English flashcard revision - WOT
plans to ruin the Greeks journey “so that the Greeks will learn their lesson, and in future, respect my temples, and fear the power of the gods”
During the Prologos, Athene plans to ruin the Greeks journey home “so that the Greeks will learn their lesson, and in future, respect [Athene’s] temples and fear the power of the gods”. Through this action, Troy is destroyed with Athene’s help, causing agony and further suffering from the consequences of fatuous men’s actions. Athene, the goddess of wisdom, is challenged as Poseidon views her as powerful not wise due to her capricious decision to ruin the Greeks journey in her fickle nature.
Hecuba’s last lines
“Into the abyss. My legs are trembling, but I won’t fall.”
In the Exodus during Hecubas last lines, she propels herself “into the abyss. [Her] legs are trembling, but [she] wont fall”. During a classical moment of anagnorisis, Hecuba accepts her fate, resolving to lead women into a new life as “slavery is beginning”. Hecuba, the former queen, is stoic and quiet in leadership as a manifestation of Hellenic ideals she is a true leader at heart. Contrasting from Menelaus as self-serving and fatuous, Hecuba is a foil for Menelaus as she represents the true ideals and values of Ancient Greek society.
“Any sensible man must hate war, he does his best to avoid it”
Early in the play during episode one, Cassandra states that “any sensible man must hate war, [and do their] best to avoid it”. In Athenian society war is widely celebrated and mythologized as any signs of heroism increases status and therefore fortune. However, through Cassandra Euripides suggests that the people that are too hasty going to war are not only ignorant but also foolish. While dying to defend your home is seen as honorable through the eyes of ancient Greek society, Euripides is concerned for Athenian soldiers who may die attacking countries like Sparta and Melos, loosing their lives for no reason.
Hecuba attempts to “die in [the] embrace” of the burning city
During the Exodus, Hecuba attempts to “die in [the] embrace” of the burning city as she runs into the flames attempting suicide in order to release herself from pain. From the destruction of Troy to loosing her family and being enslaved, Hecuba’s despair drove her mad as the manifestation of Troy, Hecuba experiences anagnorisis as she realizes her commitment to the structure of her old life has led her to this point. Through this attempt, Euripides denies the audience catharsis leaving the theatre feeling frustrated, sad and angry.
“Officers of your kind are always hated by everyone, lackeys. Slaves yourself, doing great men’s dirty work.”
During Episode one, Cassandra explains to Talthybius that “officers of your kind are always hated by everyone, lackeys. Slaves yourself, doing great men’s dirty work.” Here, Cassandra attacks Talthybius as the middle manager, because throughout the play he expresses compassion for the women, but does nothing to help them. Acting as part of the Greek war machine, Talthybius facilitates the brutal and barbaric decisions of generals.
“Kings mistress”/”no bad thing”
During Episode one, Talthybius talks to Cassandra in regards to her concubinage to Agamemnon, stating that being the “Kings mistress” is “no bad thing”, Talthybius reveals his ignorance surrounding the impact of concubinage on the women. Through the noun and euphemism “mistress”, Talthybius attempts to masquerade the reality that Cassandra is Agamemnon’s sex slave. Here, Euripides forces his Athenian audience to consider the foreign policy during war, especially following the Siege of Melos.
“The gods always hated us.”
“vain dreaming, false hopes”
During Episode two, Andromache explains how “the gods always hated us” as the Chorus in stasimon prayers to the gods in “vain dreaming, false hopes”. From the events of Astyanax’s murder, Andromache and Hecuba begin to lose hope as they realize the gods have abandoned Troy. Even though the gods have isolated Troy, Hecuba and Andromache remain loyal servants to the gods and continue to pray for peace and restfulness. This is reinforced by the Chorus during Episode two because they also realize that the gods do not care about the women of Troy.
“you Greeks” have “dreamed up such cruelties even the barbarians would flinch at”
During Episode two, Andromache claims that “you Greeks” have “dreamed up such cruelties even the barbarians would flinch at”. Challenging Athenian assumptions, Euripides forces the Athenian audience to reconsider their ideology surrounding war and duty. Here, through Cassandra, Euripides forces his modern Athenian audience to reflect on the contemporary issues present in today’s society such as the atrocities and constant fighting of the Peloponnesian War.
“Why are you killing this child? What has he done in his innocence?”
During Episode two, Andromache cradles Astyanax while lamenting “Why are you killing this child? What has he done in his innocence?”. Due to Greek soldiers loss of mercy and honor, innocent Astyanax is killed in order to end the Trojan lineage. Through the repetition of rhetorical questions, Andromache reveals her inability to comprehend the events unfolding before her. Exposed as the most explicit violence in the play, Euripides appeals to the universal human instinct to protect the innocent children in order to emphasize that such acts are dishonorable.
“this most glorious of days when I shall finally get my hands on that wife of mine[…] yes, I am the man, Menelaus.
During Episode three, Menelaus exclaims that “this most glorious of days when I shall finally get my hands on that wife of mine[…] yes, I am the man, Menelaus”. Through the pronoun “mine”, Menelaus sees Helen as property and his possession, revealing his entitlement and lack of honor. Menelaus, a fatuous nd self-serving leader, is invested in the strict gender binary of men as warriors while women are reduced to objects that purely serve and give pleasure to men.
“my real motive was to get my hands on the man who stole my wife”
During episode three, Menelaus revelas that his “real motive was to get [his] hands on the man who stole [his] wife”. Throughout the play, the toxi fixed mindset is explored as Menelaus is worried war may appear effeminate so he needs to re-establish that he is the man. As Menelaus believes that war is masculine as it desires honor, compared to the feminine opposite need for love, the play continues to explore how the rigid belief system is based on the past and therefore the war party continues to make old minded poor choices.
“Consummate the Greek victory […] Wives who betray their husbands deserve death.”
Helen should “die in agony”
During Episode three Helen exclaims that “wives who betray their husbnds dserve death” while Andromache says that Helen should “die in agony”. Here, the women of Troy are united to blame Helen, imploring that Menelaus must kill Helen in retribution as it is the last hope for the women of Troy because it is a vindication of the values in which they live by. Here, Euripides uses the Chorus to question the values of Greek and therefore the Athenian republic because of the brutalization of women.
