In many situations individuals have sacrificed their lives for their values or what they think is most important in life. Alcestis, the Queen and tragic figure of Euripides" Alcestis, is not an exception to all those people who refuse to keep living in order to let her husband (the king of Thessalia) live. It can be argued whether she died because her unconditional love towards Admateus moved her to do so; or whether she died for other particular reasons. The critic and writer, William Arrowsmith argues that Euripides portrays the main figures as characters with an "obsessional nature" (Wilson, 106). He fails or ignores to perceive the nature of the love between Alcestis and the the Thessalian king. Throughout the play Euripides gives many evidences of how the love that bounded them to each other is the most important thing in their respective lives. Both have come to the point where they live for each other, and life, in their definition is their love .
Admateus refuses to accept the fact that his dear wife will be taken captive by the imaginary character (while realistic in the sense that is the culmination of life), death. When you are dead, I can have no life; on you depends my life, my death, for I cannot be untrue to the love we share!.
(Euripides, 16).
These lines exemplify how important is Alcestis for Admateus. He holds her on such position that she has become part of his being. He reasons that he would not be an incomplete being without her. Admateus" declaration is many times said by individuals who are obsessed with a so-called love that did not reach its realization. This could be the reason why Arrowsmith asserts that Euripides" characters are obsessional beings (Wilson, 107). But Alcestis's choose of death in place of her dear husband proves not to be an obsession. An obsession usually lacks of appreciation of reality. Contrastingly, Alcestis's decision seemed to be grounded on reality.
Alcestis is a drama that pulls at the heart of the reader throughout. ... parents refuse to give their life for their son, Alcestis (Admetus? ... Alcestis claims that life would be too terrible to live without her husband. ... The citizens are all sad, for Alcestis is a well loved queen. ... Admetus is steeped in sorrow after Alcestis? ...
In the play Alcestis by Euripides, at first, the character Admetus seems disturbing. Admetus was the husband of Alcestis and the king of Thessaly. ... Finally when Hercules learns of Alcestis" death he knows he has to saver her, not only for Admetus" sake but also for the true bravery that Alcestis showed. ... Alcestis, being given a second chance, can now continue her perfect existence. ... Alcestis had made the choice of dying for her husband that made her a heroine. ...
THE DIFFERENTIATION OF TRAGIC HEROES: AN ESSAY IN COMPARISON OF HEROIC CODES There are many types of heroes, all of whom can be slotted neatly into categories by their respective characteristics. Typically, a tragic hero follows a code that relegates him to pursue justice, be arrogant in mann...
Additionally, he completed the twelve labors of Hercules, which included the capture of Cerberus (the three headed dog and guardian of the underworld) with his bare hands. (1c) Later, he subdued Antaeus (a giant who shingled his house with the skulls of his victims) to free a road; he defeated Achelous to win his wife; he conquered death to rescue Alcestis. ...
There are so many various types of myths originating from all over the world. These incredible myths would tell of marvelous stories of heroes, gods, demigods, monsters, etc. Various areas of the world had there own stories to tell with myths coming from Greece, Rome, and so many other places. Thoug...
The play Medea, by Euripides begins as any good play of substance does, opening in a heightened sense of turmoil and conflict. The story opens with the wailing sounds of a woman crying; a desperate woman at the end of her pitiful rope weeping over her broken heart; a heart that was destroyed b...
Of the more than 90 plays credited to Euripides, 18 survive: Alcestis, Andromache, the Bacchae, the Cyclops, Electra, Hecuba, Helen, the Heracleidae, Heracles, Hippolytus, Ion, Iphigenia at Aulis, Iphigenia in Tauris, Medea, Orestes, the Phoenissae, Rhesus and the Trojan Women. ...