Women of TrachisThe least developed of all Sophocles' tragedies in terms of structure and action, Women of Trachis dramatizes the unfortunate and accidental death of Ancient Greece’s greatest hero, Heracles. The play is set before the royal palace at Trachis, fifteen months since the region’s king, Heracles, has left his home to go on one of his adventures. His queen, Deianira, is worried due to the lack of news, so she sends her son Hyllus to find out what has become of Heracles. Hyllus, however, already knows this much: after serving as a slave for a year at the court of queen Omphale, Heracles is currently fighting in Oechalia against King Eurytas, the author of his previous demise. Determined to help him, Hyllus leaves for Oechalia. Soon after, Heracles' herald Lichas arrives at the court of Trachis with a few female captives, one of whom is none other than Iole, King Eurytas' daughter. After some inquiring, Deianira learns from Lichas that Heracles has conquered Oechalia not because of Eurytas’ offense, but because he wanted the country’s princess for himself. Disheartened, Deianira sends Heracles a festal robe anointed with the blood of the centaur Nessus, who had told her, years before and with his dying breath, that his blood is a love charm which has such power to make Heracles never look upon any other woman. That is precisely what happens, but not in line with Deianira’s expectations. Namely, as Hyllus soon reports, the robe has poisoned Heracles, and he is in such pain and agony that he is better off dead. Upon realizing what she has done, Deianira kills herself. After being brought home to Trachis, Heracles asks his son Hyllus to marry Iole and then orders him to light a funeral pyre that will put an end to his suffering. |
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Achelöos afraid Alkmene ancient arrow audience beast bellowing C. K. WILLIAMS centaur Cheiron choral Chorus confrontation conventional crawl dark daughter dead death DEIANEIRA destroyed by Herakles doom dramatic Enter HYLLOS Erymanthos Euboia Euripides Eurystheus Eurytos Exit father final fused girl give gods Greek tragedy groaning hands happen heard hero hero's heroic hope human husband Hydra Iole Iphitos just-ice kill LEADER LICHAS line numbers listen lives look Love lyric marriage MESSENGER metaphor mother murder Nessos never NURSE Oedipus Oichalia Oineus Oita Omphale oracles original pain parodos pity play play's poet poetry pyre Queen robe sacred oak savagery scene sense slave someone Sopho Sophoclean Sophocles southern Greece speak spinning stage directions stasimon suddenly suffer suggested tell thing tion Tiryns tradition translation venom violence Wait what's wife William Arrowsmith woman Women of Trachis word Zeus