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myNotes
PROLOGUE
1 Storyteller: Long ago in Greece, there was a man named Aeson
/EE•son/. He was the king of the city of Iolcus /ee•UHL•koose/.
Unfortunately, his brother, Pelias, also wanted to be king, so he usurped
the throne from Aeson. Fortunately, Aeson’s wife, Alcimede
/al•suh•MEE•dee/, was thinking ahead, and she sent away their son,
Jason, so that King Pelias wouldn’t get any ideas about killing the heir to
the throne. (Well, Pelias probably still had ideas but at least this way he
couldn’t do anything about them.) Even though Pelias got what he
wanted, he remained unsatisfied. Our tale starts when King Pelias is
hosting a banquet, and when Jason arrives most unexpectedly,
everything comes to a screeching halt.
SCENE 1
2 A magnificent hall, laden with the finest food and drink.
3 Jason: King Pelias! I demand your attention!
4 Hundreds of people turn to look at the man who has interrupted the
festivities.
5 Jason: It is I, Jason, son of your brother, Aeson. Perhaps you remember
him? He’s the man from whom you stole the throne, thus depriving him
and his wife—my mother—of me, their son. I have returned to claim the
throne, sir, for it is rightly mine.
6 King Pelias throws his head back and laughs, his drink sloshing out of his
cup and onto his garments.
7 King Pelias: Is that how you see things? I must say, I disagree, young
man! Though I can tell you are who you say you are—I would recognize
the face of my brother anywhere, especially on his son—I have been king
of Iolcus for many years, and as you can imagine, I don’t take kindly to a
man arriving and laying claim to my throne. Since you fancy yourself fit
to rule, tell me—what would you do if our positions were reversed?
8 Jason thinks for a moment as the king’s guests continue to stare. He hears
their whispers and doubt begins to creep into his very soul . . .
usurped If someone usurped a job or position, he or she took it illegally or by force.
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