Medea
... the pain and suffering Medea has initiated. Medea ultimately changes man’s destiny my destroying Creusa, Creon, his children, and Jason’s pride and power. Hedda Gabler is very manipulative as well. Although she is not as complex of a character as Medea, Hedda nevertheless strives to control human destiny. She lives vicariously through George and Julia Tesman, and acting indifferently towards them. Ahead of her time, Hedda lives a blasé lifestyle, unhappy and unsatisfied with her life. She manipulates her husband by attempting to dominate the way he thinks, acts, and responds toward others . Afraid of public scandal, Hedda didn’t marry Lovborg because of his low life status. She gives him a pistol, and ultimately he dies, suicide or murder, it is unknown. After to news of Lovborg’s death, Hedda says, “ At last a deed worth doing!” She implies that Lovborg makes a noble and courageous gesture. This is significant because Hedda is gaining control of others. Finally, Hedda shoots herself because Judge Brack blackmails her. She is fearful of scandal which is already dawning. Hedda is pregnant when she kills herself, tragically killing her unborn child. is unable to love George, therefore she manipulates his lifestyle. Her loss of controlling a man’s destiny did in fact lead to her own self destruction. Secondly, when humans are subject to pain and suffering, a desire of retribution develops, and as a result, tragedy occurs. Both Medea and Hedda seek vengeance. Medea and Hedda are both subject to pain and suffering, therefore they used their sufferings to inflict pain on others, physically and emotionally. In Medea’s case she seeks justice, which becomes an extreme form of vengeance. “Not justice; vengeance. You have suffered evil, you wish to inflict evil,” states the First Woman. Medea replies, “I do according to nature what I have to do.” Medea has endured much pain and suffering, for she had experienced much loss during her marriage to Jason. By inflicting evil to Jason, she successfully avenges her brother’s death and her loss of pride. Jason therefore loses his wife, the king of Corinth, and his perception of pride and power. Hedda Gabler seeks vengeance in a similar, yet different way. Medea destroys her lover, Jason, because she is angry. Hedda destroys hers because she is bored. She pursues more emotional sati...