Alcestis

Question 1

Who is the author?

Answer 1

Euripides

Question 2

Who are the important characters?

Answer 2

• Apollo
• Hades
• Admentus
• Alcestis
• Heracles

Question 3

Provide some background for the story.

Answer 3

• Zeus kills Asclepius (Apollo’s kid)
• Apollo distraught by this goes on a rampage and kills the cyclopes
• He is exiled and is forced to spend a year with mortals (Admentus and Alcestis)
• Apollo develops an affection for Admentus and makes a deal with Hades to spare him if he finds someone who will take his place

Question 4

Explain the storyline.

Answer 4

• The play starts with all this as background and Apollo speaking with Death when he comes to take Alcestis in place of Admetus; Death does not want to give up a person
• Alcestis asks Admetus never to remarry, have fun, have a stepmother to the children, etc.
• Alcestis eventually dies
• Heracles is presented as a nice, good friend of Admetus;
• Admetus does not want to turn away Heracles and tells Heracles to stay
• Also visited by Pheres but is yelled at for not taking Alcestis’ spot due to his age
• Servant rushes in: Heracles is ordering food, drink, being generally rowdy while everyone is trying to bury their mistress
• Heracles asks the servant what is wrong, and he finally admits that Alcestis is dead; Heracles feels remorse and goes off
• Final scene: Admetus meeting with Heracles with a veiled woman
• Heracles says he competed in some games and won the woman as a prize
• Wants to give the woman to Admetus because he has to go off and do his other labours
• Admetus does not want to accept the woman, but Heracles pushes him to accept the woman (Alcestis)
• Revealed that Heracles wrestled Death to get Alcestis back for Admetus