Medea and Other Plays

Je connais mal la littérature grecque antique, mais cette tragédie d'Euripide a été un plaisir à lire. La pièce est courte, avec un texte ramassé mais diablement efficace, autour du personnage central et fascinant de Médée, épouse répudiée et mère tragique.

Medea has been one of my favorite characters in the history of literature for many years now and yet I never actually got around to reading the original ancient greek text written by Euripides until now. I know the Robinson Jeffers play adaptation nearly by heart and have read numerous mythological retelling novels about Medea and I think that Euripides' original version of this character is so cunning and fierce in all that ways that I have wanted from other versions.

Euripides wrote so many fantastic and descriptive lines of text in this play. I couldn't wait to read Medea's next line because her words were so impactful. The story is so iconic which is why it has lasted and been retold over two centuries, and I couldn't agree more with that impact. I think this is a staple in literature and is a must read for all.

- “To me, a wicked man who is also eloquent seems the most guilty of them all, because he knows he can dress up murder in handsome words.”

- “To say what I have to say will ease my heart; to hear it said will make you wince.”

- “Let no one think of me as humble or weak or passive; let them understand I am of a different kind: dangerous to my enemies, loyal to my friends. To such a life glory belongs.”

A beautiful and terrible play, one can only pity the children who had such terrible parents.