1. Madea is a woman, but Euripides has presented her as a figure previously thought of as exclusively male–a hero. Analyze her character in the play with that of Achilles, and conclude with a judgement on whether or not you think Medea is a hero and why.

While reading Medea, I was quite appalled by her character.  Many people I have seen face misfortunes, heart break, diseases, and none of which have reacted nearly as harsh.  Granted this is a mythical story, however, portraying a character that is so selfish, prideful, and full of hate makes the story very deep and moving.  Achilles was very prideful as well, however, his consideration and love for his friends overcame him and he was able to return to his senses.  Medea on the other hand is blinded by her rage and kills her children.  A hero is one who is somewhat idolized by others, achieves a greater good, has outstanding qualities, and makes one want to sympathize with them.  Medea is none of these. None of her quantities make me want to idolize her or revere her in anyway, and along with murdering her children, I don’t think that she was a heroic figure at all.

2. Job (in chapter 31) makes the claim that his life has been virtuous and devoted to the worship of God, and so he does not deserve the calamities that have fallen on him. He asks God for an answer, but the voice from the whirlwind does not deal with his question at all. Why does Job accept God’s assertion of divine power (42) and not press for an answer to his question? Why is he satisfied with what he is given? Do you find the end of the dialogue satisfactory?

   First of all, why not Job?  What makes anyone above such calamities?  Years ago during Hurricane Katrina, I remember hearing an interview of an elderly woman on the radio.  The reporter was asking her how she felt about it and why her, she responded by saying “Why not me?”.  I thought that that response was so wise and brought up such good point.  2 Corinthians 1:9  says “Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God,  who raises the dead.”  Interestingly enough, a quote from Medea made me think of Job as well, lines 128-29 “God indeed, when in anger, brings Greater ruin to great men’s houses.”

I believe that Job was in acceptance of his circumstances and new that God was in charge and had the attitude that the elderly woman had during Hurricane Katrina, why not me?  I was satisfied, although I felt incredibly bad for the hardships and misfortunes he endured, but I think that he became more of a heroic figure  and set a great example with his faith in God.