They Fancy Straight Became Thy Cypris Analysis

Since Helen couldn’t restrain herself from Paris’ enrapture, she is guilty of treason. After King Tyndareus’ critical contemplation on which suitor would take Helen’s hand in marriage, Hamilton states, “ Then Tyndareus chose Menelaus, the brother of Agamemnon, and made him King of Sparta as well” (Hamilton 259). Hamiliton established that “Tyndareus chose Menelaus,” which means that her marriage was arranged and that she got no say in who would be her future husband. This therefore indicates that they were wed for political reasons and that she didn’t really love him. So, this proves that Helen wasn’t 100% devoted to Menelaus and thus, when she met Paris, she had no problem with betraying him. As Hecuba accuses Helen in a heightened conversation with Menelaus and Helen, she says “Nay!

Hecuba states that when Paris was passing, Helen automatically fell in love with him. When she says “They fancy straight became thy cypris,” it means that Helen’s love for Paris became foolish. She then defends Aphrodite by saying that Helen shouldn’t blame Aphrodite for her preposterous act. This confirms that Helen is guilty because she fancied Paris and tried to blame Aphrodite for her faults. During the intense argument between Hecuba, Menlaus and Helen, Hecuba says “Wert thou ever found fasteneing the noose about thy neck, or whetting the knife, as a noble wife would have done in regret for her former husband?” (Euripides 21). Hecuba states that a “noble wife” would’ve taken her life in regret. However, within the 10 years, she never killed herself, which shows that she must’ve loved Paris. So, due to Helen’s betrayal of love toward Menelaus, she is therefore guilty of