Question
ANALYZE CRAFT AND STRUCTURE
from Hecuba, Euripides
The ancient Greek tragedy Hecuba by Euripides takes place just after the Trojan War. During the war, Hecuba, the queen of Troy, has sent her son Polydore to stay with a family friend, Polymestor. After Troy’s defeat in the war, however, Polymestor secretly kills Polydore and steals the gold the boy carried. Hecuba, now a captive of the Greeks, learns of Polydore’s fate when his body washes ashore.
Plotting vengeance, the captive Hecuba invites Polymestor to visit her. Read the following excerpt from the play, in which Hecuba and Polymestor meet. Then, answer the question(s).
(1) HECUBA. O Polymestor, I am ashamed to look thee in the face, sunk as I am in such miseries; for before one who has seen me in prosperity, shame overwhelms me, being in the state in which I now am, nor can I look upon thee with unmoved eyes. But impute not this to any enmity I bear thee; but there are other causes, and in some degree this law; “that women ought not to gaze at men.”
(2) POLYMESTOR. And „tis indeed no wonder; but what need hast thou of me? For what purpose didst thou send for me to come from home?
(3) HECUBA. I am desirous of communicating a private affair of my own to thee and thy children; but order thy attendants to retire from these tents.
(4) POLYMESTOR. Depart, for here to be alone is safe. Friendly thou art, this Grecian army too is friendly toward me, but it is for thee to signify, in what manner I, who am in good circumstances, ought to succor my friends in distress; since, on my part, I am ready.
(5) HECUBA. First then tell me of my son Polydore, whom thou retainest, receiving him from mine, and from his father‟s hand, if he live; but the rest I shall inquire of thee afterward.
(6) POLYMESTOR. He lives, and in good health; as far as regards him indeed thou art happy.
(7) HECUBA. O my best friend, how well thou speakest, and how worthily of thyself!
(8) POLYMESTOR. What dost thou wish then to inquire of me in the next place?
(9) HECUBA. Whether he remembers at all me, his mother?
(10) POLYMESTOR. Yes: and he even sought to come to thee by stealth.
(11) HECUBA. And is the gold safe, which he brought with him from Troy?
(12) POLYMESTOR. It is safe, at least it is guarded in my house.
(13) HECUBA. Preserve it therefore, nor covet the goods of others.
(14) POLYMESTOR. Certainly not. May I enjoy what is mine own, O lady.
(15) HECUBA. Knowest thou then, what I wish to say to thee and thy children?
(16) POLYMESTOR. I do not: this shalt thou signify by thy speech.
(17) HECUBA. Be my son loved by thee, as thou art now loved of me.
(18) POLYMESTOR. What is it that I and my sons must know?
(19) HECUBA. The ancient buried treasures of the family of Priam1 .
(20) POLYMESTOR. Is it this thou wishest me to inform thy son of?
(21) HECUBA. Yes, certainly; through thee at least, for thou art a pious man.
(22) POLYMESTOR. What necessity then is there for the presence of these children?
(23) HECUBA. ‟Tis better in case of thy death, that these should know.
(24) POLYMESTOR. Well hast thou thus said, and ‟tis the wiser plan.
(25) HECUBA. Thou knowest then where the temple of Minerva in Troy is—
(26) POLYMESTOR. Is the gold there! but what is the mark?
(27) HECUBA. A black rock rising above the earth.
(28) POLYMESTOR. Hast any thing further to tell me of what is there?
(29) HECUBA. No, but I wish thee to take care of some treasures, with which I came out of the city.
(30) POLYMESTOR. Where are they then? Hast thou them hidden beneath thy robes?
(31) HECUBA. Amidst a heap of spoils2 they are preserved in this tent.
(32) POLYMESTOR. But where? These are the naval encampments of the Grecians.
(33) HECUBA. The habitations of the captive women are private.
(34) POLYMESTOR. And is all secure within, and untenanted by men?
(35) HECUBA. Not one of the Greeks is within, but we women only. But come into the tent, for the Greeks are desirous of loosing the sheets of their vessels homeward from Troy; so that, having done every thing that thou oughtest, thou mayest go with thy children to that place where thou hast given my son to dwell.
(36) CHORUS. Not yet hast thou suffered, but peradventure thou wilt suffer vengeance; as a man falling headlong into the gulf where no harbor is, shalt thou be hurled from thy dear heart, having lost thy life; for where the rites of hospitality coincide with justice, and with the Gods, on the villain who dares to violate these destructive, destructive indeed impends the evil. But thy hopes will deceive thee, which thou entertainedst from this journey, which has brought thee, thou wretched man, to the deadly mansions of Pluto3; but thou shalt quit thy life by no warrior‟s hand.
_______________________________
1. Priam king of Troy; Polydore‟s father and Hecuba‟s husband.
2. spoils valuable items, such as weapons and treasure, taken from the enemy during war.
3. Pluto mythological god of the underworld, where the dead dwell in Greek mythology.
Which of these aspects of the scene is a defining characteristic of Greek tragedy?
Responses
The scene deals with the revenge of one character on another.
The scene concerns the downfall of a character of high rank.
The scene suggests the likelihood of betrayal by the people one trusts most.
The scene refers to the power of the gods to punish those who break their laws.
from Hecuba, Euripides
The ancient Greek tragedy Hecuba by Euripides takes place just after the Trojan War. During the war, Hecuba, the queen of Troy, has sent her son Polydore to stay with a family friend, Polymestor. After Troy’s defeat in the war, however, Polymestor secretly kills Polydore and steals the gold the boy carried. Hecuba, now a captive of the Greeks, learns of Polydore’s fate when his body washes ashore.
Plotting vengeance, the captive Hecuba invites Polymestor to visit her. Read the following excerpt from the play, in which Hecuba and Polymestor meet. Then, answer the question(s).
(1) HECUBA. O Polymestor, I am ashamed to look thee in the face, sunk as I am in such miseries; for before one who has seen me in prosperity, shame overwhelms me, being in the state in which I now am, nor can I look upon thee with unmoved eyes. But impute not this to any enmity I bear thee; but there are other causes, and in some degree this law; “that women ought not to gaze at men.”
(2) POLYMESTOR. And „tis indeed no wonder; but what need hast thou of me? For what purpose didst thou send for me to come from home?
(3) HECUBA. I am desirous of communicating a private affair of my own to thee and thy children; but order thy attendants to retire from these tents.
(4) POLYMESTOR. Depart, for here to be alone is safe. Friendly thou art, this Grecian army too is friendly toward me, but it is for thee to signify, in what manner I, who am in good circumstances, ought to succor my friends in distress; since, on my part, I am ready.
(5) HECUBA. First then tell me of my son Polydore, whom thou retainest, receiving him from mine, and from his father‟s hand, if he live; but the rest I shall inquire of thee afterward.
(6) POLYMESTOR. He lives, and in good health; as far as regards him indeed thou art happy.
(7) HECUBA. O my best friend, how well thou speakest, and how worthily of thyself!
(8) POLYMESTOR. What dost thou wish then to inquire of me in the next place?
(9) HECUBA. Whether he remembers at all me, his mother?
(10) POLYMESTOR. Yes: and he even sought to come to thee by stealth.
(11) HECUBA. And is the gold safe, which he brought with him from Troy?
(12) POLYMESTOR. It is safe, at least it is guarded in my house.
(13) HECUBA. Preserve it therefore, nor covet the goods of others.
(14) POLYMESTOR. Certainly not. May I enjoy what is mine own, O lady.
(15) HECUBA. Knowest thou then, what I wish to say to thee and thy children?
(16) POLYMESTOR. I do not: this shalt thou signify by thy speech.
(17) HECUBA. Be my son loved by thee, as thou art now loved of me.
(18) POLYMESTOR. What is it that I and my sons must know?
(19) HECUBA. The ancient buried treasures of the family of Priam1 .
(20) POLYMESTOR. Is it this thou wishest me to inform thy son of?
(21) HECUBA. Yes, certainly; through thee at least, for thou art a pious man.
(22) POLYMESTOR. What necessity then is there for the presence of these children?
(23) HECUBA. ‟Tis better in case of thy death, that these should know.
(24) POLYMESTOR. Well hast thou thus said, and ‟tis the wiser plan.
(25) HECUBA. Thou knowest then where the temple of Minerva in Troy is—
(26) POLYMESTOR. Is the gold there! but what is the mark?
(27) HECUBA. A black rock rising above the earth.
(28) POLYMESTOR. Hast any thing further to tell me of what is there?
(29) HECUBA. No, but I wish thee to take care of some treasures, with which I came out of the city.
(30) POLYMESTOR. Where are they then? Hast thou them hidden beneath thy robes?
(31) HECUBA. Amidst a heap of spoils2 they are preserved in this tent.
(32) POLYMESTOR. But where? These are the naval encampments of the Grecians.
(33) HECUBA. The habitations of the captive women are private.
(34) POLYMESTOR. And is all secure within, and untenanted by men?
(35) HECUBA. Not one of the Greeks is within, but we women only. But come into the tent, for the Greeks are desirous of loosing the sheets of their vessels homeward from Troy; so that, having done every thing that thou oughtest, thou mayest go with thy children to that place where thou hast given my son to dwell.
(36) CHORUS. Not yet hast thou suffered, but peradventure thou wilt suffer vengeance; as a man falling headlong into the gulf where no harbor is, shalt thou be hurled from thy dear heart, having lost thy life; for where the rites of hospitality coincide with justice, and with the Gods, on the villain who dares to violate these destructive, destructive indeed impends the evil. But thy hopes will deceive thee, which thou entertainedst from this journey, which has brought thee, thou wretched man, to the deadly mansions of Pluto3; but thou shalt quit thy life by no warrior‟s hand.
_______________________________
1. Priam king of Troy; Polydore‟s father and Hecuba‟s husband.
2. spoils valuable items, such as weapons and treasure, taken from the enemy during war.
3. Pluto mythological god of the underworld, where the dead dwell in Greek mythology.
Which of these aspects of the scene is a defining characteristic of Greek tragedy?
Responses
The scene deals with the revenge of one character on another.
The scene concerns the downfall of a character of high rank.
The scene suggests the likelihood of betrayal by the people one trusts most.
The scene refers to the power of the gods to punish those who break their laws.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The most defining characteristic of Greek tragedy in the provided excerpt is:
**The scene deals with the revenge of one character on another.**
In Greek tragedies, themes of revenge, particularly when driven by personal loss and the quest for justice, are prevalent. Hecuba's plotting of vengeance against Polymestor for the murder of her son Polydore aligns with this theme. Other options describe significant aspects of Greek tragedy, but the revenge motif is especially central in this particular scene, as it sets the stage for the tragic consequences of Hecuba's actions and the moral implications of revenge throughout the narrative.
**The scene deals with the revenge of one character on another.**
In Greek tragedies, themes of revenge, particularly when driven by personal loss and the quest for justice, are prevalent. Hecuba's plotting of vengeance against Polymestor for the murder of her son Polydore aligns with this theme. Other options describe significant aspects of Greek tragedy, but the revenge motif is especially central in this particular scene, as it sets the stage for the tragic consequences of Hecuba's actions and the moral implications of revenge throughout the narrative.