Metamorphoses · Chapter
Story of Polyxena and Hecuba explained
After the fall of Troy, Polyxena is sacrificed at Achilles' tomb to appease his ghost.
What happens
After the fall of Troy, Polyxena is sacrificed at Achilles' tomb to appease his ghost. Hecuba discovers her son Polydore murdered by King Polymestor for gold. In revenge, she blinds Polymestor, and is transformed into a barking bitch, roaming the Thracian plains.
Themes in this chapter
Violence and Revenge
The chapter is driven by acts of violence: the sacrifice of Polyxena, the murder of Polydore, and Hecuba's blinding of Polymestor, culminating in her transformation.
Transformation and Metamorphosis
Hecuba's metamorphosis into a dog is a literal transformation that symbolizes her grief and rage, marking the end of her human suffering.
Mortality and Immortality
The sacrifice of Polyxena and the murder of Polydore highlight human mortality, while Hecuba's transformation into a beast underscores the loss of human identity and the persistence of her story.
Characters to notice
- Hecuba
Queen of Troy, mother of Polyxena and Polydore, who endures the sacrifice of her daughter and the murder of her son, then blinds Polymestor and is transformed into a dog.
- Ulysses
The Greek hero who drags Hecuba aboard the ships and later receives her as a captive.
- Achilles
His ghost demands the sacrifice of Polyxena at his tomb.
- Pyrrhus
The son of Achilles who performs the sacrificial killing of Polyxena.
- Polymestor
King of Thrace who murders Polydore for gold and is blinded by Hecuba.
- Polydore
Son of Priam and Hecuba, murdered by Polymestor and his body cast into the sea.
Key passages
“And will ye go? Is then the name Of the once great Achilles lost to fame? Yet stay, ungrateful Greeks; nor let me sue In vain for honours to my manes due. For this just end, Polyxena I doom With victim rites to grace my slighted tomb.”
Achilles' ghost demands that the Greeks sacrifice Polyxena to honor his tomb before they depart.
Achilles' demand for a human sacrifice underscores the theme of violence and revenge.
“Now strike, she said; now spill my generous blood; Deep in my breast or throat your dagger sheathe, While thus I stand prepared to meet my death: For life on terms of slavery I despise.”
Polyxena bravely offers herself to the sacrificial knife, preferring death to a life of captivity.
Polyxena's courage in facing death highlights her noble character and the tragedy of her fate.
“She springs upon him, mid the captive crowd: (Her thirst of vengeance want of strength supplies:) Fastens her forky fingers in his eyes; Tears out the rooted balls; her rage pursues, And in the hollow orbs her hand imbrues.”
Hecuba attacks Polymestor, gouging out his eyes in a fit of vengeful rage.
Hecuba's violent revenge on Polymestor is a key moment of the chapter's theme of violence and revenge.
“She snarls and growls, nor in a human tone; Then bites impatient at the bounding stone; Extends her jaws, as she her voice would raise To keen invectives in her wonted phrase; But barks, and thence the yelping brute betrays.”
Hecuba is transformed into a dog, barking and snarling instead of speaking, as her human form is lost.
The metamorphosis of Hecuba into a dog is the central transformation of the chapter.