ANDROMACHE BOOK 6 Ella Geraghty

Who is Andromache? Andromache is Hektor’s wife. She is the daughter of Eёtion, ruler of the Kilikes. She lives in Troy with their infant son, whom Hektor calls Skamandrios, but everyone else calls Astyanax.

brave spirit “ Poor dear man, your own brave spirit will destroy you, and you have no pity for no pity for your baby son and for me your doomed wife, who will soon be your widow.”

Hector prepares to return to the battlefield but first visits Andromache, whom he finds nursing their son Astyanax by the walls of the city. As she cradles the child, she anxiously watches the struggle in the plain below. Andromache begs Hector not to go back, but he insists that he cannot escape his fate, whatever it may be. He kisses Astyanax, who, although initially frightened by the crest on Hector’s helmet, greets his father happily. Hector then departs. Andromache, convinced that he will soon die, begins to mourn his death. He kisses Astyanax, who, although initially frightened by the crest on Hector’s helmet, greets his father happily. Hector then departs. Andromache, convinced that he will soon die, begins to mourn his death.

What does this episode tell us about the Homeric view of women?

As the young Trojans die, we hear snippets about their mothers or wives and then imagery reminding us of growth and nurturing. We begin to associate the faceless Trojans with families. But it isn't until we see Andromache that we really comprehend how truly important family is.

Hektor leaves the battle and enters the oikia (the woman's domain) in search of his wife. When he finds her, she offers him military advice. This is beyond the normal boundaries of what is acceptable for women in this era - but she is not presented as negative in any way for speaking or acting thus. Her advice is sound, though Hektor "cannot" follow it, and, though Hektor gently rebukes her for getting involved with affairs of war, it seems that he doesn't really mind at all. This is not that normal of a man– both characters defy the stereotype.

Without Andromache's character, the reader could not so clearly see the plight of women in war. Also, we would not know about the "perfect family" that the Trojan men dreamed of, fought for, and died for. Without Andromache, we wouldn't know about Hektor's deep conflict over and love for his family, which provides a basis for all other Trojan men and clarifies the difference to the Greeks. Without Andromache's yin to match Hektor's yang we would not know the second half of Hektor or the role of the Trojan woman.

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