(Ancient Text by , translated by ) and Before He Cheats (Contemporary Song by Carrie Underwood)
In the very beginning of Euripides’ Medea, we are told the story of a woman (a wife and a mother) who’s husband left her to marry another younger bride. On page 14 lines 15, we have a third party Nurse describe the rage and hurt Medea is internalizing: “But now — everything’s hateful, her love is sick. Jason betrayed his children and my mistress for the marriage-bed of a royal bride…And Medea – poor woman! – treated with dishonor”. When reading this piece of literature, I Before He Cheats – a song about a woman who also becomes aware that her significant other is having an affair and want revenge. On the other hand, we don’t get to see a lot of the explicit hurt, grief, and tears from Carrie Underwood as we do with Medea.
The nurse goes onto say “I’m afraid she may be planning something rash. Her mind is dangerous. She will not endure mistreatment. I know this woman and fear her; she’s a frightening woman: not easily will someone engage with her in hatred and win the prize”. Carrie Underwood begins to describe the situation in which her lover is having an affair and that he also doesn’t know what form of revenge will be taken:
“Right now, he’s probably
Dabbing on three dollars
Worth of that bathroom Polo
Oh, and he don’t know”
“That I dug my key into the side
Of his pretty little souped-up four-wheel drive
Carved my name into his leather seats
I took a Louisville slugger to both head lights
I slashed a hole in all four tires
Maybe next time he’ll think before he cheats”
Moreso, On page 32 line 405, Medea says to the chorus “And what is more, We’re women, quite unable to manage good, but none more skilled when it comes to doing harm” Here, she explains the power she holds as a woman and how skilled she is at ensuring her dignity is still present despite the situation making her feel like a fool. Similarly, Carrie Underwood states that the cheating lover is actually the fool, because he’s learning that she is not one to be cheated on:
“I might have saved a little trouble for the next girl
‘Cause the next time that he cheats
Oh, you know it won’t be on me!
No, not on me”
Unfortunately, one major difference between the two acts of revenge is that Carrie Underwood’s form of revenge is to destroy her boyfriend’s truck, whereas Medea killed both her husband, his new lover, and her children (yikes).
Page 14: “But now — everything’s hateful, her love is sick. Jason betrayed his children and my mistress for the marriage-bed of a royal bride…And Medea – poor woman! – treated with dishonor”.
Page 15: “I’m afraid she may be planning something rash. Her mind is dangerous. She will not endure mistreatment. I know this woman and fear her; she’s a frightening woman: not easily will someone engage with her in hatred and win the prize”.