Book review: Medea  

Written by a Year 10 student from Harris Science Academy East London 

Medea by Rosie Hewlett is a modern retelling of the famous Jason and the Argonauts myth, exploring the theme of motherhood and how individuals respond to it. It considers the extent to which a mother would go to protect her children and makes us question gender roles when it comes to the raising of a family. 

The book starts by recounting Medea’s own childhood, one filled with abuse and neglect from her father which stemmed from his own deep-rooted jealousy of her powers. Throughout the book, it can be noted her father's abuse left a permanent impact on her character as she easily becomes attached to Jason when he shows her the smallest amount of affection.  

The book is narrated by Medea herself, at times her character can be frustrating, as she refuses to take advice from everybody around her. She even goes as far as committing murder for Jason to prove her love for him, something in which all authority figures warned her of.   

Medea is initially presented as a strong female character, in charge of her own destiny and fate, refusing to abide by the gender rules she was born into. However, we readers slowly watch her descent into madness as Medea is let down by everybody around her and her own weakening mental state. 

Readers are left to decide whether her immoral action was excusable due to her circumstances and left with a feeling of sickening sympathy for Medea towards the end, a woman who has lost everybody yet who will not let the worst in life wear her down. This interesting new perspective on the age old myth allows us to pass our own judgement on her infamous deeds.