The Women of Trachis (Masterplots II: Drama)
At a glance:
- Author: Sophocles
- First Published: 1729
- Type of Work: Tragedy
- Time of Work: Antiquity
- Setting: Trachis, on the Aegean coast of Greece
- Principal Characters: Daianeira, Zeuson| Herakles, Akheloos, Hyllus, Lykhas, Iole, Trachis| Girls of
- Genres: Drama, Tragedy
- Subjects: Justice, Magic or magicians, Mythical animals, Suicide, Murder or homicide, Marriage, Death or dying, Gods or goddesses, Captivity, Heroes or heroism, Greek or Roman times, Poisons or poisoning, Oracles
- Locales: Greece, ancient, Trachis, ancient
The Play
The Women of Trachis opens with a lament by Daianeira, wife of the greatest of Greek mythic heroes, Herakles. She is lamenting her woman’s helplessness during his year’s absence in pursuit of heroic labors or exploits; she is a loving and loyal wife who misses her husband and is in some anxiety about his safety—indeed, his fate, which she knows affects her own. No sooner has she sent off her and Herakles’ grown son Hyllus on a search than a local messenger arrives with a report that Lykhas, Herakles’ herald, has landed in Trachis with news that...
[The entire page is 2324 words long]
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