Mythical literature depends upon, incites even, perpetual acts of reinterpretation in new contexts, a process that embodies the very idea of appropriation.
Euripides’ play “Medea”, based on a Greek myth about Medea has been made in a sheer endless number of new adaptations for the stage. Betrayed after leaving her home with Jason, Medea kills both her children. This core of the story usually remains but new contexts are explored in the appropriation and re-interpretation of the original. The power of such new adaptations partly comes from a sense of immediacy that is created through a connection between stage and real life of the audiences. This connection is reached through contextualisation of the performance. Through the addition of new layers of meaning, directors of the ‘new’ Medea stories give the plays new contexts in time and space. In the following essay, I argue that this contextualisation and adding of new layers can be reached through the aesthetic choices about marginal characters like the nurse and the inclusion of a figure like the beggar. Their presence adds depth and complexity to the new issues that are explored in the Medea stories.
Table of Contents
1. Adaptations of Euripides’ Medea Story - The Pivotal Role of the Nurse and the Beggar in the Processes of Re-Contextualisation
1.1 Introduction
1.2 The Role of the Nurse
1.3 The Role of the Beggar
1.4 Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This essay explores how adaptations of the Greek myth of Medea utilize marginal characters, specifically the nurse and the beggar, to re-contextualize the original story within new socio-political settings, such as colonial and post-apartheid Africa. By adding these layers of meaning, the author examines how such aesthetic choices enhance the credibility, complexity, and political discourse of the performances for modern audiences.
- The function of marginal characters in stage adaptations.
- The re-contextualization of classical myths in modern settings.
- Political discourse and social criticism in theater.
- The role of language and cultural markers in performance.
- Enhancing audience engagement through character perspectives.
Excerpt from the Book
The figure of the beggar in Magnuson’s African Medea
The figure of the beggar in Magnuson’s African Medea also offers a different perspective – a different lense through which the events can be seen and interpreted. He sets the scene in the play when he hobbles in the midst of the chorus, a group of dancers and musicians and begs: “Alms, masters, alms. Coins for a poor blind beggar” (44). He might be seen as a secondary chorus, adding new layers of meaning through his commentary and presence. The beggar is the most marginal and inferior person; he is poor and even blind. The inclusion of this figure gives the performance, which is situated in Africa, more credibility as it contributes to the depiction of complexity of society. His different perspective gets obvious when he tells the chorus that they care too much about the white priests them. As he had been violently hurt and cut one of his arms off, he alludes to issues of violence and notions of forgiveness and reconciliation in society. Even more than the chorus and the nurse, he remains detached from the action, while nevertheless having a great insight into the events that take place and party foretells them: “We shall soon bring it all down. The drums are beating … soon … soon … soon” (45). Hence, the beggar functions as a knowledgeable messenger when he reports about the city which “has gone mad” (57).
Summary of Chapters
1. Adaptations of Euripides’ Medea Story - The Pivotal Role of the Nurse and the Beggar in the Processes of Re-Contextualisation: This introductory section establishes the central thesis that marginal characters are essential for creating new, politically charged contexts in modern adaptations of the Medea myth.
1.1 Introduction: This section presents the theoretical basis, arguing that the appropriation of the original Greek play is achieved through aesthetic choices that connect the stage to the audience's real-life context.
1.2 The Role of the Nurse: This chapter analyzes how the nurse figure provides an insider-outsider perspective, facilitating cultural references and bridging the gap between the original myth and specific local, political settings.
1.3 The Role of the Beggar: This chapter explores how the beggar acts as a catalyst for political discourse and social criticism, offering a detached but fierce perspective on revolution and systemic violence.
1.4 Conclusion: The concluding chapter synthesizes the arguments, emphasizing that both characters build a bridge between the classical source material and contemporary audiences, thereby increasing the performance's immediacy.
Keywords
Medea, Euripides, Adaptation, Re-contextualization, Nurse, Beggar, Theater, Apartheid, Colonialism, Political Discourse, Performance, Myth, Appropriation, Social Criticism, African Medea.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this essay?
The essay focuses on how theater adaptations of Euripides’ Medea use marginal characters like the nurse and the beggar to reinterpret the original story within new, often politically charged, cultural contexts.
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
The main themes include the re-contextualization of classical drama, the political function of marginal characters, the impact of colonialism and apartheid on storytelling, and the aesthetics of theatrical appropriation.
What is the primary goal of the author?
The goal is to demonstrate how directors add "layers of meaning" through specific characters, which in turn gives the play a sense of immediacy and relevance to modern audiences.
Which scientific or analytical method does the author employ?
The author uses a comparative analysis, evaluating various versions of the Medea myth (specifically Fleishman’s and Magnuson’s adaptations) against the original Greek play to examine character function and context.
What is covered in the main body of the text?
The main body examines the specific roles of the nurse (as a mediator and local reference point) and the beggar (as a voice for revolution and social commentary) in Magnuson’s and Fleishman’s adaptations.
What are the key terms that define this work?
The work is characterized by terms such as appropriation, re-contextualization, political discourse, performance traditions, and cultural identification.
How does the nurse contribute to the African context in Fleishman's play?
The nurse serves as a linguistic bridge, particularly through code-switching to Afrikaans, which immediately anchors the performance in a South African socio-cultural reality.
In what way does the beggar act as a symbol of social criticism?
As a marginalized, blind figure, the beggar has little to lose, allowing him to voice provocative and fierce criticisms regarding colonial struggle and societal violence that other characters cannot express.
- Quote paper
- Markus Emerson (Author), 2011, Adaptations of Euripides’ “Medea” Story, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/310564
