Page 15 - GALIET EURIPIDES´MACARIA´S GIFTS: The Angel IV

Galiet & Galiet
daughter of mighty Heracles6, benefactor of the gods7, receiver of hero-cult who performed the twelve labours8 for his cousin, King Eurystheus. Heracles, who also tamed and civilized the world, who earned his cult title “alexikakos” (‘averter of evil’) and “kallinikos” (‘glorious victor’). Heracles whose change of fate was connived by Hera, Zeus’ resentful and jealous wife, hostile to him since infancy: she rushed Eurystheus’ birth, she held back Heracles’ birth and had snakes attack him in the cradle (Her. 1266-7).
My Actions and My Language. Until this moment, I have remained silenced. Macaria, by remaining secluded within the sanctuary, parallels women’s seclusion from patriarchal, male-dominated affairs (Iolaus, Demophon). However, as emerges from the private feminine space she enters into the public masculine space in what can be viewed, felt, as an act of mini-rebellion. Macaria takes a leading role 3⁄4 that of heroic female 3⁄4 in virtue of her sacrifice to save family and city. Macaria becomes, or shall we say, assumes the role of representative, delegate, or as it were, the role of the family’s “patriarch” and future saviour of the family and protector of Athens, perhaps second to Athena. Moreover, Macaria’s identity is two-fold. She assumes the masculine role because, like men, she is driven by the honour-shame code and, like women, by the instinctive feminine need to protect one’s family. Not only does she assume the male- dominated heroic role by despising cowardice, by appealing to the greatness of her ancestry (510-511) but she is equally aware than she cannot betray her siblings nor expect happiness if they die (521). Note also her “manly speech”.
6 Though Heracles is a prominent character, we have only partial knowledge of him from various sources. In Hesiod’s Catalogue of Women, we read that after going to Hades, he became a god dwelling in Olympus with Hebe
as his wife. Hera has also changed her feelings towards him, rather than being the most hated of mortal men, she now honours him above all other immortals, next to Zeus. This suggests that his apotheosis is not related to the way he died because after he dies, he goes to Hades and then he becomes a god. This is important in understanding Macaria’s pride in her heritage.
7 Heracles also helped in the battle against the giants.
8 According to Apollodorus (2.4.12), the labours come after Heracles kills his children after an attack of madness. It is not certain whether this version predates Euripides. Apollodorus. The Library of Greek Mythology. Trans. Robin Hard. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997.
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