The Medea of Euripides

I read this for the first time years ago. I read it again in preparation for writing the sequel to the Sparrow Princess, which will be told from the main antagonist's viewpoint. To say this is a story about a woman scorned doesn't even come close to describing the intensity of Medea's hate. Although I could clearly see both sides of this conflict, it occurred to me that this tragedy repeats itself over and over again to varying degrees even until today. And like the story illustrates, the children are always the ones who suffer the most.

Medea by Euripedes was a play I chose for my 2015 reading challenge. The play, with only 47 pages took about 1/2 hour to read. My first thought was.....doesn't the woman on the cover look like Salma Hayek?The play centers around Medea, a goddess who falls madly in love, emphasis on MADLY, with Jason. She gives up everything for this man. We're talking killing, stealing, betraying her father and home, the whole kitten caboodle. She has 2 sons by him then one day, bang........homeboy hooks up with this younger chick, leaves Medea and the kids and marries this home-wrecker. Say what???? Say it isn't so........ oh, it's so!To put icing on the cake, this home-wrecker's daddy (Creon) banishes her from the land. Allowed to stay one more day she plots her revenge and baby she went for it. Unfortunately her revenge is an act that would cost a lifetime of suffering not only her husband but herself as well.Medea, although a quick read, is very powerful. You will agree with Medea and understand her pain but will hate her for her decisions. Jason is a loser who tries to convince Medea that what he was doing was for a good reason. Let me tell you something, no one (woman) in there right mind would believe it. What's interesting is the mentality of both individuals. Medea was not afraid to show her emotions, whether sadness, fear or anger but Jason remained calmed and had no hatred towards her. She screamed at him, called him names, yet he thought they could still remain friends until the end.With no idea what this play was about or how it would turn out. I'm glad I chose it.

The book itself was pretty nice considering how cheap it was and being paperback, but I really just didn't like the story at all. I know it's a classic but it's not a good tragedy in my opinion. It's just an annoying read. I really wouldn't want to watch this as a play.

Excellent bargain copies for teachers on a tight budget! I bought a class set and wasn’t disappointed

Great value, required reading for my college student, and fast shipping!

Exactly as described, arrived on time

古代ギリシアの悲劇作家エウリピデスの代表作。共に故郷を離れて駆け落ちし、異国（コリントス）暮らしをしていたメディアとイアソンだったが、イアソンがコリントス王に娘婿として望まれ、メディアに黙ってコリントス王女と結婚する。更に、コリントス王よりメディアに追放令が下る。怒り狂ったメディアが放つ復讐とは。この戯曲が大したもんなのはメディアとイアソンのどちらにもこれっぽっちも同情でけんのに興味がずっと緩まないところ。女の嫉妬の話とかよう言われるが、嫉妬云々以前に、そもそもメディアってのは異常性格の女でっせ。故郷を出る時に父の追っ手を攪乱するために実の弟を殺してるんだから。幼い弟を八つ裂きにしてるんですよ。ハッキリ言ってキチ〇イ女ですがな。そして、そんな異常なオンナと子供を成したイアソンって変な男もどーよって話である。この二人のモノローグなり言い争いなりを読んでいてオモロイのは、お二人とも自分が変だとか異常だとか全く思っておらないあたり。それぞれが自分なりに完璧な言い分があると確信している。キチ〇イは自分をキ〇ガイだとは決して思わない。で、このような毒親の二人の元に生まれてきた子供たちが（ネタバレ警告）親によって殺されるってのは非常に納得が行く展開なのである。自分はマトモだと信じて疑わない異常性格の人間、性的嫉妬、詭弁、直接的・間接的に子供を殺す毒親…みーんな現代においても絶賛継続中の人間現象であるからこそ『王女メディア』は現代まで古びないのである。