Helen's Argument

Another part of The Trojan Women that I found interesting was Helen's plea for life. It was because of her that the Trojan War began, and she is hated by both peoples for that. Had she not run away from the kingdom of Menelaus, the ten year war would not have occurred and thousands of men would not have died a bloody death. Menelaus swears that she is doomed to die for her betrayals, but allows her to speak on behalf of her actions. She gives a number of reasons why the blame is not hers, and why she therefore should not have to die.

First, Helen puts the blame on Hecuba for giving birth to Paris. Had the queen not done so, "the whole bad business" would never occurred.

Secondly, she puts the blame on Priam for not killing Paris as a child. She states that it was he that ruined Troy, not her. Had either of the previous events went otherwise the war would have been avoided.

Thirdly, she puts blame on the gods. Helen gives an account of the judgment that Paris made between the goddesses Pallas, Hera, and Cypris. The one he chose was Cypris, who had offered him the most beautiful woman in the world. Helen was the prize that she gave him. Helen argues then that it was not her fault, but the goddess'. She says that she was "bought and sold for her beauty" (pg. 221). With the goddess by Paris' side, she had no choice but to love him and go away with him. It was as if she was enchanted.

Helen then says that after Paris died the enchantment lifted and she regained her whits. She claims that she tried to escape to be with Menelaus, but was forced to remain with the Trojans.

After Helen has given her plea, Hecuba steps in in response. I am not sure who's side I am on. Granted, Helen was given to Paris as a gift of Cypris, and it would seem that she did not have any other choice. At the same time, had she really not wanted to leave with Paris she could have fought it or as Hecuba mentions, done the noble thing and killed herself. Love is a funny thing. It will make one do things that one would not normally do. It is not my place to judge Helen, but I thought that her plea was quite interesting. I feel like the first two points that she makes are a bit far-fetched, but that the third could be considered valid. Luckily it was not up to me to decide her fate.