Жажда смысла. Практики логотерапии по Виктору Франклу

Father of Medea had a condition on which he would have given the Golden fleece to Jason. It was impossible to fulfill: to plow the field of Ares – god of war, with the iron plow of the king, and to harness fire-breathing axes with copper legs. Secondly, he had to take dragon teeth and sow them in the field he had ploughed. And when the armored warriors will grow out of these teeth, Jason had to fight and kill every one of them. Medea, who fell in love with Jason, helped him to achieve victory in these tasks. She knew that she was betraying her own father, she experienced terrible visions but could do nothing because of love. So she helped Jason with her magic that made him invincible. Jason was touched with her love and fell in love to her in turn. Finally Jason abducted the Golden fleece and flee away with Medea. He married her and gave oath of fidelity. Many challenges and troubles Medea had to live through in foreign land: without her homeland and family, bearing the guilt upon her shoulders. But she tolerated everything, loving her husband. She gave birth to two sons of Jason.

Time was changing. Jason got bored and fell in love with the daughter of king Kreont, who blessed the marriage of his child and the hero. When Medea knew about this betrayal she fell into despair. She fell into wrath. Her spirit was unchained, she could not subdue herself. So the woman turned into the creature obsessed with evil spirits, thirst of revenge.

Jason came to Medea and started to assure her that he is going to marry king’s daughter for the sake of Medea and their children. Since they are sons of foreign woman with bad reputation marriage of their father on king’s daughter will make their status in society much firmer. Medea pretended that she did subdue. She’s sent bride the poisoned dress and crown as sign of her subdue. But the crown and dress has eaten her rival alive. King, who tried to rescue his daughter, died poisoned, too.

But Medea’s anger is unstoppable. She also kills her own children. She has two reasons to do that. She knows that loyal kings servants will revenge them. And, besides, she desires her revenge to Jason to be complete. She flies away on the golden chariot of God Heliot with the bodies of her children. It is useless for Jason to beg, asking to return bodies of his sons for at least to bury them and cry on their graves. Medea is not a woman any longer. She is the spirit of evil. And evil spirits do not credit to human tears.

* * *

Irina L., 29 years old, mother of the two-week old baby, addressed with the following problem. She did not want to mark father of the child in the birth certificate. She never got married on him. He made proposals and firstly she liked him, but after she got pregnant, Irina started to feel disgust at him, noticing more and more disadvantages in the father of the about-to-be baby. She says that the father does not earn enough money, so he cannot give anything to her and the baby. Irina, herself, was raised by the mother alone, so she says that her mother raised her perfectly and gave her good education. So – she will raise her son by herself. Besides, she did not want anybody else to influence her son. She did not want to share her son with anybody else. Why should she ask an alien man permission if she decides to go travelling? (Alien man is the father of the baby). She came for help because she wanted to calm down because she has fierce deep in her heart. When we started to look through details of the conflict, we did not find any single fact against the father of the child (he actually tried to help, took her to doctor, gave money regularly (about half of his own salary) never humiliated her, neither with word, nor with deeds). But she could not stop her anger towards him. And did not understand what is father needed for. Since she had no experience of the fatherhood herself, so every male for her is useless. All her prior relations with men ended by separation and every time she initiated it. Though she always had something to blame every prior partner.

Irina listened to the myth of Medea not understanding why did we start talking about the Ancient Greece.

Me: How do you think, what is this story about?

Irina: It is about betrayal.

Me: And who betrayed whom?

Irina: Husband betrayed Medea. He should have helped her more. (Irina is not paying attention to the fact that in first place Medea has betrayed her own father. This part of the plot is closed for her).

Me: So, Medea did everything correct and then became an innocent victim? Am I right?

Irina: Well… yes. She did everything for her husband. Helped him to get the fleece. Gave birth to children. Did not cheat on him.

Me: Nice and decent lady, deserving sympathy.

Irina: Yes.

Me: And she never harmed anyone, never let anyone down…

Irina: No… but – later, of course… But he’s made her do that…

We have to return to the beginning of the story to see what wrong did Medea to her own father.