Question

What is the purpose of the Nurse's speech in the beginning of the play?

a) To reveal Medea's background
b) To provide comic relief
c) To introduce the main conflict
d) To foreshadow future events

Answer 1

The Nurse's speech in 'Medea' primarily serves to introduce the main conflict of the play and sets the tone for the exploration of human motivation and extreme actions taken by the characters.

Step-by-step explanation:

What is the purpose of the Nurse's speech in the beginning of the play? The purpose of the Nurse's speech serves several roles in setting the stage for the dramatic events to come. In classical theater, such as the works of Euripides, the opening speech often introduces the main conflict or provides background information that is crucial for understanding the development of the plot. However, when it comes to Euripides' play 'Medea', which features a nurse at the beginning, the primary purpose of her speech is to introduce the main conflict and to set the tone for the play's exploration of human emotion and motivation. This speech also establishes the character of Medea, illustrating her as rational yet driven to extreme measures by the unfair and inhumane societal conventions of the time.