Classical Mythology Debate
Topic: Debate on whether Heracles should die for the Brutal Crime of killing his Wife and Children.
Position 1: Heracles should die for the crime of killing his wife and children.
Quotation 1:
“Misfortune… has no friends.”
Citation: Megara, Episode 2
Point 1:
Heracles should suffer the same fate as his wife and children since he killed them because of his insanity. It would only be justice as per the Greeks if he were punished in this way for his crimes. The labors that he was forced to undertake do not compare to the evil that he had done, considering that his punishment only glorified him.
Quotation 2:
“Here, all mankind are equal; all love their children, both those of high estate and those; who are naught.”
Point 2:
Heracles never discriminated against anyone based on wealth or status. He is known to highlight the importance of family, and it is appropriate for him to face the consequences of breaking the same values that he upholds and promoted. As a hero and a god, he is bound to face this kind of punishment since it is appropriate for him, for he owes his followers, mainly because of the horrible crime that he commits.
Quotation 3:
“Either thou art a god of little sense, or else naturally unjust.”
Citation: Amphitryon, Episode 1
Point 3:
From a personal view by Amphitryon, it is clear that how the gods are considered foolish and unjust. The crime that Heracles commits is as a result of the jealousy and differences between him and Hera. Heracles’ wife and children suffer due to the conflict going on between the gods, and it would only be appropriate for Heracles to be punished for the crime of killing them.
Position 2: Heracles should not be punished for the crime of killing his wife and children.
Quotation 1:
“If [Heracles] escape[s] punishment, the gods will become as naught, while man’s power will grow.”
Point 1:
The goddess iris clearly explains why Heracles is a driven man to kill his wife and children. He should not be killed for his crime since it was a form of punishment from the gods to remind him he had to power over him. Heracles was used by the gods as an instrument to force the humans to fall in line.
Quotation 2:
“Zeus, whoever this Zeus may be, begot me as a butt for Hera’s hate; yet … thee rather than Zeus do I regard as my father.”
Point 2:
Heracles acknowledges Zeus as his father and recognizes him as supreme. This contradicts the actions of Zeus, who allows Hera to punish him for showing the supremacy of the gods. It is ironic that Heracles still respects and acknowledges his father’s power even after Zeus allows Hera to torment him.
Quotation 3:
“Whoso prefers wealth or might to the possession of good friends, thinketh amiss.”
Point 3:
Here Heracles is seen addressing the true nature of friendship. He stands by his morals and even highlights how true friendship is more important than money and power. It’s not logical for a person with such moral standards to commit such crime without being influenced by an external factor. It would, therefore, be against everything Heracles, and the entire society stood for to punish a person for a crime that their conscience had no contribution.
Work Cited
Silk, Michael Stephen. “Heracles and Greek tragedy.” Greece & Rome 32.1 (1985): 1-22.