Medea then sends an attendant to get the dress and diadem for the princess of Corinth. Her children will bring these gifts to her. Jason objects to the extravagance, but Medea insists. He exits, with attendants, followed by the Tutor and the children. In her exchanges with Aegeus and Jason, we see Medea as master manipulator.
Manipulation is an important theme.
She plays perfectly on the weaknesses and needs of both her enemies and her friends. Earlier, we watched as Medea played to Creon's pity and underestimation of the sorceress. With Aegeus, she uses her skills as a bargaining chip and takes advantage of the king's soft-heartedness to win a binding oath from him. Against Jason, she uses his own shallowness, his unmerited pride, and his desire for dominance. She plays the fawning and submissive woman, to her husband's delight and gratification.