Final answer:
The excerpts highlight Medea's determined and rational side as she plots revenge against her ex-husband. Despite Medea's potential maternal feelings, her thirst for revenge is emphasized, aligning with Option A, where her desire for vengeance surpasses maternal instincts.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the given excerpt from Medea, aspects of Medea's character and emotions that are highlighted include her rational yet criminal mentality, her determination to plot revenge, and even in the face of potential maternal love, her actions are not spared. Medea's careful planning of revenge on her ex-husband, as seen through sending him a poisoned garment, leads to dire consequences for the woman he is marrying and for the king himself.
The other excerpts mention Medea in terms of the effects of her actions on others. Euripides instills his characters, including Medea, with complex human qualities and motivations, emphasizing that they face considerable challenges in life, often due to societal conventions. Thus, in the light of the provided excerpts, the best answer that represents Medea's highlighted aspects is Medea's resolve to seek revenge outweighs her maternal instincts (Option A).
The excerpts also compare her actions to typical Greek tragedies, where the depth of the character's emotions and the gravity of their actions are commonly explored.