Module 4: Section 4
Elements of Drama: The Importance of Setting, Continued
In approximately 500 BCE, ancient Athens had a population of approximately 200,000 citizens, making it comparable in size to modern American cities such as Richmond, Virginia or Des Moines, Iowa. Neighboring city-states such as Corinth, Sparta, and Argo, while also important, were much smaller. Jason’s Greek background put him at odds with Medea, who was from the country of Colchis (modern day Georgia, located on the East coast of the Black Sea). Historical records show that Colchis was a wealthy country rich with resources, which made it a target for other regional powers. Her status as Princess of Colchis didn’t keep Medea from being underestimated, by her own husband, no less: at one point during the play, Jason refers insultingly to Medea as a “barbarian.” 
The wealth of Corinth and Athens attracted talented people from all over Greece. Athens was the center of Greek literature, philosophy, and theatre. The distinguishing features of ancient Greek society were the division between free and slave, the differing roles of men and women, the relative lack of status distinctions based on birth, and the importance of religion. Only free people could be citizens entitled to the full protection of the law, and social status did not allow special rights. A household consisted of a single set of parents and their children, and men were responsible for supporting the family. Social norms such as expectations for women and men were reflected in the plays that were set with Athens and Corinth as their backdrop.
Much of the drama within the story of Medea can be attributed to the twists and turns surrounding gender roles and expectations. The playwright, Euripides, allows Medea to thwart cultural expectations of the typical Athenian woman: she is strong, passionate, devious, loyal, and cunning, eschewing typical expectations and responsibilities of a good Greek wife and mother. When betrayed by her husband, she turns the tables on him and commits a shocking act that rocks the entire community.
