Euripides and His Tragedy Plays: The Bacchae and Medea
Euripides as a Tragedian
Euripides, the playwright, lived in Athens during a really exciting time called the Golden Age. He was born in 484 B.C.E., right after Athens had successfully defended itself against the Persian invasion. This victory made Athens a powerful city and influenced the growth of Western civilisation. Euripides passed away in 406, just as Athens was losing its dominance to Sparta in the Peloponnesian War.
During Euripides' time, there was a lot of creative stuff happening in Athens, including the rise of tragic drama. Two famous playwrights before him, Aeschylus and Sophocles, had already established the dramatic tradition that Euripides would later build upon. Even though he wrote a whopping ninety-two plays, only seventeen of them have survived.
Euripides had a bit of a mixed reputation while he was alive. Aristotle, a famous philosopher, considered him "the most tragic of poets," but also criticised his confusing plots and the not-so-heroic main characters in his plays. Aristophanes, a comic playwright, loved making fun of Euripides for his use of wordplay and paradoxes.
However, Euripides was a real innovator in the drama world. He made his characters talk like regular people, which made his plays feel more realistic. He also portrayed characters with intense emotions, which we now associate with melodrama. Philosophers like Socrates admired Euripides, and he was known for being a free thinker. He challenged traditional religious beliefs and stood up for oppressed groups like women and slaves in his plays. In fact, his plays like "The Bacchae," "Trojan Women," "Iphigenia at Aulis," "Alcetis," and "Electra" were not just entertaining but also taught Athenian citizens important lessons about politics and society.
Euripides' Works
So, Euripides was a pretty cool dude who left a lasting impact on the world of drama and had some interesting ideas for his time!
So, there were like around 90 plays written by this dude named Euripides, but only 18 complete tragedies and one funny play called a satyr-play survived. This satyr-play was like a raunchy comedy that told stories from Greek mythology and had these silly satyr dudes who followed the god of partying, Dionysos.
There's this one play called Rhesus that some scholars argue about, whether it was really written by Euripides or not. But we do have fragments, like bits and pieces, from 9 other plays of his. So, not everything made it through the ages.
Now, the most famous play of Euripides is definitely "Medeia," and critics think his best work is "Bacchae." In these plays, the tragic stuff happens to the main character, and no matter what they do, they just can't make things better. It's like they're stuck in a never-ending cycle of suffering.
According to Aristotle, who was this ancient Greek philosopher dude, Euripides is like the king of tragedy. He said, "Euripides is the most intensely tragic of all the poets." So, yeah, this Euripides guy really knew how to bring on the drama and make people feel all the feels
.
Alcestis (438 BCE) - where Alcestis sacrifices herself to save her husband but is ultimately saved by Hercules from the supernatural figure of Death.
Medeia (431 BCE) - where Jason, of the Golden Fleece fame, abandons the title character for the daughter of the King of Corinth with the consequence that Medeia kills her own children in revenge.
The Children of Hercules (aka Heraclidae, c. 430 BCE) - with the eternal conflict between power and justice as its central theme.
Hippolytus (428 BCE) - where holding one's principles leads to destruction for Phaedra and Hippolytus.
Andromache (c. 425 BCE) - where, after the Trojan War and now a slave, Andromache battles with Hermione, the wife of her master.
Hecabe (c. 423 BCE) - where the Queen of Troy seeks revenge for the death of her son Polydorus.
Suppliants (c. 423 BCE) - where the mothers of the Seven Against Thebes appeal to Athens so that the Thebans will allow the proper burial of their sons.
Hercules (c. 417 BCE) - dealing with the madness which drove Hercules to kill his wife and children.
Electra (c. 417 or 414 BCE) - where Electra and Orestes conspire to destroy their mother.
Trojan Women (415 BCE) - with Hecabe again the key character amid a catalogue of Trojan misery.
Ion (412 or 410 BCE) - which examines the discrepancies between religious faith and the human condition.
Iphigenia among the Taurians (c. 412 BCE) - where Iphigenia and Orestes battle the gods and Fate with a surprisingly happy ending.
Helen (412 BCE) - which describes the reconciliation of Helen and Menelaus.
Cyclops (412 or 408 BCE) - a satyr play describing Odysseus' encounter with the Cyclops on his long return journey to Ithaca following the Trojan War. It is the only complete surviving satyr play from Greek theatre.
Phoenician Women (aka Phoenissae, 409 BCE) - where a group of innocent women travelling to Delphi are trapped in Thebes.
Orestes (c. 408 BCE) - where Orestes kills his own mother and tries, without success, to take revenge on his aunt Helen.
Iphigenia in Aulis (after 406 BCE and produced posthumously) - where Agamemnon must sacrifice Iphigenia for the good of the Greek expedition against Troy.
Bacchae (after 406 BCE) - in which there is a running conflict between Pentheus, king of Thebes, and a demonic Dionysos.
Medea (431)
Context:
So, there's this ancient Greek play called "Medea" written by Euripides way back in 431 BC. It's all about this woman named Medea, who used to be a princess in Colchis and was married to this guy named Jason. But things get messed up when Jason decides to ditch Medea and marry some Greek princess from Corinth.
Well, Medea isn't too happy about this, so she decides to get back at Jason by killing his new wife and even her own two sons! Crazy, right? After all that drama, she runs off to Athens to start a whole new life.
Euripides wrote this play as part of a trilogy, but the other two plays have sadly been lost to history. When it was first performed, Medea and the other plays only came in third place at the City Dionysia festival. Some people think that means it didn't go over so well, but hey, the competition was tough that year. Sophocles, a famous playwright, came in second.
Anyway, over the centuries, Medea has been reinterpreted by playwrights all around the world. People have looked at it from all sorts of angles, like politics, psychology, and feminism. It's become a real classic, you know? In fact, it's the most performed Greek tragedy in the 20th century.
In recent times, the play has gained even more attention, especially from the feminist movement. People see it as a story of Medea struggling to take control of her own life in a world dominated by men. It's got some deep themes, for sure.
Oh, and by the way, the play has won a bunch of Tony Awards. The character of Medea has brought home the trophy multiple times. Judith Anderson won in 1948, Zoe Caldwell in 1982, and Diana Rigg in 1994. Pretty impressive, huh?
Mythical Background
Alright, so this story is about this dude named Jason, who was raised by a wise centaur called Chiron. He learned all sorts of cool stuff like fighting, hunting, and playing music because he was destined to become a legendary hero.
Now, Jason's dad, Aeson, was the king of Iolcos, but his half-brother Pelias took over the throne because he was scared Jason would overthrow him. Some oracle told Pelias that a guy with one sandal would be his downfall, and wouldn't you know it, when Jason came to visit him, he was missing a sandal. Why? Because he lost it crossing a river, of course!
So, Pelias had a cunning plan. He sent Jason on an impossible mission to get the Golden Fleece from Colchis. This fleece was guarded by a scary dragon, but Jason was up for the challenge. He built a badass ship called the Argo and gathered a crew known as the Argonauts.
When they reached Colchis, Jason faced a bunch of crazy tasks. He had to yoke fire-breathing bulls together and plow a field with dragon's teeth. Luckily, he got some help from Medea, the daughter of King Aeetes of Colchis. Medea fell head over heels for Jason and used her magical powers to assist him.
Medea gave Jason a magical balsam to protect him while yoking the bulls, and she told him to throw a stone among the dragon's teeth. Turns out, the stone caused the men hiding there to fight each other instead of attacking Jason. Pretty clever, huh?
When the king broke his promise and refused to give Jason the Golden Fleece, he even tried to burn the Argo and its crew. But Medea used her sorcery to control the dragon guarding the fleece. That allowed Jason to snatch it and escape, with Medea joining him and the Argonauts on the ship.
Now, Medea had some serious magical lineage. Her aunt was Circe, the famous sorceress, and some say her mom was Hecate, the goddess of witchcraft. She was known for executing foreigners who entered her father's kingdom, but when she saw Jason, she fell head over heels in love and forgot about her wicked duties.
The story gets a bit hazy here, but according to some versions, Medea ended up killing her own brother, Apsyrtus, and tossing him overboard in pieces. That was to buy some time for the Argonauts while Aeetes chased after them.
On their journey back home, Jason and Medea tied the knot (in most versions) and faced off against a giant named Talos, who got defeated thanks to Medea's magic. Then they sailed through a dark fog, and Jason prayed to Apollo for some light. Apollo came through and sent them a flaming beam to guide their way.
Finally, they made it back to Iolcos with the Golden Fleece. Medea had a wicked plan to get rid of King Pelias. She convinced his own daughters that boiling him in a cauldron would make him young again. Tricked and desperate, they went along with it, and Pelias ended up dead.
With Pelias out of the picture, Jason and Medea took over as the king and queen of Iolcos. Later, they moved to Corinth and ruled there too. But as time went on, Jason got tired of Medea and decided to ditch her for another chick. The name of the other woman varies, but she's usually called Glauce or Creusa, and she's the daughter of the King of Corinth.
Now, here's where things get nasty. Medea wasn't about to take this betrayal lying down. She sent Glauce/Creusa a poisoned wedding dress, and when she put it on, she started burning up and got surrounded by fire. Even her dad, Creon, got caught up in the chaos and died too.
To make matters worse, Medea couldn't let Jason off the hook easily. She killed their two kids in a temple, and then she hopped into a chariot pulled by winged dragons, which Helios the god had given her, and zoomed off into the sky.
List of Major Characters:
Medea
She's the main character of the story and a total badass. Medea is a sorceress from this faraway place called Colchis, which the Greeks thought was the end of the world. She fell in love with Jason and helped him get the Golden Fleece, but then had to leave her home and family to be with him. During their escape, she killed her own brother to slow down their pursuers. When they settled in Corinth and had kids, Jason dumped Medea for a younger woman. That made Medea super angry, so she went on a revenge spree, killing Jason's new wife, her dad, and even her own children. She was more interested in seeing Jason suffer than feeling bad about her own actions.
Jason
This guy is kind of a jerk. Jason used to be an adventurer, and he left his wife, Medea, to marry this hot princess named Glauce. He thought marrying into a fancy family would make him more important. But his selfishness just made Medea want revenge, and she ended up killing Glauce, her dad, and their own kids. Jason is a weak and whiny character who only cares about himself.
Children
These are Jason and Medea's kids. They're pretty innocent and don't understand all the crazy stuff happening around them. Medea used them as part of her revenge plan, and it's really sad because she ended up killing them. Their deaths bring a lot of sadness to the story.
Chorus
These are the women from Corinth, and they basically act as a commentary on the whole situation. They feel sorry for Medea and understand why she's so mad at Jason. But they don't agree with her decision to kill her own children.
Creon
He's the King of Corinth who kicks Medea out of the city. He's not a major character, but his decision sets off Medea's plan for revenge. The most dramatic moment with Creon is when he embraces his dying daughter, which is pretty intense.
Glauce
She's Creon's daughter and the new woman Jason left Medea for. Glauce is this young and beautiful princess who becomes the target of Medea's jealousy. Medea tricks her into wearing a poisoned dress and crown, and that's what starts the killing spree. Glauce doesn't say much in the story, but she's always there as a symbol of Medea's anger.
Aegeus
He's the King of Athens who shows up in Corinth. Aegeus is looking for a cure for his infertility, and Medea offers him some magic drugs in exchange for protection in Athens. When he promises her sanctuary, it's a turning point for Medea because she goes from being a victim to taking charge of her revenge plan.
Messenger
This guy only shows up once, but he has an important job. He tells us all the gory details about how Glauce and Creon died, even though those scenes happen offstage.
Nurse
She takes care of the children and is Medea's confidant. The nurse opens the story with a sad lament and pops up occasionally to talk about different things that aren't directly related to the main action.
Tutor
He's not a major character, either. The tutor mostly acts as a messenger and helps move the kids around from place to place.
Plot Summary
So, in Euripides' play "Medea," things kick off with some serious drama. Jason, the guy who went on all those crazy adventures with Medea, decides to dump her and their two kids. Why? Well, he wants to marry Glauce, the princess of Corinth, to boost his social status. What a jerk, right?
Outside the fancy palace, Medea's nurse is all like, "Man, this is a messed up situation." After all the trials and tribulations they've been through, Jason just up and leaves Medea, crushing her emotionally. She's so devastated that she even curses her own existence and her poor children.
To make matters worse, the king of Corinth, Creon, gets wind of a potential revenge plot from Medea and banishes her and the kids from the city. Medea begs for mercy, but she's only given one day to sort things out before she has to leave. And during that day, she's dead set on getting her version of "justice" – which means killing Creon, Glauce, and Jason. Yikes!
Jason, being the spineless dude he is, tries to talk Medea out of it. He claims he married Glauce for everyone's good, but Medea ain't buying it. She sees right through his weak excuses and rejects any help he offers.
Then, out of nowhere, Aegeus, the king of Athens, shows up and offers Medea a safe haven in his city. He's infertile and wants Medea's knowledge of some magical potions to help him out. With a guaranteed escape plan, Medea now has a clear path for her revenge. And she's not holding back – she's even considering killing her own kids to make Jason suffer.
The rest of the play is all about Medea's scheme. She acts all sympathetic towards Jason, pretending to be on his side and giving his new wife "gifts" – a fancy crown and dress. But guess what? They're actually poisoned! So, poor Glauce ends up dead from the poison, and her dad Creon decides to die with her by embracing her and taking in the poison himself.
A messenger comes in and describes all the gory details of the deaths, and Medea just listens calmly. She's gone from anxious to determined, ready to carry out her plans. Despite the chorus trying to stop her, she goes ahead and kills her own children. Then, she hops into a chariot pulled by dragons (yeah, you read that right) given by her grandpa, the Sun-God, and zooms away.
Jason is left there, totally screwed. His whole plan to ditch Medea and marry Glauce has blown up in his face. Everything he valued is gone, all thanks to the tragic deaths caused by Medea's actions.
Man, what a messed-up story, huh? Bet you didn't expect all that drama and revenge when you asked about Jason and Medea!
Themes:
Revenge: This play is all about Medea's thirst for revenge. She's been wronged by Jason, and she's out to make him suffer big time. It explores the idea of how far someone can go when seeking vengeance.
Betrayal: Medea feels deeply betrayed by Jason, who abandoned her for another woman. The theme of betrayal runs throughout the play, showing the devastating effects it can have on individuals and relationships.
Gender and Power: "Medea" touches on the power dynamics between men and women in ancient Greece. Medea challenges traditional gender roles and expectations by taking matters into her own hands, using her intelligence and sorcery to assert her power.
Motifs:
Manipulation: Medea is a master manipulator. She uses her cunning and persuasion to deceive and trick those around her. Whether it's convincing Jason or plotting the deaths of her enemies, manipulation is a recurring motif in the play.
Magic and Sorcery: Medea's powers as a sorceress play a significant role in the story. Her use of magic symbolizes her otherness and her ability to transcend the limitations of mortals.
Symbols:
The Poisoned Gifts: The crown and dress that Medea gives to Glauce are symbols of her deceit and revenge. They represent the destructive power of Medea's actions and the fatal consequences they bring.
The Chariot of the Sun: At the end of the play, Medea escapes in a chariot pulled by dragons, a gift from her grandfather, the Sun-God. This symbolizes her triumph and her departure from the mortal world, leaving behind a trail of devastation.
The Knife: The knife that Medea uses to kill her children is a powerful symbol of the ultimate sacrifice she's willing to make for her revenge. It represents her desperation and the depths of her anguish.
So, there you have it! "Medea" explores themes of revenge, betrayal, and the power dynamics between genders. It uses motifs of manipulation and magic, while employing symbols like the poisoned gifts, the chariot of the Sun, and the knife to convey deeper meanings throughout the play. It's a wild ride full of intense emotions and dark symbolism.
The Bacchae
Context:
So, there's this ancient Greek play called "The Bacchae" written by a guy named Euripides. He wrote it towards the end of his life when he was hanging out in Macedonia at the court of Archelaus I of Macedon. The play was performed after he died in 405 BC and won first prize in a festival competition.
Now, the play is based on a Greek myth about this dude named Pentheus, who is the king of Thebes, and his mom, Agave. They both get in trouble with the god Dionysus, who happens to be Pentheus's cousin. You see, some of Pentheus's aunts were spreading rumors that Dionysus wasn't actually the son of Zeus, so he's pretty ticked off.
Dionysus decides to come to Thebes to show everyone that he is indeed a god. He wants to introduce these wild Dionysian rites to the city. He wants to prove a point to Pentheus and the people of Thebes.
Now, here's where things get intense. At the end of the play, the women of Thebes go crazy and tear Pentheus apart. And get this, Pentheus's own mom, Agave, carries his head on a pike to her dad, Cadmus.
"The Bacchae" is considered one of Euripides's best tragedies ever. It's got this unique thing going on where the chorus is actually part of the story, and Dionysus himself is right in the middle of everything. Pretty wild stuff, if you ask me!
Characters:
Dionysus
So, let's talk about Dionysus, the god of wine, theater, and wild partying! He's the main dude in "The Bacchae," and he likes to disguise himself as a handsome, long-haired Lydian called the Stranger. But even though he's a god, he can also take on other forms and has some pretty crazy powers. It's like he's two beings at once—the divine Dionysus and the Stranger. At one point, he's causing earthquakes while torturing Pentheus inside the palace. Talk about multitasking! Now, Dionysus is the son of Zeus and the mortal Semele, who's the daughter of Cadmus. They're all part of this big family drama.
Pentheus
Speaking of drama, let's talk about Pentheus. He's the king of Thebes and Dionysus's cousin. He's like the complete opposite of Dionysus—strict, law-abiding, and all about order. But deep down, he's also curious and a bit of a peeping Tom.
Agaue
We can't forget about Agaue, Pentheus's mom. She's already a maenad from the start, which means she's a wild follower of Dionysus, up for all those crazy orgiastic rituals. Her part comes in at the very end, and boy, does she bring the tragedy and power to the play.
Cadmus
Then we have Cadmus, who used to be the king of Thebes and is Agaue's dad. He's the only one in the family who's on Team Dionysus. Good for him!
The servant, The Messengers
There are a couple of important characters who serve as witnesses in the play. We have the servant who catches the Stranger and brings him to Pentheus, and the first messenger, a cowherd who spies on the maenads and spills the beans to Pentheus. Drama alert!
The second messenger is there too. He's the one who goes up the mountain with Pentheus and Dionysus and witnesses the king's not-so-great fate. He comes back to the palace to give the lowdown to the chorus.
Chorus
Ah, the chorus! They're a bunch of party-loving ladies called bacchants from Lydia, led by Dionysus in his human form as the Stranger. They're all about singing, dancing, and having a good time.
Tiresias
Lastly, we have Tiresias, a famous seer from Thebes and a pal of Cadmus. Tiresias is the one who convinces Cadmus to worship Dionysus. Gotta listen to your friends, right?
So that's the rundown of the characters in "The Bacchae." It's a wild story full of gods, mortals, parties, and some serious family drama. Grab some popcorn and get ready for the ride!
Plot Summary
Alright, so there's this Greek god named Dionysus, and he's the god of wine, partying, and all things wild. He decides to go back to his hometown, Thebes, to set things straight and teach those arrogant folks a lesson for disrespecting his mom and not worshiping him. Let me give you the lowdown on what went down.
You see, Dionysus' mom, Semele, was a princess from Thebes who had a thing with Zeus, the big boss of the gods. But Zeus' wife, Hera, got all jealous and tricked Semele into asking Zeus to show himself in all his godly glory. Well, that was a big mistake because Zeus is too powerful for mortals to handle, and poor Semele got burned to a crisp. But Zeus managed to save Dionysus, the baby she was carrying, by sewing him into his thigh. Pretty wild, right?
Now, Semele's family, the royal Theban gang, spread rumors that she got fried by lightning for lying about Zeus and that her baby died with her. They totally dissed her name and rejected Dionysus, not cool at all.
Fast forward some years, and Dionysus rolls back into Thebes, but he's in disguise as a stranger. He brings along a bunch of party-loving ladies called bacchants to punish the Thebans for what they did to his mom. While Dionysus was away, Semele's dad, Cadmus, handed over the kingdom to his cocky grandson, Pentheus. And guess what? Pentheus was all like, "Nah, we're not gonna worship Dionysus here." Big mistake, bro.
Dionysus tells us that he made Semele's sisters go crazy, and they escaped to the mountains to worship him and do all his wild rituals. But Pentheus ain't buying it. He thinks they're just a bunch of drunk, party-crazy troublemakers trying to rebel against Theban society and its rules. So, he orders his soldiers to nab Dionysus and the bacchants.
But here's the twist, Dionysus lets himself get caught without any fuss. He wants to mess with Pentheus' mind and lead him to his doom. In their first encounter, Pentheus tries to torture Dionysus but fails miserably. Chains, ropes, and even a knife go right through him like he's made of air. Then, bam! An earthquake and a fire scare the living daylights out of Pentheus. He's left confused and weak, scratching his head.
In their second meeting, Dionysus tries to talk some sense into Pentheus, but the dude won't listen. Then a cowherd shows up and spills the beans about seeing those wild Theban ladies chilling in the forest. They were partying hard, enjoying wine, honey, and milk that magically sprang from the ground. They even played with animals and sang and danced like there was no tomorrow. But when they spotted the cowherd, they went berserk and tried to rip him apart. He barely escaped, but sadly, the herd of cattle wasn't so lucky.
This story totally intrigues Pentheus, and Dionysus sees his chance to tempt him further. He offers to take Pentheus to the maenads secretly so he can see the action up close. Well, guess what? Pentheus can't resist. He agrees to everything and dresses up all girly with a wig and long skirts. The macho ruler becomes this vain, braggy dude with no power or authority left.
They head to the woods, but Pentheus can't see anything from the ground. So Dionysus pulls off some magic and bends a tall tree, hoists Pentheus up there, and straightens it out. Boom! The maenads spot him, and Dionysus commands them to attack the clueless ruler. The women go nuts, screaming and tearing Pentheus apart. As he falls, he desperately reaches out to his mom, Agaue, begging her to recognize him. But poor Agaue, driven mad by Dionysus, doesn't even know what she's doing. She goes on to rip her own son apart. It's messed up, I know.
Back at the palace, the chorus is all hyped up, singing the praises of Dionysus. Agaue returns holding Pentheus' head, still deluded and proud of her "hunt." Old Cadmus, who knows the real deal, sadly approaches her and brings her back to reality. Agaue starts crying, finally realizing what she's done. Cadmus thinks that, yeah, the gods punished the family, but it was a bit too harsh.
And finally, Dionysus shows up in all his godly glory, no more disguises. He kicks Agaue out of Thebes and curses Cadmus and his wife to turn into snakes, who will eventually bring a bunch of barbarians to invade Greece. Heavy stuff, man.
So, that's the crazy tale of Dionysus, revenge, and the wild party that turned into a family tragedy. Greek mythology sure knows how to keep things interesting!
Themes:
Power of the Gods: One big theme here is the power of the gods and how they can mess with mortals' lives. Dionysus, the god in this play, shows off his divine strength and wreaks havoc on Thebes.
Rebellion against Authority: Another theme is rebellion. Dionysus challenges the authority of Pentheus, the king, and introduces new rites that shake up the city. It's all about defying the established order.
The Destructive Force of Excess: This play also explores the idea that too much of a good thing can be dangerous. The wild and uninhibited behaviour brought by Dionysus's rituals leads to chaos and tragic consequences.
Motifs:
Madness: Madness is a recurring motif. Dionysus drives the women of Thebes into a frenzy, and their ecstatic state represents a kind of madness that overcomes them.
Gender and Sexuality: Gender and sexuality play a role, too. Dionysus challenges traditional gender roles and norms, blurring the lines between male and female and bringing out repressed desires.
Symbols:
The Maenads: The Maenads, the female followers of Dionysus, symbolize uninhibited and primal forces. Their presence represents the power and allure of Dionysian rituals.
Masks: Masks are used in the play, symbolizing the disguises and transformations that occur. They reflect the hidden aspects of characters' identities and the blurred boundaries between reality and illusion.
The Bull: The image of the bull is significant. It represents both Dionysus and Pentheus, highlighting their conflicting natures. It symbolizes both power and destruction.
So, those are some of the main themes, motifs, and symbols you'll encounter in "The Bacchae." It's a pretty wild and thought-provoking play that explores the power dynamics between gods and humans, rebellion, and the consequences of excessive behavior.
Comments