h them by poison." (384-385) While physical strengthcan be considered a heroic quality, cleverness can be as well. She does in factpoison the princess and the king of Corinth; interestingly, however, she doesnot poison them directly. "I will send the children with gifts...to thebride...and if she wears them upon her skin...she will die." (784-788) Thisshows her cleverness because she is trying to keep from being linked to the crime, though everyone is able to figure out that she was responsible anyway.In a way, though, she is almost anti-heroic because she is not doing the "dirtywork" herself, which makes her appear somewhat cowardly. Finally, there is therevenge factor. Many times heroes were out for revenge against someone who didthem or a friend wrong, and in this case Medea is no exception, since she wantsto have revenge against Jason for divorcing her without just cause. There are two main reasons why Medea decides to kill her children. Thefirst, and more obvious one, is that she feels that it is a perfect way tocomplement the death of the princess in getting revenge on Jason. When shetells the chorus of the plans to kill the children, they wonder if she has theheart to kill her children, to which she replies, "[y]es, for this is the bestway to wound my husband." (817). This shows that she believes that by killingher children, she will basically ruin Jason's life, effectively getting herrevenge. The second reason for Medea killing her children has nothing to dowith revenge. If she left her children with Jason, they would be living in asociety that would look down upon them since they have partly barbarian origins.She did not want her children to have to suffer through that. Also, if herchildren are mocked for being outsiders, then this reflects badly on Medea, andshe said that she does not want to give her enemies any reason to laugh at her.(781-782) Since she does not want to leave her children with Jason, they reallyhave no place...
