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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:
).
Lines 530-679
Quotes
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.
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Lines 680-914
Quotes
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…
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Lines 915-1110
Quotes
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.
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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:
).
Lines 530-679
Quotes
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:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Lines 680-914
Quotes
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:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Lines 915-1110
Quotes
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:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
