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Lichas’ Lies and Sophoclean Innovation

1986; Duke University; Volume: 27; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

0017-3916

Michael R. Halleran,

Classical Antiquity Studies

W IN SOPHOCLES' Trachiniae Lichas arrives to explain to Deianeira Heracles' delayed homecoming, he does not speak the whole truth. He confirms the earlier messenger's report (I80ft): Heracles is alive, victorious, and now busy sacrificing to Zeus. Then, in response to Deianeira's question about the delay (246f), he describes the events that led to Heracles' sack of Oechalia (248-90): Eurytus' abusive treatment and expulsion of Heracles from his house provoked Heracles' stealthy murder of Eurytus' son Iphitus; after Zeus punished Heracles for this murder by having him sold as a slave to the Lydian queen Omphale, Heracles fulfilled his vow of vengeance and sacked Oechalia, taking from it the band of women who accompany Lichas. One young woman among these attracts Deianeira's attention, but Lichas claims to know not even her name. No sooner does he exit into the house with his captives than the first messenger contradicts Lichas' account of Heracles' motive in sacking Oechalia: he did so on account of his passion for this very girl; love alone was his motive for the murder of Iphitus (351ft). In the next scene, interrogation by both the messenger and Deianeira forces Lichas to confess his lie: it was indeed Heracles' passion for Iole that led to the destruction of Oechalia (476-78). Why does Sophocles present this lying tale only to reveal it almost at once as false? On the general function of this 'false tale discovered' scholars are agreed:1 the audience is allowed to see Deianeira's reaction both to the news of Heracles' apparent success and to Iole before she learns this woman's identity and her relation to Heracles. Deianeira reacts at first with an immediate sympathy towards the young captive (307ft) -a sympathy soon lost when she realizes that this young woman actually threatens her married life with Heracles. The contrast between the initial impulse of pity and the harsh impact of truth is possible only through a deception. Still another function of the lie is thematic: nuances of truth and seeming, knowledge and igno-