Medea, by Euripides
Author: Maibella Rhoiden, October 2017
When the Tar Valon Times decided to do an edition about "The Classics" I was reminded of a reading challenged I participated in a few years back called The Really Old Classics Challenge. The goal was to read books from ancient times that are still around today. One of the things I read during the challenge was the play Medea, by Euripides. It was written in Greek and first produced in 431 BC. You can't really get any more classic than that!
- About the Play
This is one of those classic Greek tragedies that many of us learned about in school. Before the play begins, Medea had fled her homeland with her new husband, Jason (of Jason and the Argonauts fame, the guy who stole the Golden Fleece), killing her brother in order to save Jason. The couple has settled in a new land where Jason has befriended the king. Now Jason announces that he is divorcing Medea so he can marry the king's daughter. The play itself tells the story of Medea's reaction to this announcement and what she does in retaliation.
- Why I Read It
As a child I had a gorgeously illustrated book of the women of Greek mythology. The illustrations all showed these women in all their physical glory, well-toned muscles and curves clearly visible and accented by their scanty clothing. I wish I knew more about that book - I'd love to have it again now! Anyway, Medea gave me the creeps. The fact that she killed her brother and later her children was horrifying to me; I would skip over her story every time I looked through the book. As an adult, I wanted to revisit Medea and see what the fuss was all about.
- My Thoughts
I'm sure you've heard that old saying, "Beware the wrath of a woman scorned." That could have been written about Medea! This gal doesn't take anything lying down; she takes some gruesome vengeance on those who have wronged her. Not that I approved of what she does, but she definitely gets her point across. Oh, and Jason, who I loved in the old movie, is a real jerk!
I expected it to be difficult to read but it was not at all. I read it over a few days during my lunch break at work, but it could easily be read in one sitting - and would probably be even easier to understand that way.
The version I read through Project Gutenberg included lots of footnotes to better explain both the story and the translation. If you are interested in comparing translations, the footnotes do some of that as well.
But ... this is a REALLY SHORT play! It was easy to read, despite the language and the format, but it is REALLY SHORT. It felt to me like it should be one Act or maybe even one Scene of a longer play. I wanted to learn more about Medea, about the reasons for her actions, and the results, and her backstory, but this play didn't give me what I wanted.
- In the Movies
Medea featured in the 1963 version of Jason and the Argonauts - another classic! [1]
Have you seen that movie? I love it! I'm a sucker for all the mythology movies from the 1960s.
I haven't seen the 2000 version ... [2]
I wonder how Medea is portrayed in that one?
