About the Play
Medea, Greek Mēdeia, tragedy by Euripides, performed in 431 BCE. One of Euripides’ most powerful and best-known plays, Medea is a remarkable study of injustice and ruthless revenge.
In Euripides’ retelling of the legend, the Colchian princess Medea has married the hero Jason. They have lived happily for some years at Corinth and have produced two sons. As the play’s action begins, Jason has decided to cast off Medea and to marry the daughter of Creon, king of Corinth. After a dreadful struggle between her passionate sense of injury and her love for her children, Medea determines that she will punish Jason by murdering not only her own sons but also the Corinthian princess, leaving Jason to grow old with neither wife nor child. She carries out the murders and escapes in the chariot of her grandfather, the sun-god Helios. Despite the monstrosity of Medea’s deeds, Euripides succeeds in evoking sympathy for her.
Source: "Medea." Encyclopaedia Britannica. Britannica Academic. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2015. Web. 26 Aug. 2015. <http://academic.eb.com/EBchecked/topic/372093/Medea>.
These library books can provide more information on the original "Medea" by Euripides
Looking at Medea by Call Number: Doheny PA3978 .L65 2014Publication Date: 2014Euripides' Medea is one of the most often read, studied and performed of all Greek tragedies. A searingly cruel story of a woman's brutal revenge on a husband who has rejected her for a younger and richer bride, it is unusual among Greek dramas for its acute portrayal of female psychology. Medea can appear at once timeless and strikingly modern. Yet, the play is very much a product of the political and social world of fifth century Athens and an understanding of its original context, as well as a consideration of the responses of later ages, is crucial to appreciating this work and its legacy. This collection of essays by leading academics addresses these issues, exploring key themes such as revenge, character, mythology, the end of the play, the chorus and Medea's role as a witch. Other essays look at the play's context, religious connotations, stagecraft and reception. The essays are accompanied by David Stuttard's English translation of the play, which is performer-friendly, accessible yet accurate and closely faithful to the original. [Descriptive content provided by Syndetics™, a Bowker service.]
Medea by Call Number: Doheny PR6116.O953 M43 2014Publication Date: 2014Medea is a wife and a mother. For the sake of her husband, Jason, she's left her home and borne two sons in exile. But when he abandons his family for a new life, Medea faces banishment and separation from her children. Cornered, she begs for one day's grace. It's time enough. She exacts an appalling revenge and destroys everything she holds dear.Ben Power's version of Euripides' tragedy Medea premiered at the National Theatre, London, in July 2014. [Descriptive content provided by Syndetics™, a Bowker service]
Euripides by Call Number: Doheny PA3973.M43 A55 2002Publication Date: 2002Euripides' "Medea" is one of the greatest and most influential Greek tragedies. This book outlines the development of the Medea myth before Euripides and explores his uniquely powerful version from various angles. There are chapters on the play's relationship to the gender politics of fifth-century Athens, Medea's status as a barbarian, and the complex moral and emotional impact of her revenge. Particular attention is paid to the tragic effect of Medea's great monologue and the significance of her role as a divine avenger. The book ends by considering the varied and fascinating reception of Euripides' play from antiquity to the present day. [Descriptive content provided by Syndetics™, a Bowker service.]
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