The Trojan Women recap

After Troy has fallen, Hecuba and the city's surviving women wait to be divided among the Greek victors. Cassandra is assigned to Agamemnon and foresees that the forced union will lead to his death and her own. Andromache is given to Neoptolemus, while Hecuba learns that her daughter Polyxena has been killed at Achilles' tomb. The Greeks then decide that Andromache's young son Astyanax must die to prevent any future restoration of Troy, and he is thrown from the walls. Menelaus confronts Helen, who shifts blame for the war onto the gods and others; Hecuba urges him not to be persuaded and he takes Helen away to face judgment in Greece. Hecuba buries Astyanax on Hector's shield. Troy is burned, and the captive women are marched to the Greek ships. Athena and Poseidon have already agreed that the Greek fleet will suffer for sacrilege committed during the sack.

Troy has been sacked, its men killed, and its surviving women gathered for distribution among the Greek commanders. Poseidon and Athena agree that the Greek fleet should suffer on its return because the victors have committed sacrilege. Hecuba, once queen, learns that she will belong to Odysseus. Her daughter Cassandra has been assigned to Agamemnon; Cassandra sees that this forced union will carry destruction into his house, though her prophecy offers no escape for her. Andromache arrives with her son Astyanax and reports that Hecuba's daughter Polyxena has been killed at Achilles' tomb. The herald Talthybius then announces that the Greeks will kill Astyanax to prevent Hector's heir from one day rebuilding Troy. The boy is taken and thrown from the walls. Menelaus confronts Helen, who argues that divine power and other people caused her departure with Paris. Hecuba rejects her defense and warns Menelaus against yielding again to Helen's beauty; he takes Helen to the ships, saying she will face punishment in Greece. Talthybius returns Astyanax's body on Hector's shield, and Hecuba performs the child's funeral rites because Andromache has already been removed. The Greeks burn what remains of Troy. Hecuba and the Chorus watch their city disappear, then obey the summons to the ships and enslavement.

The Greek commanders order Hector's young son Astyanax killed so that he can never grow up to restore Troy. He is thrown from the city walls, and Talthybius later brings his body to Hecuba on Hector's shield. Andromache has already been taken away to serve Neoptolemus, so Hecuba prepares the child for burial. Helen is placed in Menelaus's custody for return to Greece, despite Hecuba's warning that her beauty may again overcome his resolve to punish her. Cassandra has been assigned to Agamemnon, and Hecuba herself is to become Odysseus's slave. The Greeks set fire to the remains of Troy and summon the captives to the ships. As the city collapses, Hecuba and the Chorus mourn their dead and their lost homeland, then leave for enslavement. The victors depart under a shadow established by Athena and Poseidon: Greek sacrilege during the sack will bring suffering upon the fleet on its journey home.