Medea

The Nurse describes her growing fear and anxiety as she watches Medea plotting her revenge. She describes how Medea is preparing for her revenge by preparing spells, summoning magical beasts, and gathering poisonous plants and herbs. As Medea prepares her poisons, she also chants spells and invocations. Medea calls tormented spirits to come to her and help her with her plan. Medea invokes the goddess Hecate/Diana in her ritual. As part of the ritual, Medea cuts herself and drips her blood onto the altar; as she does so, she darkly warns, “hands, get used to unsheathing the blade” (IV.809).

In her spell, Medea calls for the robes to be poisoned so that when Creusa puts them on, she will be consumed with burning pain. When her spell is complete, Medea summons her children, and tells them to take the gifts to their new stepmother. She also tells the children to return quickly to her afterwards so that she can bid them goodbye.

The Chorus describes Medea’s frenzied rage, and wonders what she is planning to do. They eagerly wait for Medea to leave Greece, hoping that safety and peace will finally be restored once she is gone.