Jason And The Golden Fleece example essay topic

"Medea and "Jason and the Golden Fleece" are two well known Greek stories. In both these stories the Olympian gods in the stories play important roles that affect the lives of both Jason and Medea. The behaviors of these two character also have a great contrast between them. In the story of "Jason and the Golden Fleece", Jason is the son of Aeson who is the legitimate king of Iolcus, in Thessaly. Aeson's half brother Pelias steals the throne away from Aeson making himself the new king of Iolcus. Jason is the rightful heir to the thrown but his father feared for his life and sent him to live with the centaur Cheiron.

In time Jason wanted to know of his parents and wanted to reclaim the royal throne. It came to pass that Jason finally reunited with his parents and soon thereafter Pelias invited Jason to join him in his offerings to Lord Poseidon and to the other Olympian gods. But the king was so distraught because he knew that Jason would take the throne from him that he forgot to make offerings that would honor Golden-throned Hera. Because of this neglect Hera is offended and contrives a way to punish the king. It was Hera's doing that Jason had to fetch the Golden Fleece from King Aeetes. As Jason prepared for his voyage he prayed to Zeus for his almighty protection and to bring them back safely.

Zeus hears his prayer and responds and creates an astonishment among the people for they knew they were witnessing the signs of the greatest of the Olympian gods. When Jason finally arrives Aeetes' palace to retrieve the golden fleece Hera is aware that he can not retrieve it on his own so she convinces Eros, son of Aphrodite and whose love inspiring arrows flood even the hearts of the Olympian gods with fear, to aim his bow at King Aeetes' daughter. For Medea must fall in love with Jason and then she will use her great skill with magic to help Jason acquire the fleece. Because of Hera's hatred towards Pelias Medea's life is now destined for extreme agony, shame, and guilt. Her love for Jason causes her to tear away from her loving parents and dishonor her father by helping his enemy. Hera's plan to avenge Pelias also flood Medea's head with thoughts to keep her from straying from Hera's plan.

Unfortunately for Medea her decision to help Jason was not her own and was a careful thought out plan by Hera. Her life would never again be the same. Even though Jason promises to love her always and promises that she will be his wedded wife, he breaks this promise as soon as she become old and he is given the opportunity to marry royalty. Medea decisions were not in any way wise but if it were not for the arrows of Eros she would have had better judgment on the stranger.

Medea's behavior in this story shows that of loyalty and confusion in her heart. She is in agony because she can not conceive as to why she feels so much love for a stranger and does not wish to dishonor her father by doing so. But then she is constantly proving her loyalty to her love for Jason. In Contrast to Medea, Jason is only concerned with gaining the fleece, returning back home, and becoming a king.

His actions are purely self driven and in an act to save himself he surely breaks his promise to Medea. "Medea" and "Jason and the golden fleece" constantly show how gods are always interfering in mortals lives and changing their fates. These two stories also point out two different behaviors that people posses and how it can effect their own life and the lives of others. There is a lesson to be learned and it is that Love blinds judgement and sometimes self interest can be an evil driving force.