Herakles Character Analysis in Alcestis

Herakles is a son of Zeus, half-divine, and Greece’s strongest hero. He is compelled by King Eurystheus to perform various difficult labors and is resigned to a life of struggle and fighting. While unerringly faithful to his duty, he also enjoys revelry, as shown by his copious drinking while staying at his friend Admetos’s house. While ignorant of Alcestis’s death, he drunkenly philosophizes to Admetos’s servant about mortality and the importance of enjoying life. As soon as he learns that Alcestis is dead, however, he immediately springs into action, plotting to ambush Death and win Alcestis back from Hades. He succeeds and brings Alcestis, veiled, to the grieving Admetos, coaxing and finally forcing Admetos to recognize and welcome his wife.

Herakles Quotes in Alcestis

The Alcestis quotes below are all either spoken by Herakles or refer to Herakles. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

).

HERAKLES: I have a labor to perform. Eurystheus is my master.
He commands, and I obey.

LEADER What is your mission? And where are you bound?

HERAKLES A long, hard journey.
My destination’s Thrace. My orders are to capture
Diomedes’ horses.

LEADER Diomedes’ horses? It can’t be done,
Herakles. Surely you’ve heard of Diomedes?
[…] Those horses are wild. They can’t be broken.

HERAKLES Can’t be broken?

LEADER Not without a fight, they can’t.

HERAKLES Fighting’s what I do.
My labors are my life. I can’t refuse.

Related Characters: Herakles (speaker), Chorus Leader (speaker)

Page Number and Citation: 57

Explanation and Analysis:

CHORUS: Hospitality is here.
What house could be more gracious or more generous
than this? Open-handed, always prodigal and free,
its master gives such lavish welcoming
that one might think his guests were gods.
Great gods have sheltered here.
Here Apollo, god of Delphi, condescending,
came, his high divinity constrained to serve
as shepherd for a year. And down these blessed hills,
to mating flocks the god of music sang the season’s song…

Related Characters: Chorus (speaker), King Admetos , Herakles, Apollo

Page Number and Citation: 62

Explanation and Analysis:

HERAKLES: Lissen:
you hear that wine purling and gurgling in the cup?
Well, a swallow of this will do wonders, friend,
for whatever’s ailing you.
I mean, we all gotta die. Right?
Well, that’s why we all gotta think human thoughts,
and live while we can.
Eat, drink, and be merry.
Take it from me,
the way those gloomy, bellyachin’ tragedians gripe,
life isn’t life at all, it’s just a goddam
funeral.

Related Characters: Herakles (speaker), King Admetos , Servant

Page Number and Citation: 74

Explanation and Analysis:

Herakles Character Timeline in Alcestis

The timeline below shows where the character Herakles appears in Alcestis. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Obligation, Limitations, and Fate Theme Icon

Just then Herakles enters and greets the chorus. The chorus leader asks what business brings him to Thessaly.... (full context)

Admetos enters, dressed in mourning, and welcomes Herakles. When Herakles asks about his appearance, Admetos explains that there’s a funeral today. When pressed,... (full context)

At this, Herakles turns to leave, but Admetos takes his arm and forcibly detains him. Herakles resists, saying... (full context)

After Herakles is escorted into the palace, the chorus leader asks if Admetos is crazy. Admetos says... (full context)

...awhile. Then a scowling old servant enters and addresses the audience. At the same time, Herakles can be heard singing a drinking song, off-key, in the background. (full context)

...a peasant, and sings bawdy songs. And the servants have been ordered not to tell Herakles about Alcestis’s death, so they have to put up with the guest’s rudeness. (full context)

Then Herakles enters, drunk, carrying wine and frequently hiccupping and belching as he speaks. He criticizes the... (full context)

The cranky servant agrees but points out that Herakles’s behavior is out of place in a house of mourning. Suddenly Herakles sobers, realizing Admetos... (full context)

Now Herakles enters, followed by a veiled girl. He tells Admetos that he had thought, as Admetos’s... (full context)

Herakles gestures to the girl. He asks Admetos to keep the girl, whom he won as... (full context)

Herakles gently questions his friend, asking him what good it will do to refrain from marriage... (full context)

At this, Herakles seizes Admetos’s arm and won’t let go, though his friend protests that he’s being forced... (full context)

Admetos doubts the miracle, thinking at first that Alcestis must be a ghost. Herakles retorts, “I am your friend, Admetos, / not some vulgar trafficker in sorcery and ghosts.”... (full context)

As Herakles exits, Admetos turns to his subjects, proclaiming a thanksgiving feast: “From this day forth we... (full context)