preview

The Trojan Women Movie Review

Decent Essays

The film The Trojan Women is an anti-war film not only condemning the emotional and societal affects of war in general, but also focusing on the effects of such conflicts upon women in particular. This focus allows the story to be more universally relevant, particularly so to the mothers, wives, and daughters who watched the men in their lives being called to serve in the Vietnam War, and subsequently watched the harrowing television coverage of hundreds of body bag being shipped back home. Although the film is set in Troy, an invaded nation, and the Vietnam War was waged in a land far away from the average viewer, the effect on women was very similar. In both cases, they were forced to sit at home and hope for a favorable outcome. When it began to be clear that a victory was not to be had, they had to deal with the reality of never being able to see their father, brother, husband, or son again. Along with this experience was the natural inclination to question why such a fate was theirs, why they were left without a lover, protector, or child, and what was to become of their futures. The character of Hecuba, who has lost her husband, son, and later loses her grandson in the ravages of war strongly portrays the vacillating emotions experienced by those left behind. She is at times strong, protective of Cassandra, demanding to know the fate of her family, and wrathful toward Helen, demanding that King Menelaus dispense with her immediately. Other times she is mournful and

Get Access