fleece, Medea helps steal it and the two of them leave for Greece.
Medea protects Jason the entire time. Kills her brother to help him escape, etc.
When they arrive in Greece, Medea arranges for Pelias to be killed by his own daughters.
Jason and Medea are exiled as murders, and settle in Corinth, which is where this play takes place.

6. Medea Characters
Medea – main protagonist. Barbarian and sorceress. Is married to and in love with Jason. Gets stuff DONE.
Jason – Former adventurer. He is ambitious, but kind of whiny.
Children – Jason and Medea’s kids. They have no idea what’s going on.
Creon – The king of Corinth. (Same dude as in Oedipus Rex)
Glauce – Daughter of Creon. Young, beautiful, and totally silent throughout the play.
Aegeus – King of Athens. Passes through Corinth after visiting the Oracle nearby. Really wants kids.
Messenger – Has really bad news.
Nurse – knows something bad is going to happen and DOES NOTHING TO STOP IT.
Tutor – not important
Chorus – made up of the women of Corinth. Commentate on the action. They are totally on Medea’s side…mostly.