Have you ever wondered where certain themes or archetypes in horror films come from, or why certain conventions exist in horror films? For my project, I’m going to examine how specific themes and archetypes came to fruition, specifically the idea of obsession and the “woman scorned,” or a woman who has been pushed to seek revenge. The primary text I will be looking at is Euripides’s Medea, written in 431 BCE. It’s often credited with creating the “woman scorned” trope, while exploring the theme of obsession throughout Euripides’s work. Along with analysing Medea, I will read multiple scholarly sources to gain a deeper understanding of how this trope and theme reflect Ancient Greek culture. I will then apply these ideas to three movies which share themes and tropes with Medea: Fatal Attraction (1987), Misery (1990), and The Hand that Rocks the Cradle (1992). By examining them, I will see the impact that Greek tragedies have had on American horror and, by extension, the impact that Ancient Greek values have had on those of the United States.