Modern Literary Interpretations of the Medea Myth From Marginalization to Dominance (Krista Wolf's novel: "Medea – Voices" and Nino Kharatishvili's play "My and Your Heart [Medea]")

Abstract

The article presents modern interpretations of the Medea myth based on Nino Kharatishvili's play "My Heart [Medea]" and Christa Wolf's novel "Medea-Voices". In particular, using a compa­rative analysis, it is discussed how different passages or motifs of the Medea myth change within the fra­mework of two different texts and, accordingly, how Medea's identity is constructed/formed.

In the position of the male characters of both novels (Creon, Jason, Acama), we can examine the masculine perspective, accor­ding to which, the woman was primarily understood as a being obedient to the will of the man, with a strictly defined role and behavioral models. In both texts, Medea disrupts the dominant discourse.

Medea's identity as a vengeful and destructive woman, in contrast to Christa Wolff's novel, is preserved in Nino Khara­tish­vili's play. Her confron­tation with Creon and Jason's punishment are perceived by the patriarchal system not as an attempt to protect dignity and restore justice, but as an irrational and spontaneous act of revenge by a desperate woman, which is why the system tries to demonize and marginalize her. From a feminist pers­pective, Me­dea's struggle is perceived as a successful attempt to move the female character from the periphery to the center and to dominate men in a stric­tly defined socio-cultural role and free herself from masculine constraints.

In Christa Wolff's novel, Medea experiences complete frustra­tion after exposing the system. Medea becomes a victim of sexism, brutal political interests and repression of the system.