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Seen but not Heard The Significance of the Mute Child Character, Astyanax, in Euripides’ Trojan Women
Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2026.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2026
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| _version_ | 1867613760111247360 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Moller, Olivia Katelyn |
| author2 | Bosman, Philip |
| author_browse | Bosman, Philip Moller, Olivia Katelyn |
| author_facet | Bosman, Philip Moller, Olivia Katelyn |
| author_sort | Moller, Olivia Katelyn |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2026. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/136160 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:41:15.521Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publishDateRange | 2026 |
| publishDateSort | 2026 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/136160 Seen but not Heard The Significance of the Mute Child Character, Astyanax, in Euripides’ Trojan Women Moller, Olivia Katelyn Bosman, Philip Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Ancient Studies. Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2026. Moller, O. K. 2026. Seen but not Heard The Significance of the Mute Child Character, Astyanax, in Euripides’ Trojan Women. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/12f381a4-d1cf-475f-a521-68f88eaa0344 Astyanax, the son of Hector and Andromache, is a silent figure throughout Euripides’ Trojan Women. This silence has led scholarship to frequently interpret the child character as insignificant to the play’s dramatic plot. As a result, his character has often been interpreted solely in terms of his ability to generate pathos in an audience because of his small stature. However, when the play's text is discussed through the lens of its performance context, the child’s character takes on new significance. Discussions of the child’s role in 5th century Athenian society and the historical context of the city both elucidate the social conceptions of children and the possible mindset of the original audience. In the mythological and literary tradition that Euripides draws upon for his subject matter and characters, Astyanax’s potential is already present. The allusions to the variants of Astyanax’s fate are reinforced by his inheritance of his father’s shield and burial in front of Troy. The potential for the child to mature into an adult creates dramatic tension, as both victims and victors interpret it differently. This tension builds until the child’s death is announced. Thereafter, Hecuba and Andromache’s laments imbue the play with a bleak, hopeless atmosphere, and his subsequent burial is one of the final scenes, coinciding with the destruction of the city. Thus, the figure of Astyanax contains hope for Troy’s future and with his death, the city’s death is likewise represented. Ultimately, Astyanax’s role is crucial to the play’s dramatic narrative. Masters 2026-04-23T13:31:21Z 2026-04-23T13:31:21Z 2026-03 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/136160 en Stellenbosch University 90 pages application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Moller, Olivia Katelyn Seen but not Heard The Significance of the Mute Child Character, Astyanax, in Euripides’ Trojan Women |
| title | Seen but not Heard The Significance of the Mute Child Character, Astyanax, in Euripides’ Trojan Women |
| title_full | Seen but not Heard The Significance of the Mute Child Character, Astyanax, in Euripides’ Trojan Women |
| title_fullStr | Seen but not Heard The Significance of the Mute Child Character, Astyanax, in Euripides’ Trojan Women |
| title_full_unstemmed | Seen but not Heard The Significance of the Mute Child Character, Astyanax, in Euripides’ Trojan Women |
| title_short | Seen but not Heard The Significance of the Mute Child Character, Astyanax, in Euripides’ Trojan Women |
| title_sort | seen but not heard the significance of the mute child character astyanax in euripides trojan women |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/136160 |
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