Euripides

to save his own farther. One feature that would be changed to fit theatre would be the Chorus being made up of the children trapped in the labyrinth. Much like the Chorus in Medea being made up of Corinthian women as a backdrop for the setting (Euripides’ Medea 123-127), I think having the trapped younger Athenians/children would make the play distinct and give them a unique perspective to comment on the actions of the play. Another broad feature would be to have climatic scene of Theseus…

approximate 120 plays he penned, only 7 remain; one of which is the classic Oedipus the King, the second movement of the Oedipus trilogy. Lastly, Euripides began winning competitions (although he had fewer victories than the previous two playwrights mentioned) in 454 BC. A whopping 19 of his plays survive, and they’re incredibly unique regarding Greek tragedies. Euripides wrote his characters from a human, realistic viewpoint, rather than the Godlike, untouchable way Greece came to know. His…

In Euripides’ play Medea the stereotypical ideology of femininity and roles of women back in ancient culture are challenged and closely examined. Medea, in retaliation to her husband’s terrible deeds, speaks to the women of Corinth, the chorus, in lines 231-246 of the purpose of women in society and expresses her feelings about the roles of being a woman. Euripides utilizes Medea throughout the play to showcase the true power of women and how they should not be deceived or looked down upon.…

Next we will discuss the factors Euripides has had on Greek tragedies. Lastly this paper will touch on the effects Thespis had on theater in modern society. The first question that must be defined when discussing the influence of tragedy is ‘what exactly is a tragedy’? In the theater it is…

Sophocles’ Medea and Euripides’ Oedipus are both horribly tragic characters. They are similar characters in that they worsen their situations through pride, duty, and rage. However, they also vary drastically in terms of morality, fate, and sophistication. Sophocles’ Medea and Euripides’ Oedipus clearly define two opposing sides of Greek tragedy. First, Medea and Oedipus similarly elevate the severity of their predicaments through pride. She clearly feels that she deserved far better from Jason…

‘Medea is about extremes in human emotion.’ Discuss. It is within the very nature of humans to be captivated by extreme emotions, yet within his Greek tragedy Medea, Euripides also demonstrates the extent to which we are bound by idyllic values of social order. This disjunction founded upon passion and reason is best contextualised by the gripping antithesis between Medea and Jason respectively. While Medea is the embodiment of barbaric excess, Jason is the unadulterated archetype of Greek…

An Aristotelian Outlook on Two Very Different Tales Aristotle defines a tragedy as “the imitation of an action that is serious and also, as having magnitude, complete in itself; in appropriate and pleasurable language;... in a dramatic rather than narrative form; with incidents arousing pity and fear, wherewith to accomplish a catharsis of these emotions” (Meyer 2). Or to put in simpler terms, completing a serious action that has the depth within itself to arouse fear in an effort to cleanse any…

Medea as a Feminist Work of Literature The play Medea by Euripides is an ancient work of literature that is still performed, discussed, and interpreted in present day. It is known for iconoclastic themes and ideals due to Euripides controversial portrayal of a variety of different characters. He challenged the traditional view of Greek societies by making heroic men seem weak, giving women power, and portraying the gods as violent and deceiving. In this way, we can argue that Medea is one of the…

“Medea explores the tension between reason and passion”. Discuss It is within the very nature of humans to isolate the polarised forces of reason and passion, yet within his Greek tragedy Medea, Euripides demonstrates the “fatal results” of possessing a predisposition for either frame of mind. Indeed, the antagonistic relationship between Medea and society best contextualises the gripping antithesis between maintaining an acceptable outward demeanour and laying bare our inner impulses…

his decision angers Medea, who has sacrificed her family to be with him. Out of rage, she executes a revenge. By showing Medea’s actions against male authority, portraying her strong will, and illustrating her neglection of the role of motherhood, Euripides challenges the role of women in a…