2022 IB Diploma Extended Essays

9

recognises the logic behind their words; she would be unable to find support if she murdered her own children. She is also personally affected by their argument that she be considered ‘unholy’ of living in this ‘sacred’ and ‘hospitable’ city because of her actions. Her noble status means that the chorus is unable to stop her, yet continuously attempt to dissuade her by appealing to her reasoning and further emphasising that Euripides’ Medea placed a heavier emphasis on logic and rationality than emotions. Alternatively, Bartlett’s Medea is fundamentally alone throughout the play. Due to her newcomer status and her average economic circumstances, she is isolated and ostracised by other characters such as Pam and Carter. Her isolation results in her inability to divulge her plans to others, and Bartlett instead subtly foreshadows Medea’s murder of her son, throughout the play. In act one, Sarah drops Tom off at Medea’s house and mentions to Pam that she is “never sure about leaving her with... ( She means Tom . ) I’m never sure about leaving them on their own.” (Act 1, Scene 2). The use of ellipses and pauses in the script and the unspecific movement direction which could be portrayed to the audience in many ways, denotes Medea’s isolation from these characters. She is feared and misunderstood by all of the other characters in the play, and this inevitably causes her to murder Tom. Through this foreshadowing, Bartlett effectively illustrates how Medea’s isolation is a potential cause of her insanity. This is unlike Euripides’ Medea, whose rationality allows for her actions to be justified, at least to herself. The modern Medea is entirely alone, and Bartlett utilises foreshadowing, along with her low social class, to provide ample evidence that Medea is slowly reaching the level of insanity and irrationality that allowed her to murder her child.