The Suppliants by Euripides

I had thought about giving up on Euripides, because some of the first plays I read seemed to be hateful of women.  However, I’m glad I persisted, because this one has some interesting themes.

The play is set at the Temple of Demeter At Eleusis.  (The temple of some god or goddess seems to be a common setting for Greek plays.)  Aethra, an older woman of Eleusis, arrives at the temple and is approached by a chorus of elderly women who are in mourning.  Aethra’s son Theseus is currently ruler of the land, which is a democracy.  The chorus entreats Aethra to intervene with her son on their behalf.  The sons of the elderly women, who are from Argos, have been killed in a battle against King Creon and the city of Thebes, which is not a democracy.  Contrary to what is considered right and proper, the Thebians are refusing to allow the elderly women to retrieve the bodies of their seven slain sons and bury them.  Also present and begging for help is Adrastus, who led the men into the slaughter.

Theseus arrives and inquires about the commotion.  After questioning Adrastus, he decides that this misfortunate is Adrastus’ fault, and there is no reason for him to risk war with Thebes in order to recover the bodies.  However, his mother persuades him that it is his responsibility to stand up for what is right.  He agrees to go to the council and have a vote taken, so that the will of the people decides the matter.

The council votes to try and retrieve the bodies through diplomacy first, but if necessary, to go to war.  Before there is opportunity to send a messenger to Thebes, a herald arrives from Thebes.  Initially, instead of delivering his message, he and Theseus get into an argument over whether democracy or monarchy is the best form of government.  Eventually, he gets around to delivering his message that Creon has no intent of giving up the bodies, and that the only solution will be war.

Theseus and his army attack Thebes and are victorious.  He graciously does not sack the city.  He only wants the bodies.  These are brought back to Eleusis and burned on a funeral pyre before the ashes are returned to their mothers.

A bit of a side story to this is that Evadne, daughter of Iphis and widow of Capaneus, throws herself on the funeral pyre of Capaneus, in spite of her father’s pleadings.  Also each of the seven men is eulogized and some interesting characteristics emerge in the eulogies.

The play concludes with the appearance of the goddess Athena, who gives specific instructions regarding the need to have the Argives swear that in exchange for the kindness of Theseus and the people of Eleusis, they will never attack Eleusis.

Observations:

*Although Euripides does not speak so negatively of women in this play, his compliments are back-handed.  Yea, for oft even from women’s lips issue wise counsels.

*The question of whether basic human nature is good or evil is raised.  For there are who say, there is more bad than good in human nature, to the which I hold a contrary view, that good o’er bad predominates in man, for if it were not so, we should not exist.  Logically, there are other options, but this is the view of Theseus.

*The notion of naturally occurring classes in society is discussed.  For, there are three ranks of citizens; the rich, a useless set, that ever crave for more; the poor and destitute, fearful folk, that cherish envy more than is right, and shoot out grievous stings against the men who have aught, beguiled as they are by the eloquence of vicious leaders; while the class that is mid-most of the three preserveth cities, observing such order as the state ordains.  So the concept that a stable society must have a strong middle class is apparently an old one.

*I am beginning to think that one could make a decent term paper out of the topic:  The Concept of Democracy as Seen in the Play of Euripides. 

Against:  Democracy is described as “rule by a mob.”

                A person who doesn’t rule for his lifetime has more opportunity to hide his failures

Whenso the city has to vote on the question of war, no man ever takes his own death into account, but shifts the misfortune to his neighbor.

For:        When laws are written down, rich and poor alike have equal justice.

                People are free to decide whose counsel is best.

In a democracy the young are encouraged.  A despot sees them as a threat and may kill them off or use them ill.

*The finality of death is described.  For this one thing, when once ‘tis spent, man cannot recover, the breath of life, though he knoweth ways to get his wealth again.  Bankruptcy can be survived.  Death is irretrievable.

*A preference for daughters over sons in old age is mentioned.  For naught is there more sweet unto an aged sire than a daughter’s love; our sons are made of sterner stuff, but less winning are their caresses.   I heard a story once about a man who was disappointed when his wife gave birth to a daughter.  The doctor said to him, “If you had had a son, when you are old he would be gone and off living his own life.  Your daughter will still be there to kiss your old bald head.”

*The Greek gods were fickle.  I see many a contradiction in their dealings with men.  As I have mentioned in prior blogs, I see the Greek gods as useless.  I believe in a better one.

*Parents hope that the good they do for their parents will be returned to them by their children.  For a wretched son is he who rewards not his parents by service;  for, when he hath conferred on them the best he hath, he in turn from his own sons receives all such service as he gave to them.  That is, of course, as it ought to be, but in this broken world, it doesn’t always work out that way.  Sadly, there are some wretched sons and daughters around.