ABSTRACT
This chapter utilizes psychoanalytic theory to trace the psychological distress linked to late capitalism in Colin Teevan's play Alcmaeon in Corinth, which is a distinctly modern reconstruction of a Euripides play surviving only as fragments and a broad mythical outline. Alcmaeon in Corinth premiered under the title Cock of the North at the Live Theatre in Newcastle upon Tyne, in 2004. Teevan's reconstruction focuses on contemporary concerns about the monetarization of spheres long thought to be inappropriate for economic logic, specifically sexuality, religion, and the family. The chapter focuses principally on Alcmaeon and Creon, both of whom are psychologically compelled to pursue enjoyment, even at the expense of their families, society, and mental health. In Alcmaeon in Corinth, market ideology pervades Corinthian society, reflecting in family life, religion, and sexuality. The very essence of the city is sexuality, with the name Corinth derived from korinthiazomai, a word for fornication.
