LES TRACHINIENNES

Deianira is warned by her son Hyllus of the impending return of her husband Heracles. Upon learning that her husband is in love with another woman, Deianira dyes a tunic with the blood of the centaur Nessus who, insisting that it is a love charm, claims it will keep Heracles forever faithful. But the tunic is poisoned. Shortly after realizing her mistake, Deianira kills herself while Heracles indeed dies, as foretold by the oracle, killed by someone who is already dead.
 
Her love, as capacious as her pain and sorrow, leads to her ruin. Deianira is the story of death by love.


ANTIGONE
In order to bury her brother Polynices and honour him with a funeral, Antigone defies a decree imposed by Creon, king of Thebes. He condemns Antigone and has her entombed, despite the supplications of Haimon, his son and Antigone’s fiancé. The predictions made by the blind soothsayer Tieresias about impending calamity cause Creon to change his mind but alas, it too late, for both Antigone and Haimon have committed suicide.

Raising questions about justice and reconciliation, Antigone is “made to love, not to hate”.
 

ÉLECTRE
 
Electra lives miserably under the yoke of her mother Clytemnestra and her lover Aegisthus, both of whom murdered Electra’s father Agamemnon. She has lost all hope of joining with her exiled brother Orestes to avenge her father’s death, as a messenger has just announced the death of Orestes. Misled by this ruse, Electra sinks into despair until Orestes reveals his disguise. Brother and sister are reunited at last and take their revenge.
 
Justice is a sham. The only way Electra can be delivered from her suffering is through vengeance.

Moral

Is women’s power a gift from the gods?
Is men’s power an imitation of divinity?
Through their sacrifice, Antigone, Electra and Deianira glorify Freedom,
Which can only survive if it is universally respected.