Final answer:
Carter interprets Medea's speech in Euripides' play as persuasive rhetoric, suggesting that it serves a strategic purpose beyond expressing the difficulties faced by women. Medea's rational discourse is designed to influence opinions and decisions, fitting Euripides' thematic exploration of questioning societal norms and the role of the gods in human affairs.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the play Medea, Carter's interpretation of Medea's marriage/women speech suggests that it is not just a lament on the struggles of women, but rather a form of persuasive rhetoric. He contends that Medea's articulation of women's hardships goes beyond mere statement of fact; it is a strategic discourse aimed at influencing the perceptions and decisions of those around her. Carter understands that Euripides often probes into the psychology of his characters, allowing the audience to discern not just their actions but the motives behind them. Hence, Medea's dialogue is seen as rational and calculated, rather than purely emotional or desperate.
This interpretation aligns with Euripides' broader literary technique whereby the playwright questions conventional norms and portrays the gods as detached from human motivations. Thus, in his recounting of Greek myths and epics, such as Jason's desertion of Medea or the trials faced by Trojan women, Euripides prompts the audience to challenge their own perspectives and societal mores. Similarly, in the instance of Medea's speech, she becomes a mouthpiece for the repression faced by women, yet her eloquence serves to sway opinions and perhaps induce sympathy or action from the audience.