Analysis Of The Tale Of Hecuba And Medea - 1327 Words

In both of Euripides’s plays Medea written in 431 BCE and Hecuba written in 420 BCE. shows the extent that a person would go to get revenge yet, both women had distinct reasons behind it. This paper will examine their reasons and beliefs that overall lead the two women to act against the people who hurt them. At the same time showing the differences between the two character’s crimes as well as their similarities. Therefore, examining what might be the significance behind their acts, did their perpetrators deserve it. Did these vengeful acts have a deeper meaning that Euripides was trying to prove to justify these women’s acts? Another factor is the societies these women lived in which happen to be controlled by men. The crimes that were†¦show more content†¦Hecuba’s story of revenge begins when she becomes a slave after losing her kingdom, Husband and Son during the Trojan war. Hecuba’s grief didn’t stop at the loss of her son. Hec uba after becoming a slave to the Greeks received news that as a request to â€Å"Achilles’ demands are just. By majority vote, they have sentenced your Polyxena to death. A sacrifice to Achilles’ honor.† (Hecuba 130-133) However, as Hecuba griefs the death of her daughter Polyxena, she is overwhelmed when she finds out her youngest son Polydorus was killed for his gold by someone she trusted. â€Å"...Took up his dagger. He cast my body into the sea. For gold he did this;† Therefore, giving Hecuba a reason to seek Revenge. She uses the help of other Greek slaves to carry out her plan to make Polymestor pay. In front of Polymestor Hecuba kills both his child and leaves him blind so he can always remember seeing his children die. Revenge is always hard to find when it comes to getting justice for a loved one but when people choose to take upon their selves to seek it, would it be considered a crime or a justifiable act. â€Å"We will see that people were pretty good at making trade-offs, at weighing and balancing harms, pains, suffering, benefits, favors, and human worth, at measuring eyes and teeth, arms and legs, this person’s life against that person’s. Although paying back, getting even, and revenge are often the