Medea Speaks: Retelling the Myth of Jason and the Golden Fleece from a Feminist Perspective

In her new book "No Friend to This House," author Natalie Haynes reimagines the ancient Greek myth of Jason and the Golden Fleece, putting the perspectives of women at the forefront. The novel is part of a recent wave of mythic retellings that have sought to give voice to the often-overlooked women of Greek mythology.

Haynes' work focuses on characters like Medea, the sorceress who helped Jason obtain the Golden Fleece but is infamous for later murdering her own children. The novel provides Medea with the opportunity to tell her side of the story, complicating the traditional narrative. Haynes also shines a light on other female characters, such as Jason's mother Alcimede and the women of Lemnos, who were brutally overlooked in previous tellings.

By disrupting the familiar linear structure and male-centric focus of the original myth, Haynes creates a powerful feminist reclamation that illuminates the emotional stakes and diverse perspectives of the women involved. The result is a thrilling and illuminating work that challenges readers to reconsider the classic tales of Greek mythology.