JASON: A DUD AMONG MEN · Spring 2025 · Torch: U.S.
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manages to get the witch-daughter of the king, Medea to complete the tasks for him. From crafting an anti-burn ointment for the fire-breathing bulls to sharing the secret of dragon teeth soldiers Medea was the mastermind. But she doesn't stop there in fact
Medea not only helps him escape Colchis but also reclaim his throne. It isn't looking good for Jason who is now down two points.
Surely, by now, Jason can at least secure one final point and prove he has that “heroic rizz.” How else could he have convinced Medea to do all those tasks if not through his charm? Even here Jason fails again. When faced with King Aeetes’ insurmountable tasks, Jason opts for an almost literal Hail Mary when he seeks the aid of his mentor, the queen of the gods, Hera. Sure enough, someone else saves the day again when Hera uses Eros's arrow to make Medea fall madly in love with Jason. Once more Jason loses a point.
With a final score of one Jason simply does not measure up to his heroic comrades. Unlike the tales of Heracles or Theseus, Jason’s is completely defined by the efforts of those around him — his supporting cast, his mommy mentor Hera, and most notably, Medea, whose psycho-maniacal magical interventions make everything possible. Ultimately, Jason’s role in his own myth is more passive than heroic, making him more of a figurehead than a true hero. He may have led the Argonauts, but his leadership was largely a matter of circumstance rather than personal strength or vision. His legacy, unlike those of other Greek heroes, remains remarkably unremarkable—a figure who stands out not for his deeds, but for the glaring absence of them. So when one recounts the heroes of the Greek Heroic Age one should end the list with “last and certainly least Jason.”
ART CORNER:
Charley Kendall
Classical Studies of Indianapolis
Indiana
"Often the prickly thorn produces soft roses"