Euripides: A Greek Tragic Hero

Euripides is known as one of the three Greek Tragedians, along with Aeschylus and Sophocles- as such, he is often regarded as one of the greatest playwrights in history. This is because his plays (such as Medea and The Trojan Women) have had the power and ability to last through the ages. It was previously believed that he had written over ninety-five plays, but more recently it is believed he wrote closer to ninety-two, of which around nineteen have survived. Of the three, Euripides was the youngest, and his first play made its debut thirteen years after Sophocles’ debut. Euripides was born circa 480 B.C. in Salamis, Greece, to parents Cleito (whom many have ascertained may have been a market greengrocer) and Mnesarchus, a retailer in a

His characters often display this humanism in their flaws, natural desires, and lack of the conviction that the classic heroes often presented in Greek theatre, and were given flaws, doubts, vulnerabilities, and true problems without the presentation of a deus ex machina; in fact, many of the fates of his characters were directly influenced by their flaws. His characters were also known to hault dramatic action in preference for a more psychological and insightful

It could be deduced that his work influenced other playwrights such as William Shakespeare, as the structure went as follows: a situation was mixed up; characters had a recognition scene; everything turned out in the end. It can even be said that this structure lasted more than his other plays did. One of his best-known plays was Medea- it told the still-remarkable story of a woman, her abuse, and her plotted and executed revenge. In the script, a princess named Medea is taken by Jason to become his bride; the two wed, have two children, and seemingly live happily ever after. However, Jason eventually decides to marry a younger woman after their marriage, and Medea plots her vengeance. The play describes the hatred she feels for her husband and the love she feels for her sons, and she eventually murders the princess and her own