"Who is right and who is wrong in Sophocles' Women of Trachis"?

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Ella Gilbert 263441

“Who is right and who is wrong in Sophocles’ Women of Trachis”?

The accustomed trait of all tragic heroes and heroines is to have a tragic flaw or

hamartia, and it is Heracles’ possession of hubris (excessive pride) that brings about

the wrong doings of Deianeira and his eventual downfall. While there is often a

discussion of the role of fate in the downfall of a tragic hero, there must be an element

of choice in order for there to be a true tragedy. The tragic hero falls because they

choose one course of action over another- evident in “Women of Tracis” from

Deianeira’s action to use supposed magic. Therefore it could be argued that none of

the characters in “Women of Trachis” are essentially wrong, it is just natural human

error and the innate qualities of a tragic hero and heroine. Even so one could reason

that the characters should have thought of the outcomes before their actions and that

the disastrous end of Heracles was inevitable as it was the predicament of the oracles

    Deianeira means no harm by her actions. She merely wishes to do good for the sake

of herself and her family. Like Ajax’s Tecmessa, Deianeira is a socially marginalized

prize woman. In her opening speech we learn of her vulnerability and deepest fears.

Achelous the river-god haunted her with horrifying images of masculinity, appallingly

disturbing to a young innocent girl; “Sometimes he came as a bull…a gleaming

withering snake” and “ a man with a bull’s forehead.”  She describes how she

became suicidal with thoughts of having to marry this creature, until Heracles fought

him off and took her as his bride. Deianeira found refuge in Heracles and depends on

him for security of  body and mind. Therefore it is not surprising that when her

husband is away, as with Tecmessa, all her insecurities come flooding back to disturb

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her. We can not blame Deianeira for wanting to feel safe and loved as her life as a

young girl was filled with fear and anxiety and it is only the presence of Heracles that

can solve this. In many Greek tragedies woman’s fate hangs entirely on man, and the

chorus’ speech of  Deianeira’s suffering mirrors that of Tecmessa’s sorrow.

Consequently it is only reasonable that a woman should do all she can to keep hold of

her man and thus her security and peace of mind. So much ...

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