Euripides
(c.480-406BC)
One of the
most important Greek dramatists, Euripides was born in Salamis on the day
of the great battle between the Greeks and the Persians (Sept. 23).
Euripides saw himself as a misunderstood writer and was often criticised by
people like Aristophanes (The Frogs). He kept to himself and did not involve
himself with politics.
Influenced by the Sophists and Protagoras, Anaxagoras and Socrates, Eurupides
wrote about the Greek legends and myths in an everyday language and without
traditional religious and moral values.
Euripides wanted to make his characters as people really were, not what they
should be. He was also interested in the individual, rather than the gods
and heroes. Many of his protagonists were female characters.
He was very famous in his time, but not exceedingly popular. The writer ended
his days at the court of the Macedonian king Archelaos, where he accidentally
was killed by the kings' hunting dogs.
Euripides perhaps best known work is Medea, but his plays Orestes, Bacchae,
Trojan Women and Electra are also famous. Other works were Cyclops, Alcestis,
Hippolytus, Helen, Iphigenia at Aulis, Andromache, Children of Heracles, Hecuba,
Suppliants, Madness of Heracles, Iphigenia in Tauri , Ion and Phoenissae.
Euripides used the deus ex machina in his works, the sudden and unexpected
intervention of a god which would change the story. He used the chorus less
and had them dressed in more realistic costumes.
"MENELAOS: It is your duty to obey, my lady. You must accept the husband
who stands before you, and forget the one whose claim has ended. In your present
position this will be the best for you. And if I come home safely to Hellas,
I will put an end to evil tales about you; only be the wife you should be
to your husband."
Euripides, Helen
