Alcestis. 438 B.C. Set in Thessaly at the house of Admetus |
Apollo in his anger at Zeus (who killed his son) killed the Cyclopes, and in penance has been serving as the slave of good Admetus. In return for Admetus' kindness, he block death from taking him at his appointed time, and has bargained that Admetus can avoid his fate if someone will agree to die for him. But Admetus' aged parents refused: only his young wife Alcestis would agree.
Death appears to take Alcestis: he is suspicious Apollo's presence. Apollo cannot dissuade Death from his appointed task, and departs. The chorus, citizens of Pherae, come to see if Alcestis lives. A maid announces that she is dying now. The maid tells of Alcestis' last acts: she prayed that her children marry well, she lamented her marriage bed. What a wife Admetus loses!
Admetus and Alcestis come outside with their children. Death is taking her away. She begs Admetus not to remarry, lest a vicious step-mother harm their children. Admetus vows not to marry: he will mourn her the rest of his life. He will hate his parents, and cherish her memory. She says goodbye to the children. The little son laments his mother. The dead Alcestis is carried inside.
Chorus: Admetus, you must endure, for death is an obligation claimed from all of us. Admetus declares public mourning. The chorus wish Alcestis a happy existence in Hades. They extoll her virtue: but if it were their lot to have such a wife, they would keep her unhurt through her lifetime.
Heracles enters, on his way to tame the flesh-eating horses of Diomedes. Heracles asks Admetus of his mourning; Admetus answers obscurely, that the dead woman is "not a blood relative." Heracles thinks Alcestis alive, and accepts Admetus' offer of hospitality. The chorus is amazed, but Admetus will turn no friend away. The chorus praise his generosity.
Admetus' father, Pheres, brings gifts for Alcestis, who has saved him from being deprived of his son in old age. All men ought to marry women like this. Admetus refuses the gifts, and reproaches his father for cravenly not offering his own life. The old say they long for death, but will not take it when it is offered. Pheres in anger replies that he raised Admetus and gave him the kingship: there is no custom that he should die for him as well. What little life he has, he cherishes. How dare Admetus find fault, when he is such a coward as to let his wife die in his place. Pheres threatens Admetus with the revenge of Alcestis' brothers. Admetus disowns his father.
A servant complains of the crudeness of Heracles, who enters a house of mourning, and then revels. A drunk Heracles reproaches the servant for his mourning. Death is an obligation we all must pay: we should enjoy today and forget our troubles. The servant tells him that it is Alcestis who has died. Heracles determines to save her.
Admetus envies the dead, and grieves for Alcestis. The chorus comfort him: chance takes now one, now another. Admetus sees now that he will miss his wife, be reviled for cowardice by her enemies. The chorus: Compulsion has caught your wife, you cannot regain her, she will be honored as a god.
Heracles complains of his friend's deception, and asks him to keep a woman he won as a prize in an athletic contest. Admetus cannot accept the young woman, for that would violate his memory of Alcestis. Heracles insists, and the woman is recognized as Alcestis (who however cannot speak for 3 days). Chorus: the god finds a way for what none foresaw.
ALKESTIS . Alcestis .
The Alcestis occupied fourth place when it was produced, and is thus a substitute for the customary satyr-play. Thus perhaps the happy ending and the drunkenness of Heracles; overall, though, the play is (for Euripides) sincere enough. The story had been treated earlier by Phrynichus, in a lost satyr-play.
The speaking role of the little boy is unique, and very interesting for its portrayal of the speech of children.