Andreas Flourakis – "Medea's Burqa"

Abstract

The article analyzes "Medea's Burqa," a monologue adapted to mo­dern standards by the Greek playwright Andreas Flourakis. This play offers a distinct interpretation of the classic Greek myth of Me­dea, viewed through the lens of contemporary issues. While the main plotline of the classical myth is preserved, it is excellently interwoven with Flourakis’s individualistic approach to the myth, thereby lending the play its current relevance.

The entire piece is a monologue delivered by Medea, who reco­unts her own story, speaking about her past, present, and even her fu­tu­re plans. Other characters, meanwhile, play only a passive role.

A. Flourakis tells the story of a woman who finds herself in a for­eign land-an emigrant who must cope with a culture that is diff­erent and non-native to her, along with a daily, unfamiliar reality. It is crucial for her to establish her own identity within the existing society in order to survive. The author skillfully highlights several sig­ni­ficant aspects:

• Emigration: Medea is on foreign soil, operating within a different identity, a different culture, and a different society, far rem­oved from anything native.
• Preservation of Self (Identity): The constant struggle to maintain her native culture and uphold the norms acceptable to her.
• Her Desire for Freedom of Choice: The persistent need to have autonomous decision-making power.
• The Attempt to Overcome Patriarchal Stereotypes: The effort to tackle the patriarchal constraints present both within herself and in the foreign culture.