Introduction
Hecuba is the heroine of Euripides’ tragedy The Trojan Women (415 B.C.). She is the wife of the Trojan king Priam. In the tragedy, she appears after the fall of Troy, when the Greeks hold the “judgment” of the victors and divide the noblewoman Hecuba, who has lost her husband and son and witnesses numerous disasters. Andromache, in the Iliad, is the wife of Hector, leader of the Trojans in their war with the Greeks.
Honor Used by Hecuba and Andromache
Two characters from Homer’s Iliad, the Odyssey, and Euripides’ Trojan Women, Hecuba and Andromache, utilize honor to reflect their distinct roles in Ancient Greek society in various ways. Despite the fall of Troy and the passing of her husband, Priam, Hecuba, the queen of Troy, utilizes her honor to preserve her family’s history (Euripides & Hamilton, 1971). Hecuba says, “Honor is the best defense men have against their enemies” (Euripides, Trojan Women, line 1136). Hecuba’s statements reveal her commitment to upholding her husband’s honor since she thinks it will be her family’s last chance to survive the fall of Troy.
Hecuba’s daughter-in-law, Andromache, utilizes honor to display her fortitude and resiliency in the face of difficulty. Homer’s Odyssey, for instance, includes the following statement from Andromache: “I will not yield in my honor, even if I must suffer in my heart” (Odyssey, line 678). This passage exemplifies Andromache’s bravery and will to uphold her family’s dignity in the face of catastrophe.
Conclusion
The use of honor by Hecuba and Andromache ultimately demonstrates how Greek women at this time could utilize their honor to defend their families and display their resilience in the face of difficulty. Hecuba uses honor to preserve her family’s lineage, while Andromache uses it to demonstrate her tenacity and bravery, reflecting their respective positions in Ancient Greek society. Honor was a crucial component of Ancient Greek culture, as both examples demonstrate, and both men and women employed it to signify their social status.
References
Euripides, & Hamilton, E. (1971). The Trojan women. Bantam Book.
Homer. (2018). The Odyssey (E. Wilson, Trans.). W.W. Norton and Company.