Helen: Analysis of Major Characters
The analysis of major characters in the story of Helen delves into the intricate dynamics of her relationships and circumstances. Helen, the wife of King Menelaus of Sparta, is portrayed as a romantic figure with charm and self-pity, who has endured misfortunes after being promised to Paris by Aphrodite. Her journey takes her to Egypt, where she is protected by King Proteus and later faces the advances of his son, Theoclymenus. Menelaus, her husband, is depicted as a proud but ragged figure who has been misled by a phantom-image of Helen during his long wanderings. Theoclymenus is characterized as a pious king whose affection for Helen leads him to overlook the threat posed by the Greeks. The prophetic character Theonoe plays a crucial role in confirming Menelaus's survival and ultimately contributes to the resolution of the conflict. Supporting characters like Teucer and Helen's twin brothers, Castor and Polydeuces, further enrich the narrative as they aid in the unfolding of events. Overall, the character analysis highlights themes of love, deception, and the influence of the divine in human affairs.
Helen: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Euripides
Genre: Play
Locale: Egypt
Plot: Love
Time: Seven years after the fall of Troy
Helen, the wife of King Menelaus of Sparta. Promised by Aphrodite to Paris for his judgment, Helen was rescued by Hermes and supernaturally transported to Egypt. A phantom-image was given to Paris, and Helen was promised that she would return to Sparta to be with her husband, who should know that she did not elope to Troy. She has been protected in Egypt by King Proteus, but he is now dead, and his son Theoclymenus wishes to marry her. She has taken refuge at the tomb of Proteus and, at the beginning of the play, laments her misfortunes. When a Greek, Teucer, appears with the news that Menelaus is reported dead, Helen takes the report as fact. She goes to consult Theonoe, a prophetess who is the sister of Theoclymenus, and learns that Menelaus is alive and will arrive in Egypt. When she returns, Menelaus has appeared. He cannot believe, because he has been wandering for seven years with the phantom-image, that Helen is really in Egypt until one of his men comes to report that the phantom-image has returned to the skies. He and Helen then retell their separate stories, convince the all-knowing Theonoe not to reveal their presence to Theoclymenus, and devise a plan to escape. Helen has Menelaus, ragged and dirty after his wanderings, report his own death to Theoclymenus. She agrees to marry the young king if he will allow her to perform burial rites at sea for dead Menelaus. Once at sea, Helen and Menelaus make their escape. Helen is a romantic figure; she has charm, wit, self-importance, and self-pity combined with loveliness and virtue.
Menelaus (meh-neh-LAY-uhs), the king of Sparta. Shipwrecked on the coast of Egypt, he hides his men and the phantom-image of Helen and sets out in search of aid. He appears, shabbily clothed, and is faced down and treated as a beggar by an old portress at the house of Theoclymenus. She tells him of Helen's presence in the house and of her master's hostility toward all Greeks. Helen enters and, after Menelaus learns that the gods had substituted a phantom-image for his wife, they are reconciled and seek the aid of Theonoe. In his plea before her, Menelaus is the “miles gloriosus,” the brag-gart soldier: he threatens, is highly rhetorical, and even congratulates himself during his speech. After he makes several useless suggestions for their escape, he accepts Helen's plan and carries out his role bravely.
Theoclymenus (thee-uh-KLIM-eh-nuhs), the king of Egypt, a pious and kindly man whose love for Helen has caused him to attempt to make her his wife in spite of his father's oath of protection. He dislikes Greeks because he is afraid they may come to steal Helen. Eager to believe the reports of Menelaus' death and overjoyed because Helen now seems willing to accept his suit, he is easily duped into agreeing to any funeral arrangements she wishes to make. He is kept from pursuit by the intervention of the gods, whose advice he gladly follows.
Theonoe (thee-ON-oh-ee), a prophetess and the sister of Theoclymenus. Helen consults her offstage and learns that Menelaus is not dead. The seeress makes a spectacular entrance and reveals that the final decision in the fate of Menelaus is hers. After hearing from both Helen and Menelaus, she decides, out of self-respect and piety, for Menelaus.
Castor (KAS-tur) and Polydeuces (pol-ih-DEW-seez), the twin brothers of Helen. They appear at the end of the play to keep Theoclymenus from pursuing Helen and to prevent his punishment of Theonoe for deceiving him.
Teucer (TEW-sur), the famous archer. Traveling to Rhodes because his father, Telamon, has banished him for failing to protect his brother Ajax at Troy, he gives Helen news of the fall of Troy and of the wanderings and reported death of Menelaus.
The portress, a guardian of the house of Theoclymenus. A manly woman, typical of Egypt, she faces Menelaus down when he attempts to beg.
A servant, a simpleminded but faithful servant of Menelaus who brings news of the disappearance of the phantom Helen and who has some bitter things to say against soothsayers.
The Chorus, captive Greek women who are sympathetic to Helen. They render the odes that lift the play above the level of mere comedy.