Jason

Family: Corinth · Role: husband of Medea · First appears: Euripides, Medea — Scene 1

In Scene 1 of Medea, Jason came to Corinth with Medea and espoused Glauce, Creon’s daughter, entering a royal marriage that betrayed Medea and their children. Though Jason and Medea were married, she called him a wicked husband and an enemy; she also recalled betraying her father and household to come with him to Iolcos. In Scene 4, Jason defended the marriage as a way to gain royal status and support for his children, while Medea described herself as his friend and credited love and Aphrodite with preserving his life.

In Scene 5, after Medea announced her plan to send poisoned gifts to Glauce, she deceptively reconciled with Jason and sent their sons with nuptial presents for his royal bride. Jason accepted her apparent amity and agreed to try persuading Creon to let the children remain in Corinth, saying, “I know not whether I shall persuade him; but it is right to try.”

By Scene 8, Medea had killed their children, leaving Jason childless, and refused his requests to touch, bury, or mourn over them. She also blamed Creon for proposing the match with the princess, while Jason condemned Medea for destroying their children.