Final answer:
Medea is both quick-tempered and silent and clever, as she displays intense emotions and calculating strategies in response to betrayal and opposition, shown through acts like sending a poisoned cloak and using magic to avoid punishment.
Step-by-step explanation:
When considering whether Medea is quick-tempered or silent and clever, the evidence suggests she embodies both of these characteristics at different times. Medea, a character from classical mythology and literature, is known for her volatile emotions and her calculated actions. Her quick temper is evident through her aggressive responses to betrayal and perceived insults, like sending a poisoned cloak to her rival or exacting revenge on unfaithful lovers by transforming them into animals.
However, Medea also demonstrates a silent and clever side, particularly in her careful planning and strategic execution of her acts. For instance, her consideration over how to approach a banquet that would bring ill to her brother shows deliberate thought.
In essence, Medea's actions are fueled by powerful emotions but executed with a cunning mind, which sometimes enables her to evade capture and punishment, such as when she thwarted stoning by using her magical powers to bind a city.