Alexandra Schuller
Euripides’ Medea, lines 1160-­1180:
Lars von Trier’s Interpretation
7KH PHVVHQJHU VFHQH LQ (XULSLGHV¶ Medea LV SRLJQDQW YLYLG LQ GHVFULSWLRQ
DQG WUDXPDWLF ,Q WKLV VFHQH WKH PHVVHQJHU GUDPDWLFDOO\ UHFRXQWV WR 0HGHD WKH KRUULG
GHDWKV RI *ODXFH DQG &UHRQ ,Q *UHHN WUDJHG\ WKH VXEMHFWV RI PHVVHQJHU VFHQHV ZHUH
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 ¿OP Medea7KLV SDSHU ZLOO H[SORUH7ULHU¶V YLVLRQ RI WKH VFHQH EDVHG RQ
P\WUDQVODWLRQRIWZHQW\OLQHVIURPWKH*UHHNWH[W7KURXJKWKHXVHRIFRORUVRXQGVDQG
DFWLRQ7ULHU VWD\V FORVH WR WKH *UHHN WH[W ZKLOH RIIHULQJ D VWULNLQJ DQG RULJLQDODUWLVWLF
UHQGLWLRQ RI WKH PHVVHQJHU VFHQH /DUV 9RQ 7ULHU¶V ¿OP JUDFHIXOO\ UHWDLQV WKH VFHQH¶V
VHQVH RI P\VWHU\ IRU KH GRHV QRW DFWXDOO\ SRUWUD\ *ODXFH¶V GHDWK RQ VFUHHQ KH LQVWHDG
XVHVWKHGLVWXUELQJGHDWKRIDEHDXWLIXOKRUVHDVDQDOOHJRULFDOUHSUHVHQWDWLRQRIKHUGHDWK
7KH*UHHNWH[WOLQHVLVDVIROORZV
ƵƯƳƱƮԏƬƲƤƧƤԃƱƠƱƲоƴƠƬƮƬчƫƴұơƮƱƲƯхƵƮƨư
ƪƠƫ›ƯԚƩƠƲф›ƲƯԗƱƵƦƫƠƲрƥƤƲƠƨƩфƫƬ
ыƶƳƵƮƬƤѳƩҷ›ƯƮƱƢƤƪԙƱƠƱцƫƠƲƮư
Ʃы›ƤƨƲϝчƬƠƱƲӮƱϝїƩƧƯфƬƷƬƣƨоƯƵƤƲƠƨ
ƱƲоƢƠưшơƯҳƬơƠрƬƮƳƱƠ›ƠƪƪƤхƩԗ›Ʈƣр
ƣцƯƮƨưҐ›ƤƯƵƠрƯƮƳƱƠ›Ʈƪƪҫ›ƮƪƪнƩƨư
ƲоƬƮƬƲϝїư҃ƯƧҳƬ҇ƫƫƠƱƨƱƩƮ›ƮƳƫоƬƦ
ƲƮҏƬƧоƬƣƤƫоƬƲƮƨƣƤƨƬҳƬѩƬƧоƠƫϝѳƣƤԃƬ
ƵƯƮƨҫƬƢҫƯчƪƪнƭƠƱƠƪƤƵƯрƠ›нƪƨƬ
ƵƷƯƤԃƲƯоƫƮƳƱƠƩԙƪƠƩƠұƫфƪƨưƴƧнƬƤƨ
ƧƯфƬƮƨƱƨƬїƫ›ƤƱƮԏƱƠƫүƵƠƫƠұ›ƤƱƤԃƬ
ƑƠрƲƨưƢƤƯƠƨҫ›ƯƮƱ›фƪƷƬƣфƭƠƱн›ƮƳ
ѥƗƠƬҳư҃ƯƢҫưѧƲƨƬƮưƧƤԙƬƫƮƪƤԃƬ
чƬƷƪфƪƳƭƤ›ƯрƬƢϝ҄ƯӯƣƨҫƱƲфƫƠ
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
ƵƷƯƮԏƬƲƠƪƤƳƩҳƬчƴƯфƬ҃ƫƫнƲƷƬƲϝы›Ʈ
ƩфƯƠưƱƲƯоƴƮƳƱƠƬƠѺƫнƲϝƮҏƩїƬҳƬƵƯƮк
ƤѹƲϝчƬƲрƫƮƪ›ƮƬѪƩƤƬ҃ƪƮƪƳƢӸưƫоƢƠƬ
ƩƷƩƳƲфƬƤҏƧҵưƣϝѤƫҭƬїư›ƠƲƯҳưƣфƫƮƳư
ҠƯƫƦƱƤƬѤƣҭ›ƯҳưƲҳƬчƯƲрƷư›фƱƨƬ
ƴƯнƱƮƳƱƠƬхƫƴƦưƱƳƫƴƮƯнƬь›ƠƱƠƣҭ
ƱƲоƢƦ›ƳƩƬƮԃƱƨƬїƩƲх›ƤƨƣƯƠƫпƫƠƱƨƬ
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
$QGRQHROGZRPDQRIWKHVHUYDQWVWKLQNLQJLWVHHPVWRPH
that either the wrath of Pan or of one of the other gods had come XSRQKHU
3
*UDPPDWLFDOO\ƱƵƦƫƠƲрƥƤƲƠƨLVLQWKHSUHVHQWWHQVHDORQJZLWKƣƨоƯƵƤƲƠƨIRXUOLQHVGRZQ
4
,QKLVFRPPHQWDU\'RQDOG-0DVWURQDUGHVD\VWKDWƤѳƩҷLVDSRHWLFDFFXVDWLYHVLQJXODURI
ƤѳƩцƬKHDOVRVWDWHVWKDWWKH³OLIHOHVVLPDJH´IRUHVKDGRZVKHULPSHQGLQJGHDWK0RUHRYHU*UHHN
PLUURUVZHUHGLVNVPDGHIURPEXUQLVKHGEURQ]H7KH\ZHUHKDQGKHOGRUVHWXSRQDVWDQG/DUV
YRQ7ULDUSRUWUD\V*ODXFHDVKROGLQJWKHPLUURU(XULSLGHVMedeaHG'RQDOG-RKQ0DVWURQDUGH
&DPEULGJH&DPEULGJH8QLYHUVLW\3UHVV
5
0DVWURQDUGHVWDWHVWKDW›Ʈƪƪҫ›ƮƪƪнƩƨư LVDUKHWRULFDOLQWHQVL¿FDWLRQZKLFKFDQEHWUDQVODWHGDV
³YHU\RIWHQ´RU³DJDLQDQGDJDLQ´0DVWURQDUGHMedea
6
0DVWURQDUGHVWDWHVWKDWWKLVLVUHIHUULQJWRWKH$FKLOOHV¶WHQGRQDWWKHEDFNRIWKHDQNOHDQGWKDW
VKHLVVWUHWFKLQJKHUOHJEDFNZDUGVWRGLVSOD\KRZWKHGUHVVKDQJV,ELG
7
´ƪƤƵƯрƠFRXOGPHDQ³µPRYLQJVLGHZD\V¶RUµEHQWRYHURIIEDODQFH¶RUPD\VXJJHVWERWK
WRJHWKHU´,ELG
8
7KHROGZRPDQWKLQNVWKDW*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
/DUV 9RQ 7ULHU XVHV FRORU LQ WKLV ¿OP WR KLV DGYDQWDJH SOD\LQJ ZLWK FRQWUDVWV
DQG VKDGRZV LQ RUGHU WR FUHDWH WKH HHULH PRRG WKLV WUDJHG\ HYRNHV 7KH ZKROH ¿OP LV
GRPLQDWHG E\ D JORRP\ GDUNQHVV FRQWUDVWHG ZLWK WKH RXWGRRU VFHQHV ZKLFK DUH XVXDOO\
FRPSRVHGRIH[FHVVLYHO\EULJKWEDFNGURSV7KHVHEDFNGURSVDUHWKHPVHOYHVFRQWUDVWHG
ZLWK WKH GDUNO\FORWKHG FKDUDFWHUV )RU H[DPSOH RQH VKRUW FOLS VKRZV 0HGHD LQ WKH
GLVWDQFH ZDONLQJ EULVNO\ DORQJ D EHDFK GUHVVHG LQ D ORQJ DOOEODFN UREH 7KH VHWWLQJ
DURXQGKHULVDOPRVWZKLWHDQGLWLVLPSRVVLEOHWRDFFXUDWHO\WHOOZKHUHWKHZDWHURIWKH
VHDPHHWVWKHVKRUHOLQH$OOWKHZKLOHZKLWHPLVWVRIVDQGEORZLQWKLQVWUHDPVDFURVV
WKH UHG VKRUH 7KH *UHHN WH[W UHOHYDQW WR WKH /DUV YRQ 7ULHU VFHQH KDV D IHZ GLUHFW
UHIHUHQFHVWRFRORU7KH¿UVWRQHLVƵƯƳƱƮԏƬ«ƱƲоƴƠƬƮƬ³WKHJROGHQFURZQ´ZKLFK
7ULDU GXWLIXOO\ SRUWUD\V LQ WKH VFHQH 7KLV FURZQ LV WKLFN JROG PDMHVWLF \HW GDXQWLQJ
DQGOLQLQJWKHWRSULPDUHUD]RUVKDUSPHWDOOLFWKRUQV,WLVDZHDSRQLQDQGRILWVHOI 9 чƬƷƪфƪƳƭƤ LVZKDW0DVWURQDUGHGHVFULEHVDVDXOXODWLRQZKLFKLVVRPHWLPHVDVSRQWDQHRXVFU\
RIZRPHQLQUHVSRQVHWRDQHPRWLRQDOO\RUULWXDOO\SRZHUIXOHYHQWVXFKDVDYLFWRU\VDFUL¿FHRU
ELUWK7KHVHFULHVVHHPWR³JUHHWRUDFNQRZOHGJHWKHSUHVHQFHRIDGLYLQHSRZHURUDQHSLSKDQ\
DQGWKXVOHVVHQWKHGDQJHUIURPVXFKSRZHU´7KHUHLVDFRQWUDVWEHWZHHQWKLVFU\DQGWKHODWHU
ODPHQWDWLRQLQOLQHV,ELG 10 7UDQVODWLQJƵƷƯƮԏƬƲƠDV³VSHZLQJ´DSSHDUVSUHIHUDEOHWR³DGYDQFLQJ´RU³JLYLQJZD\´LQWKLV
LQVWDQFH
11 /LWHUDOO\³KHUVNLQZLWKRXWEORRG´
12
7KHWKUHHGLIIHUHQWZRUGVIRUFU\LQJQRLVHVDUHSDUWLFXODUO\GLI¿FXOWWRWUDQVODWHчƬƲрƫƮƪ›ƮƬ…
҃ƪƮƪƳƢӸư…ƩƷƩƳƲфƬ
13 0DVWURQDUGHFOHYHUO\WDNHVчƯƲрƷưDV³UHFHQWO\PDUULHG´DOWKRXJKLWJHQHUDOO\PHDQV³FRP
SOHWH´RU³SHIHFW´0DVWURQDUGHMedea
14
7KHPHDQLQJRI›ƳƩƬƮԃƱƨƬLVGLI¿FXOWWRGHWHUPLQH7KHZRUGLVUHODWHGWRVRPHWKLQJ³FORVHO\
SDFNHG´DFFRUGLQJWR/LGGHOODQG6FRWW,QPRVWWH[WVLWLVWUDQVODWHGDV³IRRWVWHSV´
15
(XUMed. 16
7KHFURZQORRNVOLNHDZHDSRQ7KHUHDUHUD]RUVKDUSWKRUQVDOODURXQGLWDQGLWKDVDJHQHU
DOO\PHQDFLQJDLU,QWHUHVWLQJO\WKHVFHQHSULRUWRWKLVRQHVKRZV-DVRQZLWKWKHWZRER\VRQ
KRUVHEDFNEULQJLQJWKHJLIW7ULDURPLWVWKHUREHDQGIRFXVHVVROHO\RQWKHGLDGHPXSWRWKH
HIRUNDO
2012
7KH QH[W UHIHUHQFHV DOO KDYH WR GR ZLWK WKH DEVHQFH RI FRORU ³ZKLWH´ )LUVW (XULSLGHV
PHQWLRQV *ODXFH¶V ³ZKLWH IHHW´ KHU ›ƠƪƪƤхƩԗ ›Ʈƣр 1H[W WKH WH[WV PHQWLRQV WKH
ƪƤƳƩҳƬчƴƯфƬWKH³ZKLWHIRDP´VSHZLQJIURPKHUPRXWKDQGODVWWKHWH[WVWDWHVWKDW
ƠѺƫн Ʋϝ ƮҏƩ їƬҳƬ ƵƯƮк WKDW KHU IDFH ZDV ³ZLWKRXW EORRG´ WKXV WKDW KHU IDFH LV SDOH
/DUVYRQ7ULHUXVHVWKHVHFRORUVLJQDOVDOWKRXJKLWLVREYLRXVWKDWKLVSOD\IXOQHVV
ZLWKOLJKWFRPHVIURPKLVRZQVW\OHDQGQRWGLUHFWO\IURP(XULSLGHV¶WH[W$VSUHYLRXVO\
PHQWLRQHG 7ULDU SOD\V ZLWK KLJK FRQWUDVWV *ODXFH ZHDUV D SXUHZKLWH GUHVV DQG KHU
KDLULVORQJDQGEODFNFODVKLQJDJDLQVWWKHGUHVVDQGKHUZKLWHVNLQ&UHRQ¶VSDODFHLV
JORRP\DQGGDUNHVSHFLDOO\*ODXFH¶VFKDPEHU,WVHHPVWKDWWKHRQO\WKLQJOLJKWLQJXS
WKH URRP LV KHU VNLQ DQG KHU GUHVV DV VKH FUHDWHV VKDGRZV PRYLQJ DERXW KHU FKDPEHU
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
WKDW FDQ EH GRQH ZLWK UHJDUGV WR VRXQG 7KHUH DUH IHZ UHIHUHQFHV WR VRXQG LQ WKH WH[W
LWVHOIKRZHYHULWLVKDUGWRLPDJLQHWKDWWKHUHZRXOGEHDQ\VRXQGRWKHUWKDQWKHDFWRU
FU\LQJ RU WKH FKRUXV VLQJLQJ 7KH WH[W VWDWHV WKDW чƬƷƪфƪƳƭƤ ³VKH FULHG´ DQG WKDW чƬƲрƫƮƪ›ƮƬѪƩƤƬ҃ƪƮƪƳƢӸưƫоƢƠƬƩƷƩƳƲфƬ³WKHUHFDPHDVKULHNRIIDUJUHDWHUVRXQG
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
ь›ƠƱƠƣҭƱƲоƢƦ›ƳƩƬƮԃƱƨƬїƩƲх›ƤƨƣƯƠƫпƫƠƱƨƬ 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¶V›ƳƩƬƮԃƱƨƬїƩƲх›ƤƨƣƯƠƫпƫƠƱƨƬ(“UHVRXQGHGZLWKGUXPPLQJIRRWVWHSV´
&RQWUDULO\ WKH VKRWV RI *ODXFH DUH SDUWLFXODUO\ VLOHQW DQG FDOP VDYH IRU KHU GLVWLQFW
EUHDWKLQJ7KHUHLVKRZHYHUDPRPHQWZKHQERWKVFHQHVFRQQHFWDVWKHKRUVHUXQVRXWWR
WKHEHDFKDÀRFNRIELUGVHPHUJHDQGHPLWORXGKRUULGFULHVDORQJZLWKWKHEHDWLQJRIWKHLU
ZLQJV7KH\DUHVRORXGWKDW*ODXFHKHDUVWKHPLVVWDUWOHGE\WKHPDQGVHHVWKHLUVKDGRZV
ÀXWWHUDFURVVKHUFKDPEHUZDOO7KLVLQWHUUXSWLRQFDXVHVKHUWRSDXVHIRUDPRPHQWMXVWDV
VKHLVDERXWWRSXWRQWKHFURZQ7KLVFUHDWHVDPRPHQWRIKLJKVXVSHQVHIRUWKHVFHQH7KH
XVHRIELUGVRXQGLVYHU\LQWHUHVWLQJEHFDXVHLWFDOOVEDFNWRPLQGWKHZRUG›ƳƩƬƮԃƱƨƬ 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
27
6DSSK
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$OPRVWHYHU\RQHRI*ODXFH¶VPRYHPHQWVLQWKHVKRUWVFHQHDSSHDUVLQ
(XULSLGHV¶WH[W*ODXFHERWKƵƯƳƱƮԏƬƲƤƧƤԃƱƠƱƲоƴƠƬƮƬчƫƴұơƮƱƲƯхƵƮƨư (“[sets] the JROGHQFURZQDERXWKHUFXUOV´DQGƪƠƫ›ƯԚƩƠƲф›ƲƯԗƱƵƦƫƠƲрƥƤƲƠƨƩфƫƬ (“[arranges] KHUKDLULQDEULJKWPLUURU´7KHVFHQHXQIROGVWKXVWKHKRUVHLVWLHGXSRYHUFRPHZLWK
LQVDQLW\UHVWOHVVVWUXJJOLQJFU\LQJDQGZDQWVWREUHDNIUHHIURPLWVWLHV1H[WIDUDZD\LQ
KHUFKDPEHU*ODXFHRSHQVWKHER[\RXQJIDFHGZLGHH\HGDQGLQQRFHQWORRNLQJOLNHD
FKLOGHDJHUO\RSHQLQJDJLIW6KHUHDFKHVLQDQGOLIWVRXWWKHGLDGHP0HDQZKLOHWKHKRUVH
EUHDNVIUHHDQGUXQVPDGO\WKURXJKWKHGDUNXQGHUJURXQGWXQQHOVRIWKHSDODFH*ODXFH
VSLQVDURXQGOLIWLQJWKHGLDGHPDQGDGPLUHVLW$OOWKHZKLOHWKHVKRWVMXPSIURPKHUWR
WKHFUD]HGUXQQLQJKRUVH6KHUXEVWKHWKRUQVRIWKHFURZQDJDLQVWKHUOLSV6KHVHHPV
WREHLQDPRPHQWRIFDOPHFVWDV\7KHKRUVH¿QDOO\PDNHVLWRXWDQGUXQVWRWKHEHDFK
$W WKLV SRLQW WKH ÀRFN RI ELUGV FRPH RXW 7KHQ *ODXFH LV DERXW WR SXW RQ WKH GLDGHP
DQG WKHQ SDXVHV DV SUHYLRXVO\ PHQWLRQHG 7KH FOLS JRHV WR WKH KRUVH VORZLQJ GRZQ
VWUXJJOLQJLQWKHVDQG,WVWDQGVXSRQLWVKLQGOHJVDQGIDOOVRYHUEDFNZDUGVZULWKLQJLQ
VSDVPVMXVWDVWKHPHVVHQJHUGHVFULEHV*ODXFH›нƪƨƬƵƷƯƤԃƲƯоƫƮƳƱƠƩԙƪƠƩƠұƫфƪƨư
ƴƧнƬƤƨƧƯфƬƮƨƱƨƬїƫ›ƤƱƮԏƱƠƫүƵƠƫƠұ›ƤƱƤԃƬ³ZLWKWUHPEOLQJWKLJKVVKHJDYHZD\
VODQWLQJ EDFNZDUGVIDOOLQJ XSRQ KHU FKDLUV RQO\ WR KDYH IDOOHQ RQ WKH JURXQG´ ,W IDOOV
RQLWVVLGHDQGWULHVWRPRYHLWVOHJVLQDUXQQLQJPRWLRQEXWLWFDQQRORQJHUGRVR7KH
ELUGV FODPRXU FRQVWDQWO\ LQ WKH EDFNJURXQG 7KH FDPHUD FORVHV LQ RQ WKH KRUVH¶V IDFH
WHHWKEDUHGZLGHH\HGOLNH*ODXFHZKRVH҃ƫƫнƲƷƬƲϝы›ƮƩфƯƠưƱƲƯоƴƮƳƱƠƬ(“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
FURZQ DQG ORRNV DW KHUVHOI LQ WKH PLUURU DGMXVWV LW D OLWWOH DQG QLFNV KHUVHOI 7KH ODVW
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