'Suppliant Maidens (Morshead Translation)' Summary

The play opens with the Danaids, fifty daughters of King Danaus, arriving in Argos, a Greek city, as refugees. They are fleeing Egypt, where they are being forced to marry their fifty cousins, the sons of King Aegyptus. The Danaids, fearful of their cousins' violence and driven by a desire for freedom, supplicate King Pelasgus of Argos for protection. Pelasgus, torn between his own laws and the plight of the Danaids, initially hesitates but eventually grants them asylum, after the Argive people vote in their favor. Their arrival in Argos is met with relief by the Danaids, who celebrate their newfound safety, but this respite is short-lived. A herald from Egypt arrives demanding their return, threatening war if their demands are not met. Pelasgus, standing firm, rejects the Egyptian's claims, ultimately asserting Argos' right to protect the Danaids. The play ends with the Danaids taking refuge within the walls of Argos, their fate uncertain, but their immediate danger seemingly averted. The Suppliants explores themes of forced marriage, family duty, the rights of women, and the role of supplication in ancient Greek society. The play's unresolved ending, however, leaves the audience questioning the future of the Danaids and the potential for conflict between Argos and Egypt.