Medea

The Nurse delivers the backstory of Medea and Jason's history, from the quest for the Golden Fleece through Medea's betrayals of her family to their current crisis in Corinth. Medea wails from inside the house. The Tutor brings the children and reports that Creon intends to banish them. The Chorus of Corinthian women enters and expresses sympathy for Medea's suffering.

Medea emerges and delivers her famous speech on the condition of women. King Creon arrives and orders her exile. Medea begs for one day's delay and receives it. Once Creon leaves, Medea begins planning her revenge, considering poison as her method.

Jason arrives and offers a defense of his remarriage as rational and beneficial. Medea demolishes his argument with a catalogue of her sacrifices. Aegeus, king of Athens, arrives and promises Medea sanctuary. With an escape route secured, Medea finalizes her plan — including the decision to kill her own children.

Medea feigns reconciliation with Jason and sends the children to deliver a golden crown and robe to the princess. While waiting for the result, Medea delivers her great monologue of hesitation — torn between her love for her children and her determination to destroy Jason completely.

A messenger reports the agonizing deaths of the princess and King Creon. Medea kills her children offstage. Jason arrives too late to save them. Medea appears above the stage on the chariot of Helios, holding the children's bodies. She denies Jason burial rights and flies away, leaving him utterly destroyed.