Euripides › Hecuba
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Euripides

Hecuba

drama

After the fall of Troy, Hecuba discovers that her last surviving son has been murdered by the man she trusted to protect him. She takes revenge with a brutality that transforms her from victim to something terrifying.

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Acts

  • Prologue

    The ghost of Polydorus reveals he was murdered by his Thracian host. His body lies unburied by the sea.

    59 lines
  • Parodos

    The chorus tells Hecuba that the Greeks will sacrifice her daughter Polyxena at Achilles' tomb.

    154 lines
  • First Episode

    Odysseus comes to take Polyxena. Hecuba begs for mercy. Odysseus is unmoved.

    228 lines
  • First Stasimon

    The chorus imagines their fate as slaves — which Greek city will they be dragged to?

    38 lines
  • Second Episode

    Talthybius reports Polyxena's courageous death at the altar.

    145 lines
  • Second Stasimon

    The chorus laments Troy and curses Helen.

    23 lines
  • Third Episode

    Polydorus's body is discovered. Hecuba's grief hardens into vengeance.

    241 lines
  • The Revenge

    Hecuba lures Polymestor into a tent, blinds him and kills his sons.

    50 lines
  • Exodos

    Polymestor prophesies Hecuba's transformation and Agamemnon's murder.

    340 lines
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