In every version of Medea that I have read, I am drawn to the tragic ending. I suppose Don Delillo would say that is human nature. However, I found it captivating and horrifying that Medea was so matter-of-fact about killing her children in this one. She very specifically hopes to avenge her brother's death by the killings and says something along the lines of the children must die because they aren't hers, but then again the are hers so they are doomed. Very interesting point of view, where she takes no blame for their death, rather puts it off on Jason. She was very showy in their deaths and thought the people would be happy:
"Don't hide your deed. The people will applaud" (94)
and then :
"A sense of pleasure subtly penetrates my being, and it grows, constantly grows. It lacked only one thing to be perfect. He should have seen it. So I have achieved nothing as of yet" (95)
She achieved nothing? She took the lives of her children! But nothing has been achieved?! And furthermore, she is not ashamed, rather, she thinks people will applaud? It is one thing to force yourself to believe that taking your children's lives is a good thing, but to think others will be happy in it with you? That is utter madness.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2006/nov/05/ukcrime.lornamartin
This link is a story of father's in the UK who have brutally murdered their children to seek revenge on the mothers. It is an interesting real-life spin on this tragic story. What drives parents to such hatred towards their once-loved spouse enough to make them hate them? It is a mystery to me.
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