Wild Justice

by Judith Mossman

Euripides' Hecuba is is dominated by the vengence which Hecuba takes on the faithless Polymestor, and explores in a complex and profound manner the potential of revenge as a subject for tragedy. The sacrifice of Polyxena is in counterpoint to the revenge action; the whole is set in the chaotic aftermath of the fall of Troy. The combination of plots creates one of Eruipides' most effective dramas, full of pathos, suspense, and excitement. This, the first book-length study of the play in English, argues that it has been greatly undervalued by critics who have failed to appreciate the power of its rhetoric, the subtlety of its characterization, and the beauty of its choral odes. The book also examines and seeks to explain the powerful influence of Hecuba in the Renaissance, and compares the play with English revenge tragedy of the 16th and 17th century.

Paperback

First published April 13, 1995