Mount Vernon High School - Forum Yearbook (Mount Vernon, OH)

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THE FORUM 13 The Most Pathetic Figure in Literature ,N XCEPT for the wind sweep- ing across the plain and the waves dashing on the shore, all is quite now on the site of a city whose fame, over three thousand years ago, was widespread throughout the Mediterranean world. The name of that city was Troy. She was prosperous then, and King Priam had strengthened her position by making allies of the other kingdoms about him. But after awhile less fortunate days came. You remember the marriage feast dur- ing which the goddess of Discord threw upon the table the golden apple with its inscription, For the fairest, the dispute which arose among the three goddesses for the possession of the prize, its final award to Venus by Paris, youngest son of Priamg and, in return, her promise that he should have Helen for his wife. Then followed the abduction of Helen by Paris, the declaration of war by the Grecian chiefs, and the weary siege of Troy for nine years. The death of Hector, oldest son of the King and the greatest Trojan h-ero, finally imperiled the success of the beseiged, and soon afterwards the valiant city was captured by the strategem of the wooden horse. Her people were either murdered or scattered and the city was destroyed. This, in brief, is the story of the last years of Troy, whose fall affected the for- tunes of all her inhabitants and among them, those of Andromache, the faithful and devoted wife of Hector. A life sad from beginning to end was Andromaehe's. To be sure, there are many other pathetic figures in history. The sacrifice of Iphi- genia to appease the wrath of Diana has been related in poetry and prose with 'TJ 'HT ' fifbifi lil? much pathos. Our sympathy goes out to the young Mary, Queen of Scots, when we see her tearfully sailing away from France after the death of her beloved husband. And our own Abraham Lincoln lived through hardships and suffering only to be assassinated at the moment of vic- tory. But the life of Andromache, more than all others, symbolizes patient grief and sorrow to those who are familiar with her history. In Mysia, the northwestern part of Asia Minor, was the city of Thebes over which Andromache's father, King Eetion, ruled. In a war with Achilles her father met his death, and her seven stalwart brothers were cruelly killed while tending the-ir flocks. The mother was carried away captive and the little Andromache was left alone. Her mother could not answer her piteous cries, and her father and brothers were no longer there to fondle and play with her. But the silver lining to her black cloud soon showed itself, for her mother was ransomed and was coming back to her child. On the day of the home-coming Andromache rushed joyfully to greet her mother, but just as she crossed the threshold the mother fell at the feet of her daughter, pierced by an arrow of angry Diana. The little one's frightened appeals fell on deaf ears-now, indeed, was she alone in the world. Then followed days of sadness, of gloom for Andromache until, several years later, there came to Thebes the Trojan Hector. Hector was charmed by her beauty and the grace and gentleness of her manner, and she, by his strength and his nobility of character. At length the day came when Hector proudly took to Troy his happy bride. The next few years were the bright spots in our heroine 's life. To

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12 THE FORUM that makes young people old, turning out children with ancient faces with hunger written on every feature. In the despair- ing minds of the people the thought was growing of turning against their old op- pressors, like wild animals at bay. They were fast becoming desperate and could endure it no longer. The aristocrats were soon being put to death by the scores, judged by a self-appointed tribunal. Charles Darney, who bears a striking physical resemblance to Carton, though very different in character, has in the meantime married Miss Mannetteg on ac- count of his connection with the old fam- ily of Evermonde, he has been tried and condemned to death. So intent were the people on exterminating the-ir old oppress- ors, that no influence could save him. Alone in his cell the doomed man was walking to and fro, his arms folded on his breast. He had now regained his self- possession and saw with calmness the hours pass by that brought him nearer his death. But he was young and his hold on life was very hard to break. Footsteps were heard in the passage outside his door, they stopped at his cell and in an instant he was face to face with Sidney Carton. There was something so bright and remarkable in this Cartonls appear- ance that the prisoner thought him a ghost of his own imagination. In a few words he unfolded the plan of substitut- ing himself for Darney who could make his escape from the prison, while he re- mained behind to die in his stead. There was a hard struggle between the two men, the one determined to lay down his life for the only two persons he cared for in this world and the other determined to meet death with heroism. Darney refused to yield but through Carton 's masterful strength he was soon stretched senseless on the ground. Hastily dressing himself in the prisoner 's clothes, he called the guards, who had helped him gain entrance to the prison, and the un- conscious man was born into safety. Car- ton then sat down at the table to await his doom. This was the noble end of such an ignoble life as Sidney Carton 's. So hasty a review of such a book as this is very unsatisfactory. Characters that would intensely interest you can not even be mentioned, but I hope this much of the story will give you an interest in so that you will wish to know more about it. It is very different from Dickens' usual style of writing and even those to whom Dickens does not generally appeal, I am sure would enjoy this one. Helen K. Chew.

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14 THE FORUM add to her cup of joy there came the baby son named Scamandrius, but called by the Trojans, Astyanax, or lord of the city , on account of his father's services. The little one was born during the latter part of the siege of Troy and was not a year old when the fateful day of the combat between Achilles and Hector dawned. Af- ter hearing, on the morning of that day, that the Greeks were driving all b-efore them, Andromache left maidens in the palace and, with a nurse carrying her babe, sh-e rushed breathlessly to the walls to witness the conflict. It was while here that Hector came to bid his loved ones farewell before going to battle, a parting which is most touchingly depicted by Homer in the Iliad. If those cruel jav- elins pierce you through, sobbed the dis- tressed Andromache, then, no comfort more shall touch me, as in the old sad. times-grief-only grief! Clasping her child to her heart the dejected woman re- turned to the palace, often looking back wistfully at the armorclad figure as it slowly disappeared. The brilliantly colored web which An- dromache wove that morning did not arouse her admiration as it grew beneath her fingers. The hours dragged slowly by, when suddenly she was startled by shrieks and cries from the walls. Trembling from head to foot, she dropped her shut- tle and, followed by her maidens, hastened in the direction of the uproar-and there beheld her husband's body b-eing dragged in the dust to and fro at the rear of Achilles' chariot. Darkness came over her eyes and she fell in a swoon. Ten days later she saw the funeral rites done over the noble I-Iector's body. Other calamities followed for the Tro- jans and Enally came the downfall of Troy. Many of the inhabitants were slaughtered, and others were taken into bondage. Among the latter unfortunates were Androniache and Astyanax who were alloted to Neoptolemus, son of Achilles and one of the soldiers who had been concealed in the wooden horse. In fear that Astyanax would wreak vengeance on them when he grew older, the Greeks resolv-ed to kill the child, and so, regard- less of the entreaties of the distracted mother, they hurled the helpless infant down from the walls of the city. An- dromache herself was taken to Greece by Neoptolemus whom she despised as the son of the foe who had slain the lamented Hector. She now had another little son, Pergamus, who was but a few year's old when his father was murdered. There had come to Greece from Troy other captives besides Andromache, and one of them was Helenus, a brother of Hector, who now sought and won her. But, just as the unfortunate woman dreamed of happiness, her hopes were dashed to the ground, for Helenus died soon after the marriage. She followed her son, Pergamus, to Asia Minor, and here the welcomed angel of death came to give rest to her weary and folorn soul. Evelyn M. Lyman.