Essential Facts 1. Why does Medea kill her children: 2. Vengeance: to leave him childless in old age 3. Failed heroism 2. Revenge-drama: 1. Medea gravely wronged by Jason 1. Jason a non-citizen and exile offered opportunity to marry princess of Corinth, inherit throne 2. Medea regarded as concubine and her children reduced to dependents of Jason's children by princess 3. Violation of oaths to gods 2. Situation of woman thinking rashly 1. Need to avenge herself according to male code of honor: "to harm enemies and help friends" 2. Woman's "friends"--her husband and children--become enemies. Perversion of code. Med