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The Women of Trachis: Difference between revisions
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After several years absence, Deianira is really starting to worry about her husband, Herakles. It was [[Either/Or Prophecy|foretold]] that after he accomplishes his most recent task, he is fated to either die or lead a long happy life. She sends their son Hyllus to check up on him, and meanwhile a messenger arrives and announces Herakles' victory in his battle against Eurytus. Lichas, Herakles' herald, shows up shortly thereafter with the captured women of Oechalia and lies through his teeth about the situation.
Deianira takes particular pity on Iole, whom she discovers is Eurytus' daughter. Knowing something is not quite right, she persuades the first messenger to reveal Lichas' deception, and Lichas admits that the reason for the siege itself was Herakles' [[Absence Makes the Heart Go Yonder|love for Iole]]. Deianira is upset but actually fairly understanding. She accepts Iole but doesn't want her family compromised by the situation, so she decides to smear a robe with a "love potion" that the centaur Nessus had given her as he lay dying by Herakles' bow. After she sends the clothes to Herakles, she realises the cloth she used has been eaten away by the so-called potion, and that Nessus had no reason to do her any favours. Hyllus comes back to accuse her of murdering Herakles, and Deianira [[Driven to Suicide|kills herself off-screen]].
The rest of the play follows Herakles as he very slowly and painfully dies, cursing his wife. Hyllus, who realized her good intentions after her death, tries to argue in her favour. Herakles forces Hyllus to immolate him, and promise that he will [[Squick|marry Iole]]. Unhappily Hyllus does as he asks.
One of seven surviving plays by [[Sophocles]].
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[[Category:The Women of Trachis]]
[[Category:Theatre]]▼
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▲[[Category:Classic Theatre]]
[[Category:Theatre of the 4th century BCE]]
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