Alexandra Schuller
Euripides’ Medea, lines 1160-1180: Lars von Trier’s Interpretation
7KH PHVVHQJHU VFHQH LQ (XULSLGHV¶ Medea LV SRLJQDQW YLYLG LQ GHVFULSWLRQ DQGWUDXPDWLF,QWKLVVFHQHWKHPHVVHQJHUGUDPDWLFDOO\UHFRXQWVWR0HGHDWKHKRUULG GHDWKVRI*ODXFHDQG&UHRQ,Q*UHHNWUDJHG\WKHVXEMHFWVRIPHVVHQJHUVFHQHVZHUH SUREDEO\ QRW SXW LQWR DFWLRQ SRVVLEO\ GXH WR ODFN RI WHFKQRORJ\ EXW SHUKDSV DOVR WR DOOXGH WR WKH *UHHNV¶ DQFHVWUDO HSLF OLWHUDWXUH 1HYHUWKHOHVV WKH YLYLGQHVV RI Medea¶V PHVVHQJHU VFHQH LV DOPRVW FLQHPDWLF VR WKDW LW OHQGV LWVHOI DSSURSULDWHO\ WR /DUV YRQ 7ULHU¶V¿OPMedea7KLVSDSHUZLOOH[SORUH7ULHU¶VYLVLRQRIWKHVFHQHEDVHGRQ P\WUDQVODWLRQRIWZHQW\OLQHVIURPWKH*UHHNWH[W7KURXJKWKHXVHRIFRORUVRXQGVDQG DFWLRQ7ULHUVWD\VFORVHWRWKH*UHHNWH[WZKLOHRIIHULQJDVWULNLQJDQGRULJLQDODUWLVWLF UHQGLWLRQ RI WKH PHVVHQJHU VFHQH /DUV 9RQ7ULHU¶V ¿OP JUDFHIXOO\ UHWDLQV WKH VFHQH¶V VHQVHRIP\VWHU\IRUKHGRHVQRWDFWXDOO\SRUWUD\*ODXFH¶VGHDWKRQVFUHHQKHLQVWHDG XVHVWKHGLVWXUELQJGHDWKRIDEHDXWLIXOKRUVHDVDQDOOHJRULFDOUHSUHVHQWDWLRQRIKHUGHDWK 7KH*UHHNWH[WOLQHVLVDVIROORZV
ƵƯƳƱƮԏƬƲƤƧƤԃƱƠƱƲоƴƠƬƮƬчƫƴұơƮƱƲƯхƵƮƨư ƪƠƫƯԚƩƠƲфƲƯԗƱƵƦƫƠƲрƥƤƲƠƨƩфƫƬ ыƶƳƵƮƬƤѳƩҷƯƮƱƢƤƪԙƱƠƱцƫƠƲƮư ƩыƤƨƲϝчƬƠƱƲӮƱϝїƩƧƯфƬƷƬƣƨоƯƵƤƲƠƨ ƱƲоƢƠưшơƯҳƬơƠрƬƮƳƱƠƠƪƪƤхƩԗƮƣр ƣцƯƮƨưҐƤƯƵƠрƯƮƳƱƠƮƪƪҫƮƪƪнƩƨư ƲоƬƮƬƲϝїư҃ƯƧҳƬ҇ƫƫƠƱƨƱƩƮƮƳƫоƬƦ ƲƮҏƬƧоƬƣƤƫоƬƲƮƨƣƤƨƬҳƬѩƬƧоƠƫϝѳƣƤԃƬ ƵƯƮƨҫƬƢҫƯчƪƪнƭƠƱƠƪƤƵƯрƠнƪƨƬ ƵƷƯƤԃƲƯоƫƮƳƱƠƩԙƪƠƩƠұƫфƪƨưƴƧнƬƤƨ ƧƯфƬƮƨƱƨƬїƫƤƱƮԏƱƠƫүƵƠƫƠұƤƱƤԃƬ ƑƠрƲƨưƢƤƯƠƨҫƯƮƱфƪƷƬƣфƭƠƱнƮƳ ѥƗƠƬҳư҃ƯƢҫưѧƲƨƬƮưƧƤԙƬƫƮƪƤԃƬ чƬƷƪфƪƳƭƤƯрƬƢϝ҄ƯӯƣƨҫƱƲфƫƠ
1/DUVYRQ7ULHUVWXGLHGDWWKH'DQLVK)LOP6FKRROLQ'HQPDUNZKHUHMedea was shot, and he is NQRZQIRUFUHDWLQJDPELWLRXVDQGYLVXDOO\GLVWLQFWLYH¿OPV+LVLQWHUSUHWDWLRQRIMedea is slightly XQGHUWKHUDGDUDVKHLVEHWWHUNQRZQIRUDancer in the DarkDQGMXVWUHFHQWO\Melancholia+LV ¿UVW¿OPRXWRI¿OPVFKRROForbrydelsens elementUHFHLYHGLQWHUQDWLRQDODWWHQWLRQ 2(XUMed.$OOWUDQVODWLRQVDUHPLQHXQOHVVQRWHGRWKHUZLVH HIRUNDO 2012
ƵƷƯƮԏƬƲƠƪƤƳƩҳƬчƴƯфƬ҃ƫƫнƲƷƬƲϝыƮ ƩфƯƠưƱƲƯоƴƮƳƱƠƬƠѺƫнƲϝƮҏƩїƬҳƬƵƯƮк ƤѹƲϝчƬƲрƫƮƪƮƬѪƩƤƬ҃ƪƮƪƳƢӸưƫоƢƠƬ ƩƷƩƳƲфƬƤҏƧҵưƣϝѤƫҭƬїưƠƲƯҳưƣфƫƮƳư ҠƯƫƦƱƤƬѤƣҭƯҳưƲҳƬчƯƲрƷưфƱƨƬ ƴƯнƱƮƳƱƠƬхƫƴƦưƱƳƫƴƮƯнƬьƠƱƠƣҭ ƱƲоƢƦƳƩƬƮԃƱƨƬїƩƲхƤƨƣƯƠƫпƫƠƱƨƬ
0\WUDQVODWLRQRIWKLVSDVVDJHLV
$QGVHWWLQJWKHJROGHQFURZQDERXWKHUFXUOV she arranged her hair in a bright mirror, VPLOLQJXSRQWKHOLIHOHVVLPDJHRIKHUERG\ $QGDIWHUJHWWLQJXSIURPKHUFKDLUVKHZHQWDERXW KHUFKDPEHUKHUZKLWHIHHWVWHSSLQJJUDFHIXOO\ UHMRLFLQJH[FHHGLQJO\DWWKHJLIWV FRQWHPSODWLQJZLWKKHUH\HVDJDLQDQGDJDLQ5RQKHUVWUDLJKWOHJ Hence, there was indeed a horrible sight to see IRUKHUVNLQEHJDQWRFKDQJHDQGZLWK WUHPEOLQJWKLJKVVKHJDYHZD\VODQWLQJEDFNZDUGV IDOOLQJXSRQKHUFKDLUVRQO\WRKDYHIDOOHQRQWKHJURXQG $QGRQHROGZRPDQRIWKHVHUYDQWVWKLQNLQJLWVHHPVWRPH that either the wrath of Pan or of one of the other gods had come XSRQKHU
3*UDPPDWLFDOO\ƱƵƦƫƠƲрƥƤƲƠƨLVLQWKHSUHVHQWWHQVHDORQJZLWKƣƨоƯƵƤƲƠƨIRXUOLQHVGRZQ 4 ,QKLVFRPPHQWDU\'RQDOG-0DVWURQDUGHVD\VWKDWƤѳƩҷLVDSRHWLFDFFXVDWLYHVLQJXODURI ƤѳƩцƬKHDOVRVWDWHVWKDWWKH³OLIHOHVVLPDJH´IRUHVKDGRZVKHULPSHQGLQJGHDWK0RUHRYHU*UHHN PLUURUVZHUHGLVNVPDGHIURPEXUQLVKHGEURQ]H7KH\ZHUHKDQGKHOGRUVHWXSRQDVWDQG/DUV YRQ7ULDUSRUWUD\V*ODXFHDVKROGLQJWKHPLUURU(XULSLGHVMedeaHG'RQDOG-RKQ0DVWURQDUGH &DPEULGJH&DPEULGJH8QLYHUVLW\3UHVV 50DVWURQDUGHVWDWHVWKDWƮƪƪҫƮƪƪнƩƨư LVDUKHWRULFDOLQWHQVL¿FDWLRQZKLFKFDQEHWUDQVODWHGDV ³YHU\RIWHQ´RU³DJDLQDQGDJDLQ´0DVWURQDUGHMedea 60DVWURQDUGHVWDWHVWKDWWKLVLVUHIHUULQJWRWKH$FKLOOHV¶WHQGRQDWWKHEDFNRIWKHDQNOHDQGWKDW VKHLVVWUHWFKLQJKHUOHJEDFNZDUGVWRGLVSOD\KRZWKHGUHVVKDQJV,ELG 7´ƪƤƵƯрƠFRXOGPHDQ³µPRYLQJVLGHZD\V¶RUµEHQWRYHURIIEDODQFH¶RUPD\VXJJHVWERWK WRJHWKHU´,ELG 87KHROGZRPDQWKLQNVWKDW*ODXFHLVEHLQJWDNHQRYHUE\DGLYLQHEHLQJ³3DQLVDVVRFLDWHGZLWK VXGGHQPHQWDOGLVWXUEDQFHRIYDULRXVNLQGVLQFOXGLQJWKHµSDQLF¶RIDQDUP\´,ELG Alexandra Schuller Euripides’ Medea
cried aloudXQWLOVKHVDZZKLWHIRDPVSHZLQJWKURXJKKHUOLSV DQGERWKWKHSXSLOVWXUQLQJIURPKHUH\HVDQGKHUEORRGOHVVVNLQ 7KHQWKHUHFDPHDVKULHNRIIDUJUHDWHUVRXQGWKDQDFU\ ,QGHHGRQHZRPDQXUJHGRQWRKHUIDWKHU¶VKRXVH and one to her recently married husband UHFRXQWLQJKLVEULGH¶VPLVIRUWXQHWKHZKROH KRXVHUHVRXQGHGZLWKGUXPPLQJIRRWVWHSV
/DUV9RQ7ULHUXVHVFRORULQWKLV¿OPWRKLVDGYDQWDJHSOD\LQJZLWKFRQWUDVWV DQGVKDGRZVLQRUGHUWRFUHDWHWKHHHULHPRRGWKLVWUDJHG\HYRNHV7KHZKROH¿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¿UVWRQHLVƵƯƳƱƮԏƬ«ƱƲоƴƠƬƮƬ³WKHJROGHQFURZQ´ZKLFK 7ULDU GXWLIXOO\ SRUWUD\V LQ WKH VFHQH 7KLV FURZQ LV WKLFN JROG PDMHVWLF \HW GDXQWLQJ DQGOLQLQJWKHWRSULPDUHUD]RUVKDUSPHWDOOLFWKRUQV,WLVDZHDSRQLQDQGRILWVHOI
9 чƬƷƪфƪƳƭƤ LVZKDW0DVWURQDUGHGHVFULEHVDVDXOXODWLRQZKLFKLVVRPHWLPHVDVSRQWDQHRXVFU\ RIZRPHQLQUHVSRQVHWRDQHPRWLRQDOO\RUULWXDOO\SRZHUIXOHYHQWVXFKDVDYLFWRU\VDFUL¿FHRU ELUWK7KHVHFULHVVHHPWR³JUHHWRUDFNQRZOHGJHWKHSUHVHQFHRIDGLYLQHSRZHURUDQHSLSKDQ\ DQGWKXVOHVVHQWKHGDQJHUIURPVXFKSRZHU ´7KHUHLVDFRQWUDVWEHWZHHQWKLVFU\DQGWKHODWHU ODPHQWDWLRQLQOLQHV,ELG 10 7UDQVODWLQJƵƷƯƮԏƬƲƠDV³VSHZLQJ´DSSHDUVSUHIHUDEOHWR³DGYDQFLQJ´RU³JLYLQJZD\´LQWKLV LQVWDQFH 11 /LWHUDOO\³KHUVNLQZLWKRXWEORRG´ 127KHWKUHHGLIIHUHQWZRUGVIRUFU\LQJQRLVHVDUHSDUWLFXODUO\GLI¿FXOWWRWUDQVODWHчƬƲрƫƮƪƮƬ… ҃ƪƮƪƳƢӸư…ƩƷƩƳƲфƬ 13 0DVWURQDUGHFOHYHUO\WDNHVчƯƲрƷưDV³UHFHQWO\PDUULHG´DOWKRXJKLWJHQHUDOO\PHDQV³FRP SOHWH´RU³SHIHFW´0DVWURQDUGHMedea 14 7KHPHDQLQJRIƳƩƬƮԃƱƨƬLVGLI¿FXOWWRGHWHUPLQH7KHZRUGLVUHODWHGWRVRPHWKLQJ³FORVHO\ SDFNHG´DFFRUGLQJWR/LGGHOODQG6FRWW,QPRVWWH[WVLWLVWUDQVODWHGDV³IRRWVWHSV´ 15 (XUMed. 167KHFURZQORRNVOLNHDZHDSRQ7KHUHDUHUD]RUVKDUSWKRUQVDOODURXQGLWDQGLWKDVDJHQHU DOO\PHQDFLQJDLU,QWHUHVWLQJO\WKHVFHQHSULRUWRWKLVRQHVKRZV-DVRQZLWKWKHWZRER\VRQ KRUVHEDFNEULQJLQJWKHJLIW 7ULDURPLWVWKHUREHDQGIRFXVHVVROHO\RQWKHGLDGHP XSWRWKH HIRUNDO 2012
7KHQH[WUHIHUHQFHVDOOKDYHWRGRZLWKWKHDEVHQFHRIFRORU³ZKLWH´)LUVW(XULSLGHV PHQWLRQV *ODXFH¶V ³ZKLWH IHHW´ KHU ƠƪƪƤхƩԗ Ʈƣр 1H[W WKH WH[WV PHQWLRQV WKH ƪƤƳƩҳƬчƴƯфƬWKH³ZKLWHIRDP´VSHZLQJIURPKHUPRXWKDQGODVWWKHWH[WVWDWHVWKDW ƠѺƫнƲϝƮҏƩїƬҳƬƵƯƮкWKDWKHUIDFHZDV³ZLWKRXWEORRG´WKXVWKDWKHUIDFHLVSDOH /DUVYRQ7ULHUXVHVWKHVHFRORUVLJQDOVDOWKRXJKLWLVREYLRXVWKDWKLVSOD\IXOQHVV ZLWKOLJKWFRPHVIURPKLVRZQVW\OHDQGQRWGLUHFWO\IURP(XULSLGHV¶WH[W$VSUHYLRXVO\ PHQWLRQHG7ULDU SOD\V ZLWK KLJK FRQWUDVWV *ODXFH ZHDUV D SXUHZKLWH GUHVV DQG KHU KDLULVORQJDQGEODFNFODVKLQJDJDLQVWWKHGUHVVDQGKHUZKLWHVNLQ&UHRQ¶VSDODFHLV JORRP\DQGGDUNHVSHFLDOO\*ODXFH¶VFKDPEHU,WVHHPVWKDWWKHRQO\WKLQJOLJKWLQJXS WKHURRPLVKHUVNLQDQGKHUGUHVVDVVKHFUHDWHVVKDGRZVPRYLQJDERXWKHUFKDPEHU 0RUHRYHUWKHUHLVWKHUHSUHVHQWDWLRQRIWKHKRUVH¶VGHDWK:KHQWKHKRUVH¶VKLQG TXDUWHUVDFFLGHQWDOO\JHWVFUDWFKHGE\RQHRIWKHFURZQ¶VWKRUQVXSRQWKHER\V¶GHVFHQW LWFUHDWHVDJDVKZKLFK7ULHUFOHYHUO\]RRPVLQRQLQDQHHULHVKRW'DUNEORRGJXVKHV RXWRILWVWDLQLQJWKHKRUVH¶VEHDXWLIXOZKLWHFRDW&XULRXVO\WKHVWDLQLVLQWKHVKDSHRI DKHDUW/DWHURQLQWKHVKRWDVWKHKRUVHLVUXQQLQJIUHHWRWKHEHDFKWKHZKROHEDFN KDOIRILWVERG\KDVFKDQJHGWRDGDUNJUH\FRORUSHUKDSVLQUHIHUHQFHWR*ODXFH¶VVNLQ ƵƯƮƨҫƬƢҫƯчƪƪнƭƠƱƠƪƤƵƯрƠ, ³KHUVNLQZDVFKDQJLQJ«´ ,WVHHPVSUREDEOHWKDW7ULHU ZDVDFWXDOO\XVLQJWKHKRUVH¶VFKDQJHLQFRORUWRUHIHUWRWKHZRUGVLQWKHWH[WEHFDXVHODWHURQ LWZLOOEHHYLGHQWWKDWKHLVLQGHHGXVLQJWKLVKRUVH¶VGHDWKDVDPHWDSKRUIRUWKDWRI*ODXFH %HFDXVH WKLV YHUVLRQ RI WKH PHVVHQJHU VFHQH LV ¿OPHG WKHUH DUH PDQ\ WKLQJV WKDWFDQEHGRQHZLWKUHJDUGVWRVRXQG7KHUHDUHIHZUHIHUHQFHVWRVRXQGLQWKHWH[W LWVHOIKRZHYHULWLVKDUGWRLPDJLQHWKDWWKHUHZRXOGEHDQ\VRXQGRWKHUWKDQWKHDFWRU FU\LQJRUWKHFKRUXVVLQJLQJ7KHWH[WVWDWHVWKDWчƬƷƪфƪƳƭƤ ³VKHFULHG´ DQGWKDW чƬƲрƫƮƪƮƬѪƩƤƬ҃ƪƮƪƳƢӸưƫоƢƠƬƩƷƩƳƲфƬ ³WKHUHFDPHDVKULHNRIIDUJUHDWHUVRXQG WKDQDFU\RIMR\´ )LQDOO\WKHODVWOLQHRIWKLVSDUWLFXODUVHFWLRQRIWKHVSHHFKVWDWHVWKDW
SDODFH2QHRIWKHER\VWDNHVRXWWKHGLDGHPDQGGDQJOHVLWFOXPVLO\DVWKH\WURWDORQJ7KHER\ FRXOGEHFXWE\WKHSRLVRQRXVFURZQDWDQ\PRPHQW7KHPRPHQWLVYHU\VXVSHQVHIXODQGLURQLF DVWKHER\¶VIUDJLOLW\DQGLQQRFHQFHLVFRQWUDVWHGZLWKWKLVWHUULEOHZHDSRQZKLFKLWVHOILVFOHYHUO\ FRQFHDOHGLQWKHVKDSHRIDUR\DORUQDPHQW 17(XUMed. 18(XUMed. 19(XUMed. 20(XUMed. 21(XUMed. 22(XUMed. Alexandra Schuller Euripides’ Medea
ьƠƱƠƣҭƱƲоƢƦƳƩƬƮԃƱƨƬїƩƲхƤƨƣƯƠƫпƫƠƱƨƬ thus “that the whole house resounded ZLWKGUXPPLQJIRRWVWHSV´'XHWRWKHQDWXUHRI¿OPDVVWDWHGDERYHWKHDUWLVWFDQDOVR SOD\ZLWKORQJVLOHQFHVGXULQJZKLFKFKDUDFWHUVDUHQRWVSHDNLQJDWDOOEXWMXVWZDONLQJ RUURDPLQJDERXW7KHUHLVRQHVFHQHLQYROYLQJ-DVRQDQG*ODXFHRQWKHQLJKWRIWKHLU ZHGGLQJ ZKHQ WKH FDPHUD VSHQGV DERXW ¿YH PLQXWHV ¿OPLQJ -DVRQ¶V KDQG FDUHVVLQJ *ODXFH¶VIDFHZLWKWKHEUHDWKLQJRIERWKFKDUDFWHUVEHLQJDZNZDUGO\ORXGDQGHPSKDVL]HG 7KH ZKR PHVVHQJHU VFHQH LV EURNHQ XS EHWZHHQ RVFLOODWLQJ VKRWV RI WKH FUD]HG KRUVH DQG VKRWV RI D FDOP *ODXFH LQ KHU FKDPEHU VR WKDW WKHUH LV D FRQWUDVW LQ WHUPV RI ERWK WKH DFWLRQV ZKLFK ZLOO ODWHU EH DQDO\]HG DQG WKH VRXQGV 7R H[SDQG XSRQ WKLV WKHPH WKH VKRWV ZLWK WKH KRUVH DUH YHU\ ORXG WKHUH LV VRPH VXVSHQVHIXO PXVLF EXW LW LV GLP HQRXJK WKDW WKH KRUVH¶V SDLQHG FULHV FDQ EH GLVWLQJXLVKHG 7KH KRUVH PDNHV D KRUULG VFUHDP ZKHQ LW LV ¿UVW VFUDWFKHG E\ WKH GLDGHP¶V WKRUQ +RZHYHUDVWKHVFHQHSURJUHVVHVWKHKRUVHEHFRPHVPRUHDJLWDWHGDQGGLVWXUEHG DVLIRYHUFRPHE\VRPHIRUFH7KHQRLVHIURPLWVKRRYHVJURZVORXGHUDQGORXGHUDVLW WULHVWREUHDNIUHHIURPLWVWLHVLQWKHJORRP\XQGHUJURXQGVWDEOH:KHQLWEUHDNVIUHHLW UXQVWKURXJKWKHKDOOVPDNLQJDUHVRQDQWQRLVHZLWKLWVJDOORSLQJWKDWLVHHULO\UHPLQLVFHQW RIWKHWH[W¶VƳƩƬƮԃƱƨƬїƩƲхƤƨƣƯƠƫпƫƠƱƨƬ(“UHVRXQGHGZLWKGUXPPLQJIRRWVWHSV´ &RQWUDULO\ WKH VKRWV RI *ODXFH DUH SDUWLFXODUO\ VLOHQW DQG FDOP VDYH IRU KHU GLVWLQFW EUHDWKLQJ7KHUHLVKRZHYHUDPRPHQWZKHQERWKVFHQHVFRQQHFWDVWKHKRUVHUXQVRXWWR WKHEHDFKDÀRFNRIELUGVHPHUJHDQGHPLWORXGKRUULGFULHVDORQJZLWKWKHEHDWLQJRIWKHLU ZLQJV7KH\DUHVRORXGWKDW*ODXFHKHDUVWKHPLVVWDUWOHGE\WKHPDQGVHHVWKHLUVKDGRZV ÀXWWHUDFURVVKHUFKDPEHUZDOO7KLVLQWHUUXSWLRQFDXVHVKHUWRSDXVHIRUDPRPHQWMXVWDV VKHLVDERXWWRSXWRQWKHFURZQ7KLVFUHDWHVDPRPHQWRIKLJKVXVSHQVHIRUWKHVFHQH7KH XVHRIELUGVRXQGLVYHU\LQWHUHVWLQJEHFDXVHLWFDOOVEDFNWRPLQGWKHZRUGƳƩƬƮԃƱƨƬ ZKLFKLVVRPHWLPHVWUDQVODWHGDV³IRRWVWHSV´EXWDFFRUGLQJWR/LGGHOODQG6FRWWFDQDOVREH WUDQVODWHGDV³WKLFNSOXPDJH´³IDVWEHDWLQJZLQJV´DQG³DWKLFNVKRZHULQJRIGDUWV´ ,WLVLQWHUHVWLQJWKDW7ULHUXVHVWKHVRXQGVRIDQLPDOVWRUHSUHVHQW*ODXFH¶VKRUULG GHDWKDVLWLVGHVFULEHGLQWKHVSHHFK7KHRQO\QRLVH*ODXFHPDNHVDSDUWIURPKHUEUHDWKLQJ LVDJDVSZKHQVKHQLFNVKHUWKXPERQRQHRIWKHFURZQ¶VVKDUSWKRUQV,WLVDOPRVWDV LI*ODXFH¶VGHDWKLVVRDQLPDOOLNHVRXQQDWXUDOWKDWKHKDGWRSRUWUD\KHUVXIIHULQJE\
23(XUMed. 24 (XUMed. 25(XUMed. 26+RPOd 276DSSK 28+RPIl HIRUNDO 2012
PHDQVRIDG\LQJEHDVW7KHODWHUSDUWRIWKH*UHHNWH[WGHVFULEHVKHUGHDWKDVDIUDQWLF SURFHVVGHVFULELQJKHUDVEHLQJWDNHQRYHUE\D³ZUDWK´RU³IUHQ]\´RI3DQZKLFKLQWKH *UHHNLVƗƠƬҳư҃ƯƢҫư7KXVWKHFRQWUDVWEHWZHHQWKHORXGDQLPDOVDQGTXLHW*ODXFH OHQGVWRWKHWH[W¶VHPSKDVLVRQWKHLQKXPDQHGDUNDQGPDJLFDOZD\LQZKLFKVKHGLHV ,WLVWKHFKDUDFWHUV¶DFWLRQVLQWKHVFHQHWKDWUHDOO\VKRZWKDW/DUVYRQ7ULHUKDVNHSW FORVHO\WRWKHWH[W$OPRVWHYHU\RQHRI*ODXFH¶VPRYHPHQWVLQWKHVKRUWVFHQHDSSHDUVLQ (XULSLGHV¶WH[W*ODXFHERWKƵƯƳƱƮԏƬƲƤƧƤԃƱƠƱƲоƴƠƬƮƬчƫƴұơƮƱƲƯхƵƮƨư (“[sets] the JROGHQFURZQDERXWKHUFXUOV´ DQGƪƠƫƯԚƩƠƲфƲƯԗƱƵƦƫƠƲрƥƤƲƠƨƩфƫƬ (“[arranges] KHUKDLULQDEULJKWPLUURU´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¿QDOO\PDNHVLWRXWDQGUXQVWRWKHEHDFK $WWKLVSRLQWWKHÀRFNRIELUGVFRPHRXW7KHQ*ODXFHLVDERXWWRSXWRQWKHGLDGHP DQG WKHQ SDXVHV DV SUHYLRXVO\ PHQWLRQHG 7KH FOLS JRHV WR WKH KRUVH VORZLQJ GRZQ VWUXJJOLQJLQWKHVDQG,WVWDQGVXSRQLWVKLQGOHJVDQGIDOOVRYHUEDFNZDUGVZULWKLQJLQ VSDVPVMXVWDVWKHPHVVHQJHUGHVFULEHV*ODXFHнƪƨƬƵƷƯƤԃƲƯоƫƮƳƱƠƩԙƪƠƩƠұƫфƪƨư ƴƧнƬƤƨƧƯфƬƮƨƱƨƬїƫƤƱƮԏƱƠƫүƵƠƫƠұƤƱƤԃƬ ³ZLWKWUHPEOLQJWKLJKVVKHJDYHZD\ VODQWLQJEDFNZDUGVIDOOLQJXSRQKHUFKDLUVRQO\WRKDYHIDOOHQRQWKHJURXQG´ ,WIDOOV RQLWVVLGHDQGWULHVWRPRYHLWVOHJVLQDUXQQLQJPRWLRQEXWLWFDQQRORQJHUGRVR7KH ELUGV FODPRXU FRQVWDQWO\ LQ WKH EDFNJURXQG7KH FDPHUD FORVHV LQ RQ WKH KRUVH¶V IDFH WHHWKEDUHGZLGHH\HGOLNH*ODXFHZKRVH҃ƫƫнƲƷƬƲϝыƮƩфƯƠưƱƲƯоƴƮƳƱƠƬ(“both WKH SXSLOV >ZHUH@ WXUQLQJ IURP KHU H\HV´ VWUXJJOLQJ WR EUHDWKH 7KH YLHZHU DVVXPHV WKDW WKH KRUVH GLHV EXW LV OHIW ZLWK WKLV HHULH LPDJH RI VXIIHULQJ *ODXFH SXWV RQ WKH FURZQDQGORRNVDWKHUVHOILQWKHPLUURUDGMXVWVLWDOLWWOHDQGQLFNVKHUVHOI7KHODVW VKRW LQ WKLV VFHQH LV RI KHU OLWWOH FXW ZLWK EORRG GULSSLQJ DQG WKHQ WKH ÀRFN RI ELUGV 7R FRQFOXGH /DUV YRQ 7ULHU VXFFHVVIXOO\ WUDQVIHUV (XULSLGHV¶ PHVVHQJHU VFHQH IURP GUDPD WR ¿OP WKURXJK WKH XVH RI FRORU DQG FRQWUDVW VRXQG DQG DFWLRQ
29(XUMed. 30 (XUMed. 31(XUMed. 32(XUMed. 33(XUMed. Alexandra Schuller Euripides’ Medea
7KH VWULNLQJ LQWHUSOD\ EHWZHHQ GDUNQHVV DQG OLJKW SURGXFHV DQ HHULH RPLQRXV PRRG /LNHZLVHWKHMX[WDSRVLWLRQEHWZHHQWKHKRUVHDQGELUGV¶ORXGQRLVHVDQG*ODXFH¶VVLOHQFH DQWLFLSDWHV WKH ZRPDQ¶V G\LQJ FULHV +HU DFWXDO GHDWK LV WRR EUXWDO WR EH UHSUHVHQWHG GLUHFWO\ EXW WKH KRUVH¶V WRUWXUHG WKURHV VXJJHVW WR WKH DXGLHQFH D ZD\ RI LPDJLQLQJ LW 7KH ¿OP DV D ZKROH LV D JORRP\ YLVXDO GHOLJKW IRU (XULSLGHV HQWKXVLDVWV EXW WKH PHVVHQJHU VFHQH LWVHOI LV D FURZQLQJ DFKLHYHPHQW EHFDXVH 7ULHU PDQDJHV WR FUHDWH D YLVXDO LQWHUSUHWDWLRQ RI D VFHQH VR KRUULEOH WKDW LW ZDV RQO\ PHDQW WR EH LPDJLQHG HIRUNDO 2012
Bibliography
Primary Source:
(XULSLGHVMedea(GLWHGE\'RQDOG-RKQ0DVWURQDUGH&DPEULGJH&DPEULGJH 8QLYHUVLW\3UHVV
Secondary Source:
9RQ7ULHU/DUV'UH\HU&DUO7KHRGRUDQG3UHEHQ7KRPVHQMedea'9''LUHFWHGE\ /DUV9RQ7ULHU'HQPDUN'DQPDUNV5DGLR