Looking at Medea

Essays and a translation of Euripides' tragedy

David Stuttard

• Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
• Year: 2014
• Print ISBN: 9781472530516
• eBook ISBN: 9781472533999
• Edition: 1
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Ancient History
• Index: History

Euripides' 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.

Table of contents

• Cover page
• Halftitle page
• Series page
• Title page
• Copyright page
• Dedication
• Contents
• List of Illustrations
• Acknowledgements
• List of Contributors
• Foreword
• Introduction – Medea in Context
• 1 Murder in the Family – Medea and Others
• 2 Medea Before and (a little) After Euripides
• 3 Otherness and Exile: Euripides’ Production of 431 BC
• 4 Staging Medea
• 5 The Nurse’s Tale*
• 6 Re-evaluating Jason
• 7 The Final Scene
• 8 ‘It Wouldn’t Happen Here . . . Could It?’ – Chorus and Collusion in Euripides’ Medea
• 9 Medea’s Vengeance
• 10 Medea: Feminism or Misogyny?
• 11 Divine and Human in Euripides’ Medea
• 12 Black Medeas
• Euripides’ Medea
• Bibliography
• Index