Working primarily with Jesmyn Ward’s Salvage the Bones and Euripides’ Medea, my project is an analysis of contemporary adaptations of ancient Greek myths. Advised by Professor Keegan Cook Finberg, I will examine how Ward’s novel reworks the myth of a murderous mother into a uniquely American narrative that uses the character Medea to explore seemingly inseparable themes of motherhood and violence. By looking at the intersections of race, gender, sexuality, and class that are highlighted in the novel, I will consider the extent to which Salvage the Bones as an adaptation critiques both contemporary and ancient cultures’ treatment of women. The overarching goal of my work is to examine why ancient myth remains relevant and how authors like Ward continue to develop these stories into fresh narratives.