Medea

by Euripides, Frederick D Allen, F A Paley, et al.

Book Overview

One of the most powerful and enduring of Greek tragedies, Medea centers on the myth of Jason, leader of the Argonauts, who has won the dragon-guarded treasure of the Golden Fleece with the help of the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0872209237
• ISBN13: 9780872209237
• Release Date: March 2008
• Publisher: Hackett Publishing Company
• Length: 104 Pages
• Weight: 0.29 lbs.
• Dimensions: 21.0" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

A Fresh and Wonderful Translation of a Great Story

This thoroughly modern translation of Euripides' tale of a woman scorned's revenge will open up this classic to a whole new generation of readers. Readers will feel all the raw emotion of Medea as she develops her plans of vengeance against Jason who has dumped her in favor of a much younger woman. But this is no simple tale of a wife wronged by her husband, for Medea herself is no innocent when it comes to allowing nothing to stand in the way of what she wants. Yes, Jason is an ungrateful and self-centered wretch but does he deserve what Medea has in mind for him? Readers will undoubtedly have strong reactions. The author's inclusion of the backstory of Jason and Medea, as well as an explanation of the role of the Chorus in a Greek play of the time will greatly increase understanding and therefore enjoyment of this enduring work.

Euripides Ensemble

A murderous mother, a vain princess, a selfish husband, two unfortunate children, a naïve friend, a foolish king, and an inactive chorus are the key players in Euripides' morbid tale of humanity.Euripides brilliantly masks his agenda with the unreal (dragon-drawn chariot, poisoned dress, witchcraft) but upon close observation one can see his desire to unveil real problems in the world he lived in. All of Euripides' characters represent their stations, personifying the failure Euripides saw with males, females, citizens, authorities, and more. Reading through at a normal speed one will walk away feeling gloomy and none the better from the reading. But taking the time to delve into the mutliple levels and hidden meanings, one will find this old classic to be a rewarding yet chilling reading. Don't pass this up - Euripides DELIVERS!

Hell Hath No Fury...

"Medea" is a classical work that many have heard of, but few have actually read. It is the story of the wife of Jason, leader of Argonauts, and her chilling plot of revenge against an unfaithful husband and his new child-bride. The play is short, concise, and powerfully unnerving. Whether this is a history of misogyny or a warning of the vengeance of a wronged woman is a matter better left to scholarly debate. Provocative, disturbing, and at times heartbreaking, this is a definite must-read for neo-Classicists and avid readers alike. Not to be missed.

The best known tragedy of Euripedes.

This play is regarded by many as Euripedes' masterpiece and should be required reading of all educated people. It retells the tragic story of Medea, who had helped Jason in his quest, became his wife, gave him two sons, and feels betrayed since he is marrying the daughter of the ruler of Corinth (Jason has come to the conclusion that this is necessary to protect Medea and his sons since she is a barbarian). With horrible vengence, she kills the bride and the king and then kills her two sons. Euripedes depicts how much passion and vengence can overcome not only individuals, but those who strive to be rational. Men (and governments) can't ignore the influence of emotion, and even irrationality, on their decisions and actions, even when those actions may seem rational and just. Man has to remain flexible. The play also shows how emotions, anger, and unbridled fury can cause a person to do stupid and irrational acts. Euripedes is undoubtedly warning Athens with respect to the war that is going on with Sparta.

Scorned Barbarian Woman Bent on Revenge

This is one of those remarkable plays that feels like it was written just last week. Medea is the daughter of the evil King Aeetes in Colchis -- on the remote, eastern side of the Black Sea. She assists Jason in slaying the serpent that guarded the golden fleece, and fell deeply in love with him. (See Apollonius Rhodius' Argonautica for a fuller treatment of the love episode at Colchis). She even killed her brother, Absrytus, on their way back to Greece.Medea has one problem, however. Aside from the fact she is a witch, she is a barbarian, a non-Greek. The Greeks used the word "barbaros" to refer to all people who weren't Greek, because if they didn't speak Greek, it just sounded like "bar bar bar" to the Greeks. So after Jason and Medea settle in together back in Greece, his homeland, he decides that his interests (and Medea's) are better served if he marries the daughter of King Creon of Corinth. Medea gets jealous, poisons the woman, and then kills her two children in revenge. Medea is an absolutely riveting character, whose tragic problems are those of all woman who have left their homes and families to follow men to foreign lands, only to be scorned by them in the end. The speeches of Jason and Medea are remarkable point-counterpoint presentations which reflect the deep influence of the sophists of Euripides' day. Medea sounds, at times, like a proto-feminist. She is one of the most enduring dramatic creations of all times, revealing with each line the remarkable genius of Euripides, the most modern of the three great Greek tragedians