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| Character | Hecuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | Female | |
| Age Range(s) | Adult (36-50), Senior (>50) | |
| Type of monologue / Character is | Crying, Persuasive, Depressed, Lamenting, Frustrated, Reminiscing life story/Telling a story | |
| Type | Dramatic | |
| Period | Ancient Greek | |
| Genre | Tragedy, Drama | |
| Description | Hecuba begs Agamemnon to help her avenge her son | |
| Location | Episode 2 | |
Summary
The story takes place in Troy right after the end of the Trojan war, after the Greeks triumph but before they sail back to Greece. Hecuba used to the the queen of Troy, wife of King Priam and mother of several children including Hector, the warrior killed by Achilles, and Cassandra, who becomes Agamemnon's concubine after the war. The play deals with Hecuba's loss of her daughter Polyxena, who has been chosen as the sacrifice for Achilles' tomb by the Greeks, and Polydorus, her son that had been sent to the court of Polydorus, the Thracian king, along with a large amount of Trojan treasure, to be protected. The Thracian king betrays Troy and kills Polydorus to take possession of the treasure.
The first part of the play deals with Hecuba's sorrow after she learns that her daughter will be sacrificed. She pleads to Agamemnon and later Odysseus to save her but to no avail. Polyxena, on the other hand, accepts her fate.
This monologue comes in the second episode of the play. Hecuba has just learned that Polydorus' corpse has been found on shore. She laments her grief and in this monologue she tells Agamemnon who killed her son and pleads to him to help her avenge him by killing Polymestor.
The first part of the play deals with Hecuba's sorrow after she learns that her daughter will be sacrificed. She pleads to Agamemnon and later Odysseus to save her but to no avail. Polyxena, on the other hand, accepts her fate.
This monologue comes in the second episode of the play. Hecuba has just learned that Polydorus' corpse has been found on shore. She laments her grief and in this monologue she tells Agamemnon who killed her son and pleads to him to help her avenge him by killing Polymestor.
Written by Administrator
| Excerpt |
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| HECUBA There is none, unless thou wouldst name misfortune herself. But hear my reason for throwing myself at thy knees. If my treatment seems to thee deserved, I will be content; but, if otherwise, help me to punish this most godless host, that hath wrought a deed most damned, fearless alike of gods in heaven or hell; who, though full oft he had shared my board and been counted first of all my guest-friends and after meeting with every kindness he could claim and receiving my consideration, slew my son, and bent though he was on murder, deigned not to bury him but cast his body forth to sea. I may be a slave and weak as well, but the gods are strong, and custom too which prevails o'er them, for by custom it is that we believe in them and set up bounds of right and wrong for our lives. Now if this principle, when referred to thee, is to be set at naught, and they are to escape punishment who murder guests or dare to plunder the temples of gods, then is all fairness in things human at an end. Deem this then a disgrace and show regard for me, have pity on me, and, like an artist standing back from his picture, look on me and closely scan my piteous state. I was once queen, but now I am thy slave; a happy mother once, but now childless and old alike, reft of city, utterly forlorn, the most wretched woman living. Ah! woe is me! whither wouldst thou withdraw thy steps from me? [as AGAMEMNON is turning away] My efforts then will be in vain, ah me! ah me! Why, oh! why do we mortals toil, as needs we must, and seek out all other sciences, but persuasion, the only real mistress of mankind, we take no furthur pains to master completely by offering to pay for the knowledge, so that any man might upon occasion convince his fellows as he pleased and gain his point as well? How shall anyone hereafter hope for prosperity? All those my sons are gone from me, and I, their mother, am led away into captivity to suffer shame, while yonder I see the smoke leaping up o'er my city. Further-though perhaps this were idly urged, to plead thy love, still will I put the case:-at thy side lies my daughter, Cassandra, the maid inspired, as the Phrygians call her. How then, king, wilt thou acknowledge those nights of rapture, or what return shall she my daughter or I her mother have for all the love she has lavished on her lord? For from darkness and the endearments of the night mortals reap by far their keenest joys. Hearken then; dost see this corpse? By doing him a service thou wilt do it to a kinsman of thy bride's. One thing only have I yet to urge. Oh! would I had a voice in arms, in hands, in hair and feet, placed there by the arts of Daedalus or some god, that all together they might with tears embrace thy knees, bringing a thousand pleas to bear on thee! O my lord and master, most glorious light of Hellas, listen, stretch forth a helping hand to this aged woman, for all she is a thing of naught; still do so. For 'tis ever a good man's duty to succour the right, and to punish evil-doers wherever found. |
