THE TRAGEDY OF MEDUSA
ABOUT THE PLAY
Setting the Scene
As The Tragedy of Medusa begins, Medusa is alone, in a cave on a remote and isolated island. Suddenly, Perseus, son of Zeus and Danaë (as he helpfully points out) arrives, announcing that he has come to kill her. Despite Medusa urging Perseus to leave, he declares that he has come equipped with the weapons required to safely slay Medusa, without being turned to stone by her gaze. These include a shield from Athena, which seems to hold special meaning for Medusa. Perseus soon realizes that Medusa is not the monster that he had expected, but rather an ordinary woman. Medusa reluctantly agrees to tell Perseus her story, from her relationship with Athena to how the other gods on Olympus (Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, and Aphrodite) intervened. As he listens, Perseus begins to understand Medusa—not what others have said about her, but who she truly is.
Classical Interpretations of the Medusa Myth
Classical mythology is divided in its interpretations of Medusa, but her name usually conjures up an image of a woman with a head full of snakes and a gaze so powerful it turns men to stone. From Homer, to Ovid, to present-day popular culture, the two most prominent versions of Medusa’s mythology depict her as a Gorgon (a monstrous creature) or as a beautiful maiden who Athena turned into a monster as punishment for desecrating her temple. This supposed desecration occurred when Poseidon raped Medusa in Athena’s temple, though sanitized version of the myth suggest that Medusa and Poseidon “slept together.” Other modern versions of the myth describe Medusa as a vain maiden who was punished with an ugly appearance for claiming to be more beautiful than Athena. In all traditional tellings, Perseus is regarded as the hero for successfully beheading Medusa.
Why Reimagining the Medusa Myth is Important
Producing The Tragedy of Medusa allows us to take a story that has been told over millennia, examine why it is the way it is, and retell it in a way that is relevant and important to our current political and social climate. Our director, Olivia Buntaine, was inspired to create The Tragedy of Medusa after reading the article "Snake Eyes: The Power to Turn the Patriarchy to Stone" by McKenzie Schwark (featured in this issue Bitch Magazine: https://www.bitchmedia.org/issue/78). It suggests that the story of Athena and Medusa is one of protection, not revenge. Ultimately, Medusa deserves a chance to tell her own story, particularly as a survivor of rape. This play also gives us a chance to celebrate the ancient roots of queerness, while also acknowledging the parallel roots of misogyny, prejudice, and hatred. We need to examine this legacy in order to move forward together as a society.
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