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 and 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.