The Third Stasimon of Sophocles' "Trachiniae"

I. Exposition: Deianeira's anxiety about Heracles' absence (Prologue = 1-93) II. Confrontation: Deianeira's search for truth about Heracles' status (Act 1 = 141-496) a) concealment: Heracles is alive and well (Act 1, part I ) 1. Deianeira vs. honest messenger (180-205) 2. Deianeira vs. deceitful messenger [Lichas] (225-334) b) revelation: Heracles' lust for youthful Iole (Act 1, part 2) 1. Deianeira vs. messenger again (335-92) 2. Deianeira vs. Lichas again (393-496) Ill. Climax: Deianeira's counter-plan to save her marriage a) Deianeira sends Lichas to Heracles with robe dipped in a love charm (Act 2 = 53 1-632) b) Deianeira describes devastating effects of love charm on wool ball; Hyllus describes devastat ing effects of robe on Heracles (Act 3 = 663-820) IV. Aftermath: consequences of action a) Deianeira's fate: suicide [nurse to chorus] (Act 4 = 862-946) b) Heracles' fate: (Epilogue = 971-1278) 1. Rending of body by poisoned robe (971-1111) 2. Recognition of meaning of his father's oracle (1141-78) 3. Two commands to Hyllus: burn Heracles on Mt. Oeta and marry lole (1179-263)