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How did Cave of the Heart reinterpret the story of Medea?
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Martha Graham
Martha Graham performing “Letter to the World” (also called “The Kick”), 1940.
In her 1946 work Cave of the Heart, Martha Graham did not simply create a dance version of the Medea legend. Instead, she reinterpreted the story to serve as an exposure of the "Medea" latent within every woman.1
By focusing on the psychological depth of the character, Graham portrayed Medea as a manifestation of consuming jealousy. The choreography illustrates how this destructive emotion can lead an individual to ruin not only those they love but also themselves.1