Andromache

In Andromache, Euripides dramatizes how the bitter jealousy of Hermione spurs her to seek the death of her rival, Andromache. Hermione is the wife of Neoptolemus, the son of Achilles, killed by Paris at Troy, and Andromache is the widow of Hector, brother of Paris, killed by Achilles at Troy. Andromache was given to Neoptolemus as the prize of war won by his father. The presence of Andromache infuriates Hermione, and becomes utterly unbearable when Andromache has a son by Neoptolemus while she remains barren. Her jealousy causes her to plot the death of Andromache and her son.

In order to carry out her plot, she summons her father, Menelaus, king of Sparta. He comes and is about to carry out the murders when he is confronted by Peleus, Achilles’ father, Neoptolemus’ grandfather. Peleus shames Menelaus for attempting to commit such a heinous crime, and he returns to Sparta, leaving Hermione alone. Hermione repents of her attempted murders and seeks to commit suicide before her husband returns and sends her away.

While Hermione is in a suicidal rage, Orestes, son of Agamemnon, brother of Menelaus, comes and stops her. He agrees to murder Neoptolemus and marry Hermione, so they run off together to Delphi to carry out the deed. Orestes lies, telling the residents of Delphi that Neoptolemus is going to rob the temple of Apollo. Arousing their anger, he gets them to kill Neoptolemus.

Peleus is distraught, having seen both the death of his son and his grandson. However, his wife, Thetis, the sea goddess who bore Achilles, predicts that Andromache’s son will move to Molosia, where his descendants will become an unbroken line of mighty kings.

Jealousy, untimely death, murder, and misfortune all tend to disrupt the plans of men, yet the gods also open up unexpected opportunities through these tragedies. The play ends with the chorus singing: “Many are the shapes of Heaven's denizens, and many a thing they bring to pass contrary to our expectation; that which we thought would be is not accomplished, while for the unexpected God finds out a way. E'en such hath been the issue of this matter.”


Here are several quotes from the play that I found interesting:

Adromache laments the cruelty of women when jealousy embitters them: “How strange it is, that though some god hath devised cures for mortals against the venom of reptiles, no man ever yet hath discovered aught to cure a woman's venom, which is far worse than viper's sting or scorching flame; so terrible a curse are we to mankind.”

The Chorus sings the bitterness that arises from jealousy when two women are married to the same man: “Never, oh! never will I commend rival wives or sons of different mothers, a cause of strife, of bitterness, and grief in every house. would have a husband content with one wife whose rights he shareth with no other. Not even in states is dual monarchy better to bear than undivided rule; it only doubles burdens and causes faction amongst the citizens. Often too will the Muse sow strife 'twixt rivals in the art of minstrelsy. Again, when strong winds are drifting mariners, the divided counsel of the wise does not best avail for steering, and their collective wisdom has less weight than the inferior mind of the single man who has sole authority; for this is the essence of power alike in house and state, whene'er men care to find the proper moment. This Spartan, the daughter of the great chief Menelaus, proves this; for she hath kindled hot fury against a rival, and is bent on slaying the hapless Trojan maid and her child to further her bitter quarrel. 'Tis a murder gods and laws and kindness all forbid. Ah! lady, retribution for this deed will yet visit thee.”

PELEUS: Surely after this every prudent man will seek to marry a wife of noble stock and give his daughter to a husband good and true, never setting his heart on a worthless woman, not even though she bring a sumptuous dowry to his house. So would men ne'er suffer ill at heaven's hand.