TROY WOMEN
HELEN OF TROY
You have decided I’m the enemy
so you probably won’t respond.
But I can guess how you’ll accuse me
plus I have my own points to make.
I will balance the views.
You feel nothing, so let’s use reason.
First, who caused this war?
Helen? Or Hecuba
who gave birth to Paris
the greedy guest?
Second, Priam sealed the doom of Troy
and me
when he refused to kill that son at birth
even though the prophets spelled out
this exact disaster.
And next?
Don’t remember? I do.
Lucky Paris got to judge a beauty contest of goddesses.
They all tried to bribe him:
Hera said he could be king of Asia and Europe;
Athena promised triumph over Greece;
Aphrodite offered me.
Exquisite, she said,
unearthly,
complete.
Aphrodite won.
Who profited? Greece.
Unconquered.
While I became property.
Now you hate me
when you should crown me.
For I did more to keep Greece safe
than all the armies.
I gave my body
to keep Greece safe.
Look at me.
I know what you’re thinking.
That’s not the point.
Why did I go
Secretly, in night, with him?
Paris—did you name him, Queen Hecuba?
Paris came with the goddess to take me.
And you were gone, my one.
You were gone.
How could you?
How could you?
I must ask myself one private question:
What happened to my heart
to ever
ever
make me leave you,
my one?
Rage at Aphrodite
of infinite power
but forgive me.
Forgive me.
Look?
You might go on.
Once Paris died and no god cared for me
why didn’t I come home?
You know what?
I tried.
I would climb the city walls
wind a rope around my body, tight,
tie this rope to a jutting stone
and lower myself--
bare toes searching out holds
rough rocks scraping my breasts--
towards the Greek camp.
The guards could tell you.
They caught me again and again.
Then there was a man who took what Troy didn’t want.
Kept me in his house.
Raped me again and again.
Please look, Menelaus.
Yes.
Lover.
I have been stolen like a prize
kept like a beast.
I am human.
I know it isn’t that kind of time but meeting your eyes I have to
smile. Your face shows the rest of my life. I am starting to tremble,
and you know me as a woman who often but not always keeps control.
The gods made me
and the war.
Do you hate them too?
You’re smarter than that.
I know you.
I know you.
You have decided I’m the enemy
so you probably won’t respond.
But I can guess how you’ll accuse me
plus I have my own points to make.
I will balance the views.
You feel nothing, so let’s use reason.
First, who caused this war?
Helen? Or Hecuba
who gave birth to Paris
the greedy guest?
Second, Priam sealed the doom of Troy
and me
when he refused to kill that son at birth
even though the prophets spelled out
this exact disaster.
And next?
Don’t remember? I do.
Lucky Paris got to judge a beauty contest of goddesses.
They all tried to bribe him:
Hera said he could be king of Asia and Europe;
Athena promised triumph over Greece;
Aphrodite offered me.
Exquisite, she said,
unearthly,
complete.
Aphrodite won.
Who profited? Greece.
Unconquered.
While I became property.
Now you hate me
when you should crown me.
For I did more to keep Greece safe
than all the armies.
I gave my body
to keep Greece safe.
Look at me.
I know what you’re thinking.
That’s not the point.
Why did I go
Secretly, in night, with him?
Paris—did you name him, Queen Hecuba?
Paris came with the goddess to take me.
And you were gone, my one.
You were gone.
How could you?
How could you?
I must ask myself one private question:
What happened to my heart
to ever
ever
make me leave you,
my one?
Rage at Aphrodite
of infinite power
but forgive me.
Forgive me.
Look?
You might go on.
Once Paris died and no god cared for me
why didn’t I come home?
You know what?
I tried.
I would climb the city walls
wind a rope around my body, tight,
tie this rope to a jutting stone
and lower myself--
bare toes searching out holds
rough rocks scraping my breasts--
towards the Greek camp.
The guards could tell you.
They caught me again and again.
Then there was a man who took what Troy didn’t want.
Kept me in his house.
Raped me again and again.
Please look, Menelaus.
Yes.
Lover.
I have been stolen like a prize
kept like a beast.
I am human.
I know it isn’t that kind of time but meeting your eyes I have to
smile. Your face shows the rest of my life. I am starting to tremble,
and you know me as a woman who often but not always keeps control.
The gods made me
and the war.
Do you hate them too?
You’re smarter than that.
I know you.
I know you.