Medea

Euripides

In the centuries since it was first performed, Euripides's "Medea" has established itself as one of the most influential of the Greek tragedies. The story of the wronged wife who seeks revenge against her unfaithful husband by murdering their children is lodged securely in the popular imagination, a touchstone for politics, law, and psychoanalysis and the subject of constant retellings and reinterpretations.

This new translation of "Medea" by classicist Oliver Taplin, originally published as part of the acclaimed third edition of Chicago's Complete Greek Tragedies, brilliantly replicates the musicality and strength of Euripides's verse while retaining the play's dramatic and emotional impact. Taplin has created an edition of "Medea" that is particularly suited to performance, while not losing any of the power it has long held as an object of reading or study. This edition is poised to become the new standard, and to introduce a new generation of readers to the heights and depths of Greek tragedy.

About the Author

Euripides (c. 480-406 BCE) wrote some ninety plays, nineteen of which have survived.

Reviews

"Taplin's eminently readable version of this harrowing tragedy justifies his reputation as one of our foremost experts in dramatic criticism, whose pioneering efforts in illuminating ancient stagecraft remain indispensable today" – Froma Zeitlin, Princeton University

"Euripides's influential and provocative 'Medea' continues to be read, performed, adapted, and reinterpreted in multiple contexts across the globe. Taplin's accessible and performable, yet vivid and poetic translation makes the play available to a modern audience while doing justice to both its complexities and its horrific power" – Helene P. Foley, Barnard College, Columbia University

"Taplin translates 'Medea' into clear and contemporary English while reflecting well the different registers and tones that create the subtle texture of Greek tragedy. His version is eminently speakable, but also highly faithful to the original Greek, making it ideal for instructors and readers who want to study closely the specific metaphors and terms that carry the classic themes of this influential drama" – Donald J. Mastronarde, University of California, Berkeley

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