Final answer:
In Euripides' Medea, Jason initially blames Medea's behavior on her womanly nature but later emphasizes her barbarian origins to explain her actions, demonstrating Euripides' exploration of societal norms and their impact on behavior, especially regarding women and outsiders.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Euripides' tragedy Medea, Jason attributes Medea's actions to her nature as a woman, implying that her emotional and, according to him, irrational behavior is due to her femininity. As the play progresses, Jason's perception shifts, highlighting instead that Medea's barbarian origins explain her actions rather than her gender. Jason asserts this view by contrasting Medea's deeds with those expected from Greek women, effectively arguing that her barbaric heritage, rather than her womanhood, drives her to commit the tragic and violent acts. Jason's shift in attitude is a reflection of Euripedes' exploration of societal norms and the questioning of certain conventions. Euripides often challenged audiences with his psychological depiction of characters, emphasizing that divine forces did not justify human actions but rather human laws and societal constructs played a significant role in their behavior—especially in how these constructs affect women, foreigners, and other marginalized groups. Throughout the play, Euripedes weaves a narrative that critiques accepted norms and forces the audience to confront the implications of such beliefs. Jason's evolving view of Medea—from a woman driven by typical 'womanly' emotions to a barbarian incapable of civilized Greek emotions—underscores the complexity of discrimination and the tragic outcomes that such prejudices can catalyze.