Desire and character in Medea

At the outset, Medea is portrayed as a disheartened woman betrayed by her husband in the pursuit of another lover. She is observed to be a woman of extreme emotion and one of great devotion to her family, and above all her husband. Her character, which is seemingly that of a very peaceful and rational spirit, abruptly shifts to develop into an intemperate heart with the definite goal of destruction in mind. Instead of choosing …

…the reclamation of vengeance of a broken heart, she not only kills her husband's new lover and her father, but also kills her own blood; her children, claiming that by doing so she will be protecting them from an even crueler counter-revenge by her enemies. However, as her rage for revenge steadily develops into an uncontrollable insanity, her quest begins to be observed as a damned path for Medea; filled with remorse, sorrow, and grief.