Medea (Hackett Classics) Download Free (EPUB, PDF)
This is the Medea we have been waiting for. It offers clarity without banality, eloquence without pretension, meter without doggerel, accuracy without clumsiness. No English Medea can ever be Euripides', but this is as close as anyone has come so far, and a good deal closer than I thought anyone would ever come. Arnson Svarlien has shown herself exceedingly skillful in making Euripides sound Euripidean.--David M. Schaps, Bryn Mawr Classical Review
Series: Hackett Classics
Paperback: 104 pages
Publisher: Hackett Publishing Company, Inc. (March 21, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0872209237
ISBN-13: 978-0872209237
Product Dimensions: 0.2 x 5.5 x 8.2 inches
Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #19,503 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #6 in Books > Literature & Fiction > History & Criticism > Movements & Periods > Ancient & Classical #7 in Books > Literature & Fiction > History & Criticism > Movements & Periods > Medieval #12 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Dramas & Plays > Ancient & Classical
Far darker and more modern than I had expected. I can see why this play lives and remains famous long after more traditional plays of its times have become obscure. Far more realistic in some way than Shakespeare, honestly. The argument between Jason and Medea at the very end feels incredibly true to life; bitter recriminations, neither side listening to what the other has to say, leading to absolutely no resolution; no sense of justice whatsoever, either from society or the Gods, and no sense of any to come, either. I mean, Jason paid for what he did, granted, but there's no sense that justice really figures into it. Of course, this is all in translation, so of course it seems more modern in that sense than Elizabethan theater, but the story itself contains so much less poetry in its structure that it's honestly hard to believe that this piece is 2,000 years older than, say, Hamlet. Not, of course, that that's everything; Hamlet is a masterpiece, too, but one of a very different sort. My point is more that there's considerably more to get out of at least this bit of Greek theater than you might think, if you've never read any...
I enjoyed the story very much, and it was nicely put together! Accurate!! I found myself reading more and writing notes for class in the margins. It may be an old story but it's definitely still intense!
Of the Greek tragedies I've read so far, Medea is my favorite. The footnotes are informative and provide a lot of important context. While I wouldn't go so far as to call this a bad translation, there were places where I found the word choice boring or overly simple. "The pain is good as long as you're not laughing," seemed particularly clunky compared to the "My pain's a fair price to take away your smile," I was familiar with. But overall this translation is coherent and flows reasonably well.
Anyone with an eye on producing or directing this play should use this translation. It's edgy and modern, yet it retains the sense of the original.
Really cool book. Loved analyzing it in English Literature class.
I promise to be brutally honest with my opinion, but it should not be taken as fact. Any reader should read it for themselves, before they decide if this book has any merit or not. Do not judge this book baised solely on my opinion. If you do, you might miss out on a great read. You never know. It could happen.1. Strong Main Character/ Female Heroine: Medea ia not so much a heroine as a villainess. She is kickarse and relentless. She will not stop her mission, once she has begun it. Even though, she faces hardships and is hesitant to finish the path she ha planned for herself, she oes it anyway, because she knows that she needs to do it. She needs to avenge herself at any price. 5 out of 5 stars2. Strong Minor Characters: The minor characters are interesting, but not really demensional in the story. The nurse and tutor just add background information. The characters of Jason and Creon also do not seem sympathetic or more than one-deminsional. The rest of the characters besides Medea seem flat in comparision. 2 out of 5 stars3. The Setting: The setting is blah and not all that interesting, but it is a play, so I cannot judge it too harshly. 3 out of 5 stars4. The Plot: The plot of Medea is widely known by people who read classical Greek literature. I read it for the first time and I was pleasantly surprised by the ending. 5 out of 5 starsI did not like the character Medea's actions throughout the play, but that is what made it so fun to read. I wanted to yell at her throughout the entire play about her bad decisions, but....Well, I shouldn't give away any more. It was a nice play to read, but not as exciting as others I have read.
Printed in a very good format for the play--the binding still survived after several uses.
Medea killed her brother Apsyrtus and convinced the daughters of Pelias to murder him, all to aid Jason-the man she loved. Jason and Medea got married and had two children. Jason decides to leave Medea and marry another woman. Medea murdersthe children ahd runs away. This play starts when Jason tells Medea he want to leave her. I will not go into the details of the play-except this play describes the emotional state Medea was in. This play is considered one of the greatest works of mankind-an asessment I agree with.
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