Euripides' Medea is one of the greatest and most influential Greek tragedies. This book outlines the development of the Medea myth before Euripides and explores his uniquely powerful version from various angles. There are chapters on the play's relationship to the gender politics of fifth-century Athens, Medea's status as a barbarian, and the complex moral and emotional impact of her revenge. Particular attention is paid to the tragic effect of Medea's great monologue and the significance of her role as a divine avenger. The book ends by considering the varied and fascinating reception of Euripides' play from antiquity to the present day.

欧里庇得斯的《美狄亚》是最伟大和最有影响力的希腊悲剧之一。本书概述了欧里庇得斯之前的美狄亚神话的发展，并从不同角度探讨了他独特的强大版本。其中有几章论述了该剧与五世纪雅典性别政治的关系、美狄亚的野蛮人身份以及她的复仇所带来的复杂的道德和情感影响。本书特别关注美狄亚的伟大独白的悲剧效果以及她作为神圣复仇者的角色的意义。本书最后考虑了从古代到现在对欧里庇得斯的戏剧的不同和迷人的接受。