Read pages 41 -49
1. What do we learn about Priam and his family
in this section?
Priam has two children
– Cassandra and Helenus – who have special powers. They are gifted, just like
Priam – able to converse with the gods.
QUOTE: “Only in Priam
has what is both a blessing and an awful responsibility remained close to the
source.”
Cassandra’s powers are
slowly sending her insane. Unlike Priam she doesn’t embrace her visions.
Priam has many wives,
but Hecuba is his favourite; she has a calming effect on Priam.
Priam: “His nature is
open at any moment to presences in the air around him that, when they settle
out and take a bodily form, have the names of gods.”
2. What is Priam’s state of mind?
At first, Priam is
calm, because he is talking with Hecuba. But as he speaks to Hecuba he becomes
more agitated.
3. How does Priam see his role as king? What
are its benefits and what are its obligations?
Priam believes that he
is “the physical embodiment of Troy”. The gods have CHOSEN him to be king, and
he sometimes feels that the task stretches him too far.
Priam feels that he is
like an actor, playing a part, a role. A king is obliged to act in particular
ways. Priam is required to think of “the king’s sacred body”. He feels that
Troy depends on him. If things were to go wrong, he would feel responsible.
QUOTE: p. 44
Priam knows of events …
“that his body is aware of as a dim foreboding long before the last in the
relay of messengers …”
Priam takes his role
as king very seriously. On several occasions he has travelled to all corners of
the kingdom to show himself and discover what he is truly representing.
4. . What
happens in his encounter with the goddess?
The goddess, Iris,
appears on the couch beside Priam. She has a calming presence.
QUOTE: The goddess explains to Priam that things are
..
“Not the way they must
be, but the way they have turned out. In a world that is also subject to
chance”
This opens up a new
thought to Priam, until now, as was the way at that time, he had believed till
then that the gods decide everything.
Priam is bewildered.
Perhaps he was dreaming; perhaps he has seen a vision. When he looks around,
the goddess isn’t there. Despite this,he believes that the idea came from the
goddess … “where lse could such a dangerous suggestion come, if not from an
immortal.” P. 46
5. Hecuba’s sleeping quarters
Read pages 49 -63
6. What has been the personal “cost” of the
war?
Hecuba lost seven sons
– seven sons she had carried within her and yielded up to the world. She felt a
deep connection to each of these lost children; to her mind, they were flesh of
her flesh. For Priam it was different; he hardly knew what he had ost – other
than knowing that they were his. Each time one of these men was killed, Troy
lost a fearless protector.
Achilles and the
soldiers on both the Greek and Trojan sides lost something too with every kill;
they lost a little more of their humanity. Through the war they became mindless
killing animals.
The people whose sons
or whose friends were killed in battle each lost a loved one – as Priam and
Hecuba had done, and as a result, ost control of their emotions, lost their
peace of mind and were left with only grief.
7. How does Priam describe his role in Troy?
Priam’s role in Troy
was to “stand still and be silent”. His role was to appear strong and
untouchable, so that in times of trouble his people could look to him as a
constant. He was a symbol of continuity, a comfort to his people. His role was
to appear god-like, so that the people of Troy could always feel that he would
protect them. Priam’s role was to be in control. He was a ceremonial figurehead
who allowed others be his arm, his fist, his breath. His role was to conceal
any sign of age or weakness, to appear invulnerable.
8. What is Priam’s account of his encounter
with the goddess?
Priam is bewildered by
his encounter with the goddess Iris – bewildered but in awe. He is uncertain
whether he had been dreaming, or whether he had had a vision.
9. What plan does he outline to Hecuba?
The plan to retrieve
Hector’s body from Achilles involves Priam going to Achilles in plain white
clothes, with none of the signs and trappings of kingship. He will go as an
ordinary man, in a simple mule cart drawn by donkeys – not in a magnificent
kingly carriage drawn by horses. He will
have an ordinary man – a simple mule driver – and will take gold and treasure
in the wagon. And he will humbly beg Achilles for Hector’s body.
10. How does she respond?
Hecuba is shocked when
Priam outlines his plan to her. She grows more and more disturbed as Priam’s
enthusiasm for his plan becomes more apparent. Hecuba is furious with Priam and
cannot believe Priam would suggest such a thing; then she becomes speechless.
Eventually she tries to persuade Priam to change his mind; she believes the
plan is suicidal, that Achilles is a jackal, an animal, who will cut Priam
down.
11. How does HE then respond to what Hecuba
says?
Much of the time Priam
feels unnerved around Hecuba. He explains how, when he was younger he was able
to fight. But he is beyond that now – he is too old to wear armour and go into
battle. He feels that he must do something else. He then recounts to Hecuba the
story of his past when, as a child, he needed rescuing.
12.
Read page 63 - 79
Priam re-tells his
story. What is it?
What was Priam’s
original name?
Podarces.
Podarces was the
youngest son of King Laomedon, king of Troy.
When Podarces was an
infact, Laomedon promised his daughter, Hersione, to the great warrior
Herakles. However, Laomedon broke his promise. In his anger, Herakles attacked
Troy, and killed all of Laomedon’s sons – except for Podarces, who was hidden
among the local common people, dressed in the garb of a commoner. When Herakles
too Hersione, he promised her one gift. Hersione went to the save market where
she located Podarces.
13. What happened to him?
The events had taken
place when Priam was a child, and when he was known as Podarces. Podarces was
of royal birth – the son of a king. Herakles had led a force of Greeks against
Podarces father.
Podarces was driven
out of the burning citadel along with all the other children. His parents had
disguised him as a common village child. They hoped that this would protect
him.
The children were
being guarded. Podarces felt out of place. All of the children were filthy and
rough skinned and covered in blood – like himself. Podarces was afraid of the
other children.
Podarces heard his
name being called. It was his sister, Hersione, who had found him. Podarces did
not want to be identified, because he feared that he would be murdered if the
guards knew he was of royal birth.
Hersione is
accompanied by Herakles; Herakles has promised Hersiona a gift. Hersione
chooses Podarces, her brother. Herakles laughs. He plays mind games with the
boy. But Herakles is a man of his word; he spares Podarces. But he re-names him
Priam – which means the ‘ransom’ or the ‘price paid”. This is to remind Priam
that his old self no longer exists – that is the price he must pay to be
allowed to survive.
Priam believes that
the gods allowed this to happen. He will never forget that day for the rest of
his life: the filth and the stench and the fear. From these events Priam
learned what it is to be treated as an object, a thing of no worth in itself.
14. What does the name PRIAM mean?
The name PRIAM was
given to him by Hercules (or Herakles) because Herakles owed Hersione a gift.
Herakles renamed him so that he would remember, for very day thereafter, that
in order to have a new life he had to pay a price. He was giving up his old
life and being reborn, brought back from the dead, with a new name. And the new
name was Priam: the word means – “the price paid”.
15. How does his childhood experience still
affect him?
16.
Pages 79 – 90
How do Priam’s
various sons and daughters respond to
his plan/ intention?
What arguments do
they use to try to dissuade Priam?
How does Priam
respond?
17.
Read pages 90 – 107
Why is Priam angry at
the beginning of this section?
As king, Priam is used
to people doing exactly what he asks. In his vision, he pictured a “common mule
cart”, but is sons bring an ornate wagon – a fancy, crafted carriage fit for a
king, drawn by magnificent horses. Priam is furious.
What are our first
impressions of Somax?
Somax is described as
a stocky fellow, He is middle aged, a common man, with no education. He had a
reputation for being reliable, but was a heavy drinker who spent much time at
the pub. Somax loves his two mules –
Shock and Beauty.
How does Somax
respond to being in the court with the royal family?
Somax is amazed by
what he sees in the palace. He is amazed at how clean the people are, and how
white their skin is. He is afraid to speak, and is quite nervous. This is
evident in his many mannerisms – the way he rubs his nose and scratches his
head. Somax is presented as a humorous character.
Somax is also taken
aback by the way the members of the royal court speak – their high pitched,
rather effeminate voices.
Who is Idaeus?
On ceremonial
occasions, Priam is always accompanied by a herald: Idaeus. The herald’s job is
to speak on the king’s behalf: to deliver his speeches, to carry the royal
staff.
What are the names of
his mules?
Shock and Beauty are
the mules’ names. Beauty is a black mule with whom everyone falls in love.
At the end of this
section, what is the ‘atmosphere’?
There is
an atmosphere of uncertainty and apprehension. Somax is clearly uncomfortable
in the presence of the royal family. Priam speaks to Somax as he would to any
other subject; he is authoritative and distant.
The Royal
family members are worried by Priam’s decision. The commoners of Troy wonder
why Priam is leaving the city, and whether he will return. No one is quite sure
what is happening. When Priam outlines his plan, his family members are very
distressed.
Deiphobus
steps forward and confronts Priam. . Deiphobus argues that it would not be
right for Priam to go himself to retrieve the body. It would be an insult to
his royal image, and would be “putting his precious life at risk.”
Cassandra,
who is normally energetic and bubbly, stands before Priam in silence. She is plae and only half
attentive.
CHAPTERS 2 & 3 Pages
90-110
1.
Why does Priam insist on “an ordinary mule
cart, not this … carnival wagon.”?
Priam wants
to be seen as an ordinary man, not as a king. If he had gone to Achilles
dressed as a king, and with all of the trappings of a king, his plan could not
succeed. Because central to his plan was that he appear as an ordinary man – an
equal of all men.
2.
What does Somax notice about the people in the
palace?
He is
amazed at how clean and white they are. The arms, necks, faces of the women –
and the men – looked as though they had never seen sunlight. He also notices that they are tall, and their
voices are high-pitched.
3.
How do Priam and Somax regard each other at
first? What are their first impressions?
When they
first meet, Somax is very awkward. He doesn’t know what is expected, what is
appropriate. He did not know how to speak to a king.
4.
Why does Priam want to give Somax the name
Idaeus?
Whenever
Priam ventures out of the palace he is normally accompanied by a herald –
Idaeus – who speaks on his behalf.
5.
How does Somax feel about this?
Somax does
not like the idea of being called Idaeus. He is Somax. He knows who he is.
Somax is a name that suits him. Idaeus is a ‘palace’ name – not a name for the
likes of Somax, who is a commoner.
CHAPTER 3
1. Once the
journey begins, the relationship between Priam and Somax starts to change? How
does Somax treat Priam? P. 111- 120
At first,
Somax felt uncomfortable in the presence of a king. He doesn’t know how to
address Priam.He begins to feel more at ease with Priam, as they speak more and
more. In some ways, he feels a little superior to Priam; Priam is almost
childlike, and has no “street wisdom”. Somax treats Priam with great courtesy,
but almost as he would treat ha child.
Somax is
tactful at first. And cautious. As the journey proceeds, though, he comes to
treat Priam as he would any other ‘ordinary man’. Somax is not aware of the
protocols and expectations concerning the treatment of kinds and princes. Somax
does not wish to offend Priam, however, and is very considerate of his needs.
Somax becomes like a teacher to Priam.
2. Comment on
the two incidents: the fish and the cakes. What do they show us about each man?
Somax
suggests to Priam that he wet his feet in the stream in order to cool down.
Priam is surprised and amused at first, but is then delighted when the small
fish gather about his fet. He is like a young child, experiencing such things
for the first time. It is as though Somax is leading him – educating him in how
the world really is. Somax is showing Priam a new world, aworld very different
from the world Priam is used to. Somax also introduces Priam to the kinds of
experiences that occur in ‘normal families’.
3. Look
closely at Priam’s ‘musings’ (p.121 – 129)
o
What insights does he gain about himself – his
roles as king, as father, as a man?
o
What insights do WE gain about him?
Priam
realised that in his day-to-day life he did nothing for himself. People brought
him his food, dressed him, spoke on his behalf. Priam realised that there was
so much he DID NOT know – a whole other world of ‘the ordinary’.
Priam
lived his life as a figurehead, a symbol of a great city- state – Troy. But –
he now realised – he had been robbed of the simple pleasures and experiences in
life. Even when he went hunting, someone else killed the boar.
He
realised that his courtly life was a pretence.
When
Somax told stories of his children and his grand daughter, Priam realised how
different Somax’ life was – how much richer, how full of real emotion and love
Somax life was.
4. Somax
talks about his relationships with HIS children. What do we learn about Somax –
and what does Priam learn? What does Priam begin to realise? (p. 129-135)
WE learn
that Somax’s children are all dead. When they were living, they were important
to him. Priam learned about the closeness of an ordinary family, and begins to
realise that there was a great distance between himself and his own children.
This
distance has already been dramatically referred to when Hecuba spoke of the
closeness she felt to her children, who had been within her body.
5. In pp.
136-139, what do we discover about Priam?
Priam’s
relationships with his children was FORMAL and SYMBOLIC. He had many wives and
lovers, and many children – over 50 of them – so many he was unsure of exactly
how many there were. He had grieved the deaths of his sons – especially Hector
– but when he witnessed the depth of Somax’s grief over the deaths of his
children, Priam realised that he did not have the same powerful love for his
children that Somax had for his.
6. Compare
how Priam responded to the death of his beloved son Hector and Somax’s response
to the death of HIS son.
7. On p.142
Malouf says that Priam “was sorry they had to move on.” Why is this?
Priam had
come to really enjoy the place where they stopped. He enjoyed the simple
pleasures and the conversations with Somax.
8. How does
Somax react to the arrival of the stranger?
How does Priam react?(p. 143-4)
Somax was
alarmed. Both men were unconvinced by the story the stranger initially told.
9. What do we
notice about this stranger? What kind of personality does he have?
He talks
continuously, blustering like an over confident youth who likes to hear the
sound of his own voice. He appears arrogant and sure of himself.
10. Why is
Somax so furious? P. 148-52
Somax
distrusts the stranger who is now accompanying them. He is too confident, too
cocky for Somax’s liking. He is also angry because Beauty seems to like the
stranger. Somax is also aware that they are in enemy territory, and this
stranger could be luring them into a trap.
11. On p. 156,
we read that Somax “hid his astonishment with a narrow eyed glare”. What had
astonished him?
He was
astonished that the stranger KNEW that his daughter-in-law had a limp.
12. Who is
Hermes? What miracle does he bring about at the end of Chapter 3?
Hermes is
a god. He is a messenger. He also escorts souls to the Underworld, so that they
can cross the River Styx and join the dead.
The
miracle Hermes brings about is the removal of the heavy pole that bars the gate
into Achilles’ encampment.
