This is discussion archived from a time before the current discussion method was installed.
Working Title: Killed His Wife and Kids: From YKTTW
Lale: the Corinthians paid Euripides to change the story
Euripides' version is actually notable for portraying Medea as calculating and powerful, not simply insane, in her actions. So the "Medea Offing the Offspring" version was around before he wrote his play.
fleb: Cutting these, since they fit Self-Made Orphan way better--this is about parents and spouses going crazy. I'll try a rename to Pater Familicide to reflect that.
- Itachi from Naruto, although of course he left Sasuke alive. Though it was later revealed he was ordered to kill their whole clan by the elders of Konoha.
- "The Irish Ballad" by Tom Lehrer is about a female example.
- In this case it's actually a daughter of the family who kills everyone.
- Truth in Television: Lizzie Borden was accused of killing her parents, but no one's ever been able to prove that she did it, forensically or otherwise. She had the motive, certainly, and she had the opportunity - and there was good reason for suspicion to be pointed at her (she attempted to buy prussic acid - better known as cyanide, today - and her accounts were inconsistent, among other suspect behaviour). Lizzie wasn't the only one who could've killed her parents, though - the elder Bordens weren't terribly popular in the town, and even their maid had opportunity and motive. She was acquitted, but the rumours that she did it never went away.
