Looking at Medea - Essays and a translation of Euripides' tragedy

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.>

About the author

David Stuttard is an independent scholar and Fellow of Goodenough College, London, UK. He has directed his own translations and adaptations of Greek drama throughout the UK and in classical theatres in Turkey and Albania. He is the founder of the theatre company Actors of Dionysus and has edited nine 'Looking at' volumes for Bloomsbury: Lysistrata (2010), Medea (2014), Bacchae (2016), Antigone (2017), Ajax (2019), Agamemnon (2021), Persians (2022), Greek Drama (2024), Hippolytus (2025).

Product details

• Authors: David Stuttard
• Assisted by: David Stuttard (Editor), David (Independent Scholar Stuttard (Editor), Stuttard David (Editor)
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 22.05.2014
• EAN: 9781472527721
• ISBN: 978-1-4725-2772-1
• No. of pages: 232
• Dimensions: 144 mm x 218 mm x 18 mm
• Subjects: Fiction > Poetry, drama; Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > Classical linguistics / literary studies; HISTORY / Ancient / General, LITERARY CRITICISM / Drama, LITERARY CRITICISM / Ancient & Classical, Literary studies: classical, early & medieval, Ancient History, Classical history / classical civilisation, Literary studies: plays & playwrights, Ancient (Classical) Greek, Literary studies: ancient, classical and medieval, Literary studies: plays and playwrights