A Greek tragedy is a Greek tragedy, helpful tautology to describe these reads.

What always fascinates me while reading such ancient writings is that they are incredible time machines; one can really experience the 'feel' of bygone ages. It is also very rewarding to take a look at the origins of literary devices that would become prominent cliches to western arts, such as the Deus ex Machina for Euripedes.

The plots are lovely, so shocking and outrageous for today standards, specially taboo regarding filial relationships. Our psychological troubles were several layers less complex, I would guess purer in a sense.

The stories serve an educational purpose; there is always a moral lessons underlining them that represent what ideals were highly regarded in classical Greek societies. Loyalty, hospitality and letting go trying to control relentless Nature are the most important for Euripedes. He was also very keen to explore the nature and role of women in society, it seems he was never really able to put a finger on them, but he tried.

Well worth reading, in particular 'Medea' and 'Hippolytus', Euripides explores universal themes of vengance/savagery, patience/anger, and familial relations using excessive but poignant examples. He manages (especially in 'Medea') to draw out deep characterisation, philosophical and religious questions, plot and beuatiful language in a concise and well-paced manner.
Note: the introductions to the text are useful, but often better read after the text itself.

I picked this book of plays by Euripides primarily for Medea, so that will earn the brunt of my review.

Medea is one kick-ass, crazy bitch. Period. Having read Jason and the Golden Fleece  and thoroughly enjoyed it I was excited to read more about Medea, particularly her story after helping Jason find the Golden Fleece. Talk about one spurned lover! After Jason leaves Medea for a Greek princess, Medea goes a little bye-bye and decides the best way for her to express her distaste is to kill off her children. Someone get that lady a diary or a canvas or something! Girl, there are better ways of creatively expressing your feelings than going straight for the spawn. I'm just sayin'.

Really though, she's not a woman to be trifled with and while I love her story I'm a little peeved with Euripides for portraying yet another woman on the crazy side of things. The Big E had a habit of being somewhat misogynistic and that's obvious here, even in his attempt to be a big boy and tell the story from the woman's point of view.

In contemporary stories Medea might be referred to as Emily Valentine from the early seasons of Beverly Hills, 90210. She had no children, so she went all firebug instead. But the premise is the same. Mostly.

The other plays in this small collection were pretty okay. The second best is Aclestis where the title character spends a great deal of time dying, her husband mourning, and Death being duped. All in all, good times. The other plays did not hold up in my opinion, but really it's hard to compete with Medea, both the woman and the play. I'm digging this girl. Though not someone I wish to aspire to become, her psychosis is incredibly fascinating. (And if during this fascination I cut my hair short, dye it blond so my roots are always showing and start driving a motorcycle and getting all cow-eyed for Brandon Walsh after slipping drugs into his drink, please intervene. Thanks.)

woooo ancient greek theater classsss

10/10 better than Shakespeare

Great but a bit depressing.

Medea needs to chill
Jason is also very stupid
I’m sure my classics teacher will be happy with my detailed review

i only read medea but wow, she's crazy, she literally killed four people in the space of one day, but revenge on her husband, yay! pretty weird, being so short, although it was hilarious reading medea's ridiculously crazy thoughts (seriously she's crazy)!

I've reviewed the individual plays from this volume of Euripides' plays (the first of five volumes, all of which I have and will read in order) separately; they are the earliest surviving plays and include the well-known Medea as well as Hyppolytus, which aside from Medea stood out to me in this collection.

Fuck Jason, all my homies hate Jason

Gosh, don't cross Medea.

This is great drama with passion, gods, plot complications, and difficult family relationships. But what else would you expect from Euripides, whose dramas have lasted for thousands of years and have inspired great dramatists well into our current times.

This classic volume of four plays, edited by David Grene and Richmond Lattimore, includes Medea, Hippolytus, Alcestis, and The Children of Heracles. There are few dramas that demonstrate passion in the way that Medea does. When her husband Jason leaves her for adventure and other women Medea plots to exact a revenge that raises the question whether she is exacting justice or merely mad.

In Hippolytus it is the relationships among the characters that stood out for me amidst a complicated plot influenced by rivalry among the gods (Aphrodite and Artemis). The drama highlights the relationship between Hippolytus and his father Theseus, but also brings in to play the importance of the Nurse and her relationship with Phaedra. This is notable because Euripides, unlike his predecessor Aeschylus, included characters that were lower-class working people.

Throughout these plays the influence of the gods is important in determining the fate of the characters leading to questions about the nature of fate and destiny. Just as important are large questions about justice and honor as when Athens protects the children of Heracles when they seek asylum. This example also demonstrates how relevant these plays are to our life today and explains, in part, why they have been so influential over the centuries. We are indebted to Euripides for his examination of the nature of humanity with both its flaws and greatness. I would recommend these plays to all who want to understand what it means to be human.