Abstract
This article was written by a Classicist with the idea in mind that many English professors teach Jeffers’ play Medea and may not be aware of that play’s affinities with its Euripidean model. The first part of this study explores the cultural and political contexts that inform Euripides’ play, which enrich the significance of the original play and can be illuminating for those teaching Jeffers’ version. Next, six ways in which Jeffers’ adaptation differs from Euripides’ play are explored, all of which contribute to articulating Jeffers’ unique take on the story, including (1) Medea’s character arc, (2) references to barbarity and animal imagery, (3) stone / bone imagery, (4) the critical tone taken towards the leading men, (5) the construction of Medea’s motivation, and (6) the ending. Lastly, there is discussion of seven passages that are useful for drawing out Jeffers’ vision and style. Jeffers’ Medea is far from a line-by-line adaptation of Euripides’ play, and the significant changes and innovations that Jeffers brings to the narrative highlight his poetic skill.
Recommended Citation
Chew, Kathryn
(2020)
"Myth, Mother, Monster:Jeffers' Medea as a Teaching Text,"
Jeffers Studies: Vol. 21, Article 5.
Available at:
https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/js/vol21/iss1/5
