Aeschylus, The Suppliants; Fleeing arranged marriages.

The Story
The 50 daughters of Danaus flee Egypt with their father to avoid arranged marriages with the 50 sons of Danaus' Brother, their cousins.
When they reach Argos, they petition the King Pelasgus for protection. They explain how they are, themselves, descendants of Argos, by Io, and that, at the end of her wandering, she ended up in Egypt, which is why they look more North African than Greek. He denies them protection to seek the will of the Argive people. They agree to protection. No sooner have they agreed, the 50 brothers and their fleet arrive and a herald is dispatched. He insists that the daughters of Deanaus return with him and marry the brothers, he even goes so far as to start dragging them towards the boats. At this point, King Pelasgus intervenes, and the herald leaves. Danaus and his daughters enter the city walls and are protected there. Danaus tells his daughters to pray thanksgiving to the Greek gods for their protection at Argos.

Reflections
It is interesting that in this play the main character and the chorus are one. My research suggests that this is because it is one of the earlier plays and this form of play is just beginning.
Pelasgus asking the Argive people before choosing to harbor the runaways is also interesting, it may suggest that there was a movement towards democracy before the end of the kings.

Comparisons
Aeschylus' The Suppliants does not finish they way we see in a lot of other plays, that is in tragedy. Agamemnon for example ends with the death of Agamemnon and the Libation Bearers ends with the deaths of Orestes' Mother and her second Husband.

Have you read The Suppliants? If so what did you think of it?

Want to read The Suppliants but haven't? Hopefully this inspires you to take the time to do so.
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