Women of Troy - BP3 example

Question 1

TS

Answer 1

Because duty can be used as a motivator to achieve equity, or satisfy one’s personal desires at the expense of others, Euripides encourages his audience to challenge the status quo to avoid individuals being met with a tragic fate.

Question 2

Elab. Cassandra

Answer 2

As she stands outside the ruins of Troy, Cassandra remarks to the chorus that ‘Any sensible man must hate war,’ and should do ‘his best to avoid it.’

Question 3

Analysis Cassandra 1

Answer 3

Anticipating the downfall of Troy and the anguish caused by the spoils of war, Cassandra laments the foolish and ignorant behaviour of Greek soldiers who hastily go to war, only to perish in vain , blinded by chasing a duty in battle to gain the honour and status mythologised in Greek culture.

Question 4

Segue/ Elab. Poseidon

Answer 4

This notion is further reinforced by Poseidon in the prologos, who warns that ‘When a man sacks and destroys everything…The same destruction sooner or later will fall on his own head.’

Question 5

Analysis Poseidon 1.

Answer 5

Elucidating the problematic and destructive cyclical patterns of history in contemporary Athens, Euripides cautions how that committing barbaric acts of violence cannot go unpunished, as the same acts of brutality and misery will continue to perpetuate a never-ending cycle of war and conflict. While the Greeks are ultimately considered the victors of the war, they too are punished for their barbarous actions through an excruciating ten-year-long journey back to Greece.

Question 6

Segue

Answer 6

Even so, Euripides continues to demonstrate how attempting to fulfil a duty rooted in masculinist Grecian ideals can result in a miserable fate.

Question 7

Elab. Hecuba

Answer 7

Adrift in a sea of hopelessness, Hecuba attempts to ‘die in [the] embrace of the’ burning ‘city’ of Troy in the hope to release her pain, but is painfully restrained and instead forced to ‘March down to the Archean fleet’ along with the suffering Trojan women.

Question 8

Analysis Hecuba 1

Answer 8

As a manifestation of ‘burning’ Troy, Hecuba experiences anagnorisis upon realising that her desire to be a dutiful queen and wife, aligned in the structures of patriarchal, Hellenic values, has ultimately led to her downfall, forcing her to accept a new life in which she is exploited and dehumanised.

Question 9

Hecuba analysis 2

Answer 9

As a result, Euripides’ contemporary Athenian audience are denied of experiencing the emotional cleansing associated with catharsis, as the women are evidently led to a catastrophic and heartbreaking future as sex slaves to selfish Greek men, who are never held accountable for their crimes and dishonour.

Question 10

VVS

Answer 10

Furthermore, Euripides advocates for his Athenian audience to question current standards to break the ongoing cycle of sinful and barbaric acts, stemming from the corruption of duty and obligation.

Question 11

Conclusion (1 sentence)

Answer 11

Preserving its timeless relevance in historical discourse, Euripides anti-war message continues to perpetuate the questioning of moral judgement, and the true cost of conflict at the expense of pursuing a duty of honour.