Slavery In Hecuba

Freedom and Slavery In Hecuba Stephen Daitz comes to the conclusion that in Euripedes’ “Hecuba”, the idea of becoming a slave allows the reader to see a distinct separation of values between mother and daughter. He makes the point that revenge and freedom are valued differently amongst generations. While Polyxena would rather die than become a slave, Hecuba is willing to be a slave for the rest of her life if she can achieve her revenge on Polymester despite being offered her freedom by Agamemnon. This line between death and slavery is almost the same, but the way the women of Hecuba take this decision is a general way of stating the changing view of slavery in society amongst different generations. Daitz’s point is proven by …show more content…
She has had life experience in many forms and knows that she has chosen many things, but that ultimately women may not have a choice in this society. Women are treated as lesser regardless of their class. Hecuba has been a queen and has helped to rule the kingdom, but amongst all of these beautiful ideas of power and freedom to choose she is ultimately a slave to society and the values that are placed on women. This further proves Daitz’s point that, “the line between ‘slave’ and ‘free’ are blurred,” This is probably the reason that Hecuba is willing to be a slave for the rest of her life because if she can achieve one piece of revenge against Agamemnon she will feel fulfilled with her life and will continue to have to please men and do as others tell her as she has done time and time …show more content…
Hecuba first tries to offer herself to be sacrificed instead of Polyxema. This would be a case in which Hecuba tries to use death as an escape as well. The line between what Hecuba and Polyxema want is not a matter of wanting different things, but a matter as to what they can have. So does this make Polyxema truly free in her death? Limitations regarding Hecuba and Polyxema’s futures are given to them because certain desirable options can never even be considered in their decision making process. Hecuba does not have freedom here as she is denied an escape through death instead of her daughter, but also through her being sacrificed as well. Death was not probable for Hecuba, but for her children at this point in time it was set in stone. Hecuba does not have her true desire as an option regardless of Agamemnon offering her freedom because options are realistic boundaries that limit the attainability of desires. With two of Hecuba’s children dying in one day she truly just wishes to die and without her being able to do so it is not a difference of opinion that Hecuba and Polyxema experience but a matter of ability to attain what they