"Who is right and who is wrong in Sophocles' Women of Trachis"?
The accustomed trait of all tragic heroes and heroines is to have a tragic flaw or
hamartia, and it is Heracles' possession of hubris (excessive pride) that brings about
the wrong doings of Deianeira and his eventual downfall. While there is often a
discussion of the role of fate in the downfall of a tragic hero, there must be an element
of choice in order for there to be a true tragedy. The tragic hero falls because they
choose one course of action over another- evident in "Women of Tracis" from
Deianeira's action to use supposed magic. Therefore it could be argued that none of
the characters in "Women of Trachis" are essentially wrong, it is just natural human
error and the innate qualities of a tragic hero and heroine. Even so one could reason
that the characters should have thought of the outcomes before their actions and that
the disastrous end of Heracles was inevitable as it was the predicament of the oracles
Deianeira means no harm by her actions. She merely wishes to do good for the sake
of herself and her family. Like Ajax's Tecmessa, Deianeira is a socially marginalized
prize woman. In her opening speech we learn of her vulnerability and deepest fears.
Achelous the river-god haunted her with horrifying images of masculinity, appallingly
disturbing to a young innocent girl; "Sometimes he came as a bull...a gleaming
withering snake" and " a man with a bull's forehead." She describes how she
became suicidal with thoughts of having to marry this creature, until Heracles fought
him off and took her as his bride. Deianeira found refuge in Heracles and depends on
him for security of body and mind. Therefore it is not surprising that when her
husband is away, as with Tecmessa, all her insecurities come flooding back to disturb
her...