Medea Character
M
Medea
Protagonist
Also known as: the sorceress, the revengeful woman, Princess of Colchis
Highly intelligent
Unmatched in magic
Deeply passionate
Vengeful
Princess of Colchis and granddaughter of the sun-god Helios, Medea is unrivalled in magic and intelligence. She abandons her family out of love for Jason and helps him win the Golden Fleece, only to be betrayed when he chooses to marry the Corinthian princess Glauce. In revenge, she kills Glauce, King Creon, and even her own children to inflict the deepest possible pain on Jason. She symbolizes female power, vengeance, and rebellion against patriarchal society.
J
Jason
Antagonist
Also known as: Leader of the Argonauts, the hero, the betrayer
Ambitious
Selfish
Charismatic
Faithless
Leader of the Argonauts and hero of the Golden Fleece expedition, Jason achieves his legendary success only through Medea's love and magical assistance. He abandons Medea in pursuit of power and prestige by seeking to marry Glauce, the princess of Corinth. In Medea's eyes he is a faithless and ungrateful husband. He represents ambition, selfishness, and the values of patriarchal society.
C
Creon
Supporting
Also known as: King of Corinth
Authoritative
Politically calculating
Cautious
Easily manipulated
King of Corinth and father of Glauce, Creon wishes to secure his dynasty by making Jason his son-in-law. Perceiving Medea as a dangerous threat, he orders her into exile. However, Medea manipulates him into granting a single day's delay, during which she sends the poisoned gifts that kill both him and his daughter. He symbolizes political power and institutional authority.
G
Glauce
Supporting
Also known as: the princess, Jason's new bride
Innocent
Politically significant
Naive
Unwitting victim
Daughter of King Creon and Jason's intended new bride, Glauce becomes the primary target of Medea's revenge. Medea sends her a poisoned crown and robe which burst into flames upon being worn, killing her in agony. She represents female rivalry and serves as the focal point of Medea's humiliation and wrath.
C
Chorus
Symbolic
Also known as: the women of Corinth, Corinthian women
Empathetic
Morally reflective
Fearful
Observant
Composed of Corinthian women, the Chorus witnesses Medea's sorrow, anger, and acts of revenge throughout the play. They oscillate between expressing sympathy for Medea and fear of her actions. They serve as the collective voice of ordinary people and function as a moral compass and instrument of judgment within the drama.
N
Nurse
Minor
Loyal
Compassionate
Cautionary
Perceptive
Medea's old and devoted servant, the Nurse is the first character to convey Medea's grief and rage to the audience. She attempts to dissuade Medea from pursuing revenge, acting as a voice of reason and humanity. She symbolizes warning and the humane instinct within the play.
T
Tutor
Minor
Also known as: Guardian of the children
Dutiful
Messenger-like
Observant
Loyal
The guardian of Jason and Medea's children, the Tutor carries messages relating to the children's fate throughout the play. He ultimately bears witness to the tragic circumstances surrounding their deaths, serving a functional narrative role in conveying information to both characters and audience.
C
Children
Symbolic
Also known as: the two sons, Jason and Medea's sons
Innocent
Voiceless victims
Symbols of destroyed family
Pawns of revenge
The two young sons of Jason and Medea, the children are entirely innocent yet become the ultimate victims of their parents' political and personal conflict. Murdered by their own mother as the final and most devastating act of revenge against Jason, they symbolize the destruction of family and the terrible cost of vengeance.
A
Aegeus
Supporting
Also known as: King of Athens
Generous
Naive
Childless
Unwittingly complicit
King of Athens, Aegeus encounters Medea midway through the play while seeking a cure for his childlessness. Medea promises to use her powers to help him father children, and in return Aegeus vows to grant her refuge in Athens. He serves as the means of Medea's planned escape and future safety after her acts of revenge.
M
Messenger
Minor
Vivid narrator
Dramatic reporter
Witness
Functional
The Messenger provides a graphic and detailed account of the horrifying deaths of Glauce and Creon to the other characters and the audience. His vivid report serves to heighten dramatic tension and bring the off-stage violence into the world of the play with full emotional impact.
H
Helios
Symbolic
Also known as: the Sun God, Sun-god Helios
Divine
Protective
Powerful
Transcendent
The sun-god Helios is Medea's grandfather and does not appear directly on stage. His divine power nonetheless protects Medea throughout the play, and at its conclusion he sends his chariot to carry her away to safety. He symbolizes divine assistance, Medea's supernatural lineage, and her ultimately invincible strength.
A
Aeëtes
Minor
Also known as: King of Colchis, Medea's father
Regal
Betrayed
Authoritative
Absent presence
King of Colchis, son of Helios, and father of Medea, Aeëtes is betrayed by his own daughter when she falls in love with Jason and helps him steal the Golden Fleece. Though he does not appear directly in the play, his betrayal by Medea forms a crucial part of her backstory and establishes the pattern of her ruthlessness.
I
Idyia
Minor
Also known as: Perseis
Background figure
Maternal lineage
Mythologically significant
Idyia is Medea's mother and daughter of Oceanus, though in some sources her name is given as Perseis. She is a background figure whose primary significance lies in establishing Medea's divine and mythological lineage rather than in any direct dramatic action.
A
Absyrtus
Minor
Also known as: Apsyrtus, Medea's brother
Victim
Innocent
Symbol of Medea's ruthlessness
Sacrificed
Medea's brother, Absyrtus appears in the mythological backstory rather than in the play's direct action. In some versions Medea kills him herself during the flight from Colchis, while in others she assists Jason in murdering him. His death is significant as the first act that reveals the full extent of Medea's capacity for ruthless violence.
A
Aeson
Minor
Also known as: Jason's father, rightful king of Iolcus
Dispossessed
Passive
Background figure
Legitimate ruler
Aeson is Jason's father and the rightful king of Iolcus, who was displaced from his throne by his half-brother Pelias. Out of fear of Pelias, the young Jason was sent away from his father as a child. Aeson functions primarily as a background figure whose dispossession motivates the broader context of Jason's heroic quest.
A
Alcimede
Minor
Also known as: Polymede, Jason's mother
Background figure
Maternal
Mythologically referenced
Alcimede, also called Polymede in some sources, is Jason's mother. She is a minor background figure whose significance is limited to establishing Jason's parentage and family context within the broader mythological framework surrounding the play.
P
Pelias
Minor
Also known as: Jason's uncle, usurper of Iolcus
Treacherous
Politically cunning
Usurper
Manipulative
Pelias is the half-brother of Aeson and the usurper of the throne of Iolcus. He is the figure who sends Jason on the perilous quest for the Golden Fleece, secretly hoping that Jason will perish on the dangerous journey. Though absent from the play itself, he is a key motivating force in the mythological backstory that shapes Jason's character and ambitions.
SA
Servants and Attendants
Minor
Also known as: slaves, palace attendants
Functional
Observant
Background figures
Realistic detail
Various servants and slaves belonging to Medea and the royal palace appear throughout the play in minor capacities. They contribute to the realistic texture of the dramatic setting and occasionally provide glimpses into Medea's inner world and her preparations for the events that follow.
GM
Glauce's Maid
Minor
Also known as: Glauce's attendant
Witness
Messenger-like
Horrified observer
Narrative function
Glauce's personal maid or attendant is tasked with delivering Medea's fatal gifts to the princess. She subsequently witnesses the horrifying manner of Glauce's death and retells the scene to the audience, functioning as a witness-character who reconstructs the dreadful off-stage events with dramatic immediacy.