She reminds him that she left her own people for him, murdering her own brother for his sake, so that she can never now return home. Medea and the Chorus of Corinthian women do not believe him. He says that he does not love Glauce but can not pass up the opportunity to marry a wealthy and royal princess ( Medea is from Colchis in the Caucusus and is considered a barbarian witch by the Greeks), and claims that he hopes one day to join the two families and keep Medea as his mistress. Jason arrives and attempts to explain himself. Medea begs for mercy, and is granted a reprieve of one day, all she needs to extract her revenge. King Creon, also fearing what Medea might do, banishes her, declaring that she and her children must leave Corinth immediately. Her elderly nurse and the Chorus of Corinthian women (generally sympathetic to her plight) fear what she might do to herself or her children. The play opens with Medea grieving over the loss of her husband’s love. However, he then left her, seeking to advance his political ambitions by marrying Glauce, the daughter of King Creon of Corinth.
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