The Civic Function of Greek Theater

Reading: Jennifer Wallace on the cultural development of Greek tragedy (Wallace.pdf—on Blackboard)

Reading: Euripides, Medea, pp 5-44 (roughly the play’s first half, ending with Aegeus’ exit from the stage).

Writing: Respond to ONE of the following prompts. Keep your response short, posting as a reply under the appropriate heading in the comments section:

1. The play opens with a conversation between two servants, the Nurse and the Tutor, a conversation which serves to bring the audience up to speed with recent events in Medea’s life. But beyond mere plot summary, their conversation can be mined for insight into class dynamics. From the words these characters use in speaking of their master and mistress, how do these lower-class characters feel toward their social “betters”? Do the Nurse and Tutor express similar attitudes, or do their differ?
2. The Chorus in a Greek Tragedy often serves to voice the hopes and fears of ordinary citizens, witnesses to actions undertaken by heroes and by politicians that will make or break the city’s fortunes. Taking this generalization as your starting point, point to a moment in Medea that allows you to characterize the Chorus in this particular play. Does this Chorus bear out my generalization, or does it stand as an exception to the general rule?
3. In quick succession, Medea meets with King Creon and then her estranged husband Jason. Pointing to a key moment from one of these exchanges, what do we learn about her character—or perhaps about the cultural power imbalance she faces as a woman and an alien?