Euripedes would have been considered by many greeks of the time to be very progressive. His views on society would not raise an eyebrow in today’s times, but in the time of ancient Greece, many of his works were unseemly, and on the very edge of politics of the time. Perhaps no other play of his shows his sympathy towards those that society has victimized than Medea. Often hailed as the first work of feminist literature, very few plays have nenjoyed the popularity today that Medea holds. This is primarily due to its controversial view of motherhood, the family, and the idea of the gods in general, though it certainly did not always enjoy this popularity.
It was not always loved as it is, however. “Euripides’ version of the myth of Medea is …show more content…
This alignment does not occur for most plays, which is just further evidence of just how unique Medea truly was and is. It survived its turbulent creation in the conservative Greek world, only to thrive in the more progressive society it now calls home. The adaptations that have made Medea even more accessible are many, from a Medea set in Italy, to some set in backcountry United States. These adaptions, while remaining true to the original play, also provide a more modern touchstone that allows the play to maintain its relevancy in an ever advancing world. There have been hundreds and hundreds of these adaptations, which provide one more reason that Medea remains as relevant as it does today, when other plays have faded into the grey background of obscurity. The simple truth of the matter of why Medea has survived so long lies in its message, which is almost infinitely relatable and adaptable. One can always relate with a woman scorned by a husband who doesn’t love her. It is much more empathetic to modernity than almost any other tragedy of the time, which lends it the credence has to remain as it is and be so infinitely adaptable. It is not like Shakespeares Hamlet, which is very nearly unrelatable to any modern audience yet remains popular; instead, Medea is very relatable; everyone has felt the emotional distress of being lied to and scorned, which is why it remains when so many other tragedies which may have been popular when they were written have fallen by the
It was not always loved as it is, however. “Euripides’ version of the myth of Medea is …show more content…
This alignment does not occur for most plays, which is just further evidence of just how unique Medea truly was and is. It survived its turbulent creation in the conservative Greek world, only to thrive in the more progressive society it now calls home. The adaptations that have made Medea even more accessible are many, from a Medea set in Italy, to some set in backcountry United States. These adaptions, while remaining true to the original play, also provide a more modern touchstone that allows the play to maintain its relevancy in an ever advancing world. There have been hundreds and hundreds of these adaptations, which provide one more reason that Medea remains as relevant as it does today, when other plays have faded into the grey background of obscurity. The simple truth of the matter of why Medea has survived so long lies in its message, which is almost infinitely relatable and adaptable. One can always relate with a woman scorned by a husband who doesn’t love her. It is much more empathetic to modernity than almost any other tragedy of the time, which lends it the credence has to remain as it is and be so infinitely adaptable. It is not like Shakespeares Hamlet, which is very nearly unrelatable to any modern audience yet remains popular; instead, Medea is very relatable; everyone has felt the emotional distress of being lied to and scorned, which is why it remains when so many other tragedies which may have been popular when they were written have fallen by the