Jason and the Argonauts - Movie Review Example

How does Medea aid Jason and his crew in their quest to find the golden fleece? Concentrate your answer on one or two main episodes Introduction Greek myth “Jason and the Argonauts” is well-known all over the world. It relates to the period of antiquity and describes feats of arms of ancient heroes. The topics of adventures, courage, justice and love stories have always been appealing to target audience of the myth. “Jason and the Argonauts” was in great favour among writers and poets, that’s why it was often used as source for literary works; for example, “Medea” by Euripides, poem “Argonautica” by Apollonius of Rhodes, “The Legend of Good Women” by Geoffrey Chaucer, novel “Medea” by Christa Wolf. In spite of socio-cultural diversity of the modern society, this story remains popular and is widely used and discussed in literature, mass media, cinema, theatre. The voyage of Jason and his crew, Jason and Medea’s love, betrayal and revenge are in demand in filmmaking and theatre. Opera singer Maria Callas skillfully played Medea in the film of the same name and revealed her grief, offence in sufferings through songs, rituals and behavioral patterns. 1. Medea’s Prehistory The role of Medea in the Argonauts’ voyage has been decisive, because she helped them to get the Golden Fleece. The fleece was important both for Greece (Iolcus) and Colchis, because it brought long-term flourishing and welfare for its possessor. Long before birth of Jason the magic ram had delivered prince Phrixus from Orchomenus to Colchis, where he was hospitably received. King Aeetes understood magic power of the gift and decided to keep the Golden Fleece in his realm forever. To strengthen ties of Phrixus to the new homeland, the king married his with his daughter Chalciope, Medea’s elder sister. From his part, Jason was kinsman of Phrixus and, thus, was related to Medea. Their lives were not united only with divine intervention. Medea was granddaughter of the sun god Helios, that’s why she had a special luster in her eyes. She was described as a slim dark-haired maiden with large black eyes. These are typical features of modern Georgians. Jason was impressed by her extraordinary beauty and charm of her voice. Apollonius of Rhodes broadened her domination in the third part of his book “Argonautica”. According to Helios’ will, Medea’s father was a powerful sorcerer, that’s why all family members dealt with magic and religious service. She was a priestess in the temple of Hecate, goddess of night and darkness. Nevertheless, it did not mean that Medea was a negative heroine of the myth. First of all, she was a young, inexperienced maiden, vulnerable before will of Gods, Jason’s love and power. From the very beginning Medea took a vow of eternal love and fidelity to him and was going to keep it till death. Before she met Jason her father’s will, her kinsmen, motherland and service obligations were of primary importance to her. The first love made Medea tear all these ties and undergo Aeetes’ perdition. “She is fully aware that her freedom, joy, and sense of self-worth are about to be squandered. Indeed, she sets to work almost immediately to help Jason win the Golden Fleece from her father.” (Edelson 2003, p. 60) Her father sent a big fleet to catch the runaways and bring the Golden Fleece back. Medea even deceived and supported murder of her brother Absyrtus, who followed the Argonauts. So, the maiden was deeply in love and devoted to Jason. She was ready to start new happy life with him at any price. Medea also was a sorceress, although less powerful as Aeetes, and used her magic for assistance of the Argonauts. 2. Team Potential of the Argonauts Travelling to Colchis, the crew of the Argo came through numerous difficulties and obstacles. Their power, military skills, courage, cleverness and other particular qualities allowed the Argonauts cope with them. For example, Orpheus had a beautiful magic voice, which allowed resisting sirens and stopping the Symplegades. Tiphys was a gifted helmsman. Lynceus was hawk-eyed and fulfilled obligations of watchman, that’s why the Argo had not been in low water. Sons of Zeus Heracles, Castor and Pollux were very strong and could easily fight with giants, Cyclops. The Boreads saved old king Phineas and the rest of the Argonauts from the Harpies, because they were sons of the wind Boreas and could fly. “But although Jason himself depends most on physical strength of his crew, it is plain through the poem that strength alone can not achieve success and survival.” (Merriam 1993, p. 73) The Argonauts were pioneers, because before them no one could reach Colchis by sea. The crew consisted of famous heroes, kings, princes, descendants of Greek Gods. Ancient sources provide inaccurate data as to quantity of the crew. According to Apollonius of Rhodes, there were 45 Argonauts; list of Valerius Flaccus contained 51 names. (Clare 2002) In literary works of ancient Greek dramatists Sophocles, Euripides, Hesiod their number and make-up also varied. Medea strengthened their crew, because she used magic to protect and heal its members. Her amicability, care and assistance made the Greek respect her. On the final stage of the voyage she proved to be a missing link. Using her sorcery, Medea protected Jason’s body from metal weapon and, thus, challenged Aeetes and welfare of the whole Colchis. Medea became an unofficial wife of their leader and they understood how much she had sacrificed for her love to Jason. Having betrayed her father, Medea burnt her bridges behind her and left Colchis forever. 3. Receipt of the Golden Fleece The first meeting of Jason and Medea drastically affected their fates and predetermined their love. The princess regularly served in Hecate’s temple, but on the day of the Argonauts’ arrival she accidently stayed at home. Medea decided to visit her sister Chalciope, who dwelled in the neighboring palace, and on the way to her bumped into strangers headed by Jason. In the second book of “Argonautica” Apollonius of Rhodes emphasized that this coincidence was not fortuitous, because Gods and Moirés decided their destiny beforehand. At this moment Medea stepped aside and Eros drew bow and shot her heart. The first love knocked the maiden down and made her forget about daughter’s obligations. “In the case of Medea, Apollonius explicitly compares her to Artemis when the Colchian maiden goes to meet Jason at the temple of Hecate; and her assistance to and protection of, Jason are what will ultimately give him the ability to achieve the goal of his mission.” (Clauss 1993, p. 96) Her previous and further actions and behavioral patterns proved that Colchian princess was a self-sufficient, independent personality. Obedience to father’s will was an integral part of contemporary culture and did not weaken Medea. Preliminary she had never come across such temptation and easily yielded to it as any mortal woman. She attentively listened to conversation of Aeetes with Jason and his crew and learned the goal of their dangerous voyage. The Golden Fleece strengthened Aeetes’ power and welfare of Colchis, that’s why the king would never agree to part with it. Medea immediately understood that Jason should have pass through insuperable hindrance to get the fleece. For one day he had to pacify cruel bulls with copper horns, plough a large field, sow snake’s teeth and fight a big army. Aeetes could not break laws of hospitality, but knew that any mortal man would not cope with this task. Medea decided to assist Jason, in spite of her father’s intentions. Her reasoning was reinforced with Chalciope’s gratitude for saved sons. The Argonauts saved them after shipwreck and brought back to Colchis. “Chalciope first seeks Medea’s help for Jason, but only for the greater good of her own son, a motive which Medea herself finds it convenient to espouse.” (Clare 2002, p. 114) Nevertheless, Medea doubted for a while, because she staked her life, position and kindred relations. But love to Jason grew with every moment and their meeting at the temple only reinforced her determination. At Hecate’s shrine he had taken Medea a vow of eternal love and fidelity and it inseparably linked him with her. He acted passionately, impulsively and was going to keep his promise till death. Jason’s vow altered whole his life. Above all, Medea secretly prepared her beloved for the preceding trial, because wild bulls or warriors might kill him. “For the completion of the Argonautic mission his “weapon” will prove to be Medea, whose magic will make Jason, even if momentarily, immensely powerful.” (Clauss 1993, p. 84) She provided him with magic drugs, which made his body invulnerable. As for Jason’s attitude to Medea, he also felt in love with her and firstly regarded her help as Gods’ gift. Jason was under auspices of Hera, because he had revealed respect to her as an old, feeble woman. Being goddess of matrimony, family and homestead, she perceived Jason’s great love and care for Medea as a noble act and, thus, kept on protecting him. With the help of Hera and the Colchian princess Jason excellently coped with Aeetes’ trial and won right for the Golden Fleece. Unfortunately, the king of Colchis suspected of Medea’s assistance and did not intend to give the national treasure to the strangers. Although Jason fulfilled all requirements of the king of Colchis, he did not get the fleece in his hands at once. Aeetes incensed at an unexpected success of the Argonauts and Medea’s treachery, that’s why he intended to punish them. Medea again helped Jason, because she overheard her father’s intentions and promoted urgent departure of the Greeks. She led Jason to the saint grove, where the Golden Fleece was located under guard of the dragon, and put the beast to sleep. They easily stole the treasure and came back to the Argo, which left Colchis at dawn. Medea actions were motivated by passionate love to Jason, self-sacrifice and independence. In such a way she betrayed her father, motherland and all Colchians, because she stole pledge of national welfare. Medea had a freedom of choice and she made her own decision, although she would face many difficulties in foreign country. 4. Murder of Apsyrtus Infuriated Aeetes sent pursuit after the Argonauts. Colchian fleet was headed by his only son Apsyrtus, who was instructed to catch the Greeks, take away the Golden Fleece and return Medea home. The fleet separated in several groups to increase efficiency of the chase. Apsyrtus’ group caught the Argonauts in the northern Pontos, at the Istros. Due to numerical superiority, the Colchians decided firstly to take the fleece away, but Apsyrtus decided that peaceful negotiations would be the best method of cooperation. He was young, mild and open-hearted. On the contrary of his father, Apsyrtus recognized rights of the crew to the Golden Fleece, because Jason had honestly fulfilled all tasks. He only demanded to return Medea to Colchis, because she had to bear responsibility for her mistakes. The majority of the Argonauts agreed with Apsyrtus’ demands and persuaded Jason to conclude an advantageous treaty with Colchian prince. They were grateful to her for assistance, but they longed to return home safe and sound. Medea was in despair, because she knew Aeetes would cruelly punish her. She implored Jason not to give her away and reminded of his promises of eternal love and future marriage. Jason doubted for a long time, because standpoints of both the crew and Medea were important for him. He was still deeply in love with her, although firstly he offered Medea to remain in the temple of Artemis, where the Colchians would be able to get her. At last she convicted Jason to deceive Apsyrtus and murder him. “Medea entrusted her message to the heralds, to lure Apsyrtos to come, as soon as she reached the goddess temple in accordance with the agreement, and the dark gloom of night was spread around; he would help her devise a trick by which she might take the great golden fleece and return again to Aietes house, for the sons of Phrixus had forcefully compelled her when they handed her over to the strangers.” (Hunter 1993, p. 72) Medea felt herself guilty before her brother, but she was sure that was her only choice to start a new happy life with the beloved man. At that time she did not know how would finish her relations with Jason in future and what would she do in remote Greece. Medea was well-aware of Apsyrtus’ murder was lowdown, mean and cruel and that it might change her life forever. The prince was killed, when he came into the temple alone, unarmed and would like to make peace with Jason. In the end he was unfairly killed. In reality, having murdered her brother, Medea separated herself from her family, homeland and nations. She remained lonely and unprotected before future misfortunes and sorrows. She sinned against her kindred and began self-destruction. Conclusion It is impossible to assess Medea as a positive or negative heroine. She is rather victim of circumstances. She felt in love with a stranger, who overthrew her life and inner world. Medea was a one-man woman. She was a devoted and affectionate wife to Jason, although he did not estimate her sacrifice in full scope. “The presence of Medea on the board ship and the divine imperial of her arrival in Greece diminishes the importance of the acquisition of the fleece itself and sets a different agenda for the homeward leg.” (Clare 2002, p.3) Medea’s assistance to the Argonauts was often underestimated, but they would never get the Golden Fleece without her. Power of love gave the charming weak woman enough strength to perform an exploit and change the world history. Bibliography 1. Clauss, J. J. 1993, The Best of the Argonauts: The Redefinition of the Epic Hero in Book One of the Apollonius’ Aeronautica, University of California Press, Los Angeles. 2. Clare, R.J. 2002, The Path of the Argo, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. 3. Dyck, A. R. 1989, ‘On the way from Colchis to Corinth: Medea in book 4 of the Argonautica’, Hermes vol. 117, pp. 455-70. 4. Edelson, L. 2003, ‘The Trope of Transformation in Medea: A Noh Cycle’, Comparative Drama, vol. 37, no. 1, pp. 59 - 65. 5. Euripides. 2008, Medea and Other Plays, Penguin Classics, NY. 6. Hunter, R. 1993, Apollonius of Rhodes, Jason and the Golden Fleece (Argonautica), Clarendon Press, Oxford. 7. Lawall, G. 1966, Apollonius Argonautica: Jason as anti-hero, YCS 19, pp. 119 - 169. 8. Merriam, C.U. 1993, ‘An Examination of Jason’s Cloak’, Scholia, vol. 2, pp. 69 – 80. 9. Pavlou, M. 2009, “Reading Medea through her veil in the Argonautica of Apollonius Rhodius”, Greece & Rome ,vol. 56, pp. 183 - 202. Read More