Euripides and Feminism
In his play The Women of Troy, Euripides supports the idea that women can be equal to men
The Women of Troy, written by Euripides, was one of the first plays to capture the suffering of women after the Greek army defeated the Trojans. Although many writers had commented and described the Trojan War, no one had spent so much time trying to convey the extreme and distraught emotions of the Trojan women. The majority of the play revolves around the characters of Hecabe, Cassandra, Helen, and Menelaus. The three women mentioned are all captives of the Greek army, awaiting their transfer into slavery. Menelaus is a shallow Greek general unable to show sympathy to the complaints of the women. The interactions between the men and women make the play appear to be a simple tragedy, but in reality the actions are not specifically important because the point of this play is not to account a historical event but rather to make protest against society?s treatment of women in general. Greece, during the time the play was written, viewed women as inferior and mere objects that should be concerned with household matters. Men who dominated the upper class even used women as political tools by means of strategic marriage. By describing each woman?s state of suffering and by making men appear shallow and coward, Euripides indirectly supports the idea that women can be equal to men.
One character who presents herself as an intelligent and strong woman is Cassandra. Cassandra is the daughter of Hecabe who suffers at the hands of the Greek men. She is a virgin who, after capture, has been ordered to reside with King Agamemnon. Hecabe suffers over this fact because she knows her daughter cannot marry a man on her own free will. Cassandra must now give up her virginity to an unknown king in a foreign land. The thought of this fate is extremely disturbing to Cassandra who has saved herself all of these years for a man of her choice. Cassandra is important because she elevates the status of women by accurately stating the way men are preferred in society. In one powerful monologue, Cassandra says:
How different for the men of Troy, whose glory it was
To die defending their own country! Those who fell
Were carried back by comrades to their homes, prepared
For burial by the hands they loved, and laid rest
In the land that bore them; those who survived the field returned
Each evening to their wives and children. (387-392)
This speech points out how men are honored in battle and how they always win. A man can die in war and be glorified at home for his efforts or if he survives he gets to go home to his wife and children. Women on the other hand are merely tools of men. In the case of The Women of Troy, those who survived the war (namely women) are disregarded and traded among men as slaves. Euripides? portrayal of Cassandra and her wisdom is an excellent example of how he regarded women as equals.
Another character who shows a great deal of intelligence and strength is Hecabe. Hecabe is the widow of Priam, the former kind of Troy. She, along with many female captives, is destined to live as a slave in Greece. Specifically Hecabe has been ordered to take residence in Odysseus? house as a slave woman. Throughout the entire play, Hecabe presents her self as a strong and moral character. Early on in the story she becomes the leader of the Chorus, a group that constantly agrees with and supports what Hecabe is saying. During the course of events Hecabe never stops fighting for her chance to gain freedom. In one scene Hecabe surprises a Greek herald named Talthybius by stating her disgust with Greece. When Talthybius tells her that Cassandra has been chosen to live with King Agamemnon, Hecabe responds with bitter lament. The herald becomes astonished at her reaction and asks why she would reject Cassandra?s fate. This conversation is written as follows:
Hecabe: Then tell me about my daughter, poor Cassandra. Whose share is she?
Talthybius: King Agamemnon chose her as his special prize.
Hecabe: A slave for his Spartan wife? O miserable fate!
Talthybius: No, for his own bed. She is to be his concubine.
Hecabe: But she belongs to the bright-haired Apollo- A consecrated virgin, set aside by him to live in single purity!
Talthybius: She is god-possessed; but she has captured the king?s heart.
Hecabe: Cassandra, fling your temple-keys away, Strip off your vestments, tear you holy wreath!
Talthybius: Is it not good fortune that she is chosen for the king?s bed? (249-261)
Hecabe then asks for all of her daughter?s fates and responds to all of them with disgust. After his talk with Hecabe, Talthybius is in a state of bewilderment. He is surprised that Hecabe would reject the decision made on her daughters. Euripides presents this scene in this way to show the ignorance of men. The moment Talthybius realizes that the women will be unhappy in Greece is an event that opens his mind. Up until his talk with Hecabe, the herald thinks that the women will be happy to live in Greece under their respected masters. The dialogue between Talthybius and Hecabe reflects the lack of consideration men have for women in Greek society. Furthermore the eloquence of Hecabe?s speech and her relative calm appearance makes her seem well thought-out and intelligent. Euripides once again demonstrates the faults of men and indirectly shows how women can be equal to men.
Euripides not only makes women appear intelligent and brave but he makes men appear as feeble-minded cowards. One man who accurately demonstrates the ignorance of men is Menelaus. Menelaus plays the role of a general who was originally married to Helen. When Paris took Helen away with him to Troy, Menelaus swore revenge on Helen?s infidelity. He finally receives a chance to punish his former lover after the war has concluded. In a dialogue between Menelaus, Hecabe, and Helen, the three discuss Helen?s future. Helen begins by asking for mercy and then Hecabe follows her by pointing out why she should be executed. Menelaus appears to be influenced by both women very strongly. Helen states that she was under direct control and was not able to escape from the Trojan walls. Hecabe then says that she never saw or heard of Helen trying to escape and instead she found that Helen actually enjoyed the prestige of being a Trojan. Menelaus after hearing both speeches states that he is going to kill Helen on a future date. This statement from Menelaus shows that he is a coward and also that he is weak. If Menelaus really wanted to execute Helen and have his revenge, he would have done so at that moment. After all, she did run away with Paris and (according to Hecabe?s account) showed no desire to return. One can correctly assume that if Menelaus wanted to get revenge on Helen he would have killed her as soon as possible. Not only does he delay his intentions but he orders Helen to board another ship that is scheduled to dock at Sparta. His actions are coward and weak for two specific reasons. By delaying Helen?s death and not ending her life on the spot, Menelaus makes himself appear as a coward. If he were a true and a strong Grecian man, he would have carried out his plans while in Troy. This action allows Euripides to point out that men do have faults and that they are not as strong as they appear. Secondly, because Menelaus allows Helen to return to Greece, it is unclear whether or not he really wants to kill her. Maybe upon arrival he will continue to be her lover? Hecabe constantly warns Menelaus that Helen is seductive, as seen in this passage:
I applaud you Menelaus, if you kill your wife;
But avoid seeing her, or she will take prisoner
Your tender heart. She captures men?s eyes, destroys cities,
Burns houses to the ground, so potent are her spells. (855-858)
Menelaus does not prove that he is truly vengeful. The audience is left to debate if Menelaus is true to his word. Euripides? presentation of this aspect shows yet another way that he considered men equal to women. The women in this situation, Helen and Hecabe, seem to have a great deal of control over Menelaus. It is even plausible that Helen has once again seduced Menelaus. This possible seduction demonstrates how women can take control of men and therefore be their equals.
Euripides presents women as equal to men in a very subtle yet powerful way. His portrayal of men is especially radical because of their apparent weakness. The men are both very ignorant characters with seemingly little strength. Menelaus is especially important because he represents the majority of Greek men. He appears as a strong Greek general, proud of his position. Greece during the time of Euripides was a very prosperous place. Most men in Greece were very proud of their state?s accomplishments. This strength and pride in Greek society, as represented by Menelaus, was a factor in what led one gender to consider another gender as inferior. This play along with many other plays of Euripides is yet another strong protest against the mistreatment of women in Ancient Greek society.
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