Heracles

Acts

• Prologue

  While Heracles is in the underworld, the tyrant Lycus plans to kill his family. Amphitryon guards the children at the altar.

  106 lines
• Parodos

  The chorus of Theban elders recalls Heracles' labours and wishes he would return.

  31 lines
• First Episode

  Lycus arrives to kill the family. Megara defies him with dignity.

  211 lines
• First Stasimon

  The chorus celebrates Heracles' labours in a magnificent catalogue.

  98 lines
• Second Episode

  Megara dresses the children in funeral garments. They have given up hope.

  198 lines
• Second Stasimon

  The chorus rages against their own impotence and old age.

  62 lines
• Heracles Returns

  Heracles arrives from the underworld in time. He kills Lycus. The rescue seems complete.

  33 lines
• Third Stasimon

  The chorus celebrates — but the joy is premature.

  81 lines
• The Madness

  Iris and Lyssa appear. Hera has sent them: Heracles must go mad and kill his own family.

  59 lines
• The Messenger

  Heracles, in a delusion, kills his children and turns on Megara. Athena knocks him unconscious.

  36 lines
• Fourth Stasimon

  Nothing in legend matches what has happened in this house.

  111 lines
• Heracles Wakes

  Heracles regains consciousness surrounded by the bodies. He wants to die.

  21 lines
• Exodos

  Theseus offers a home in Athens. Heracles rejects suicide: endurance, not death, is true courage.

  403 lines