Funeral Games: Analysis of Major Characters
"Funeral Games: Analysis of Major Characters" explores the intricate dynamics of the power struggles following the death of Alexander the Great at the age of thirty-two. The narrative highlights key figures such as Alexander IV, his son with Roxane, who shows potential for kingship but meets an untimely end due to poisoning. Antigonos, known as One-Eye, rises through military ranks to establish the Antigonid dynasty, while Kassandros, the regent's son, harbors envy and ambition that lead to significant conflict during this tumultuous period.
Other notable characters include Olympias, Alexander's mother, who seeks to secure her grandson's future; Ptolemy, a capable officer who ultimately finds success as the ruler of Egypt; and Eurydike, who tries to leverage her marriage to Philip III for power but faces challenges due to her husband's limitations. The text also addresses the tragic fates of female figures like Roxane and Stateira, who navigate a treacherous landscape of ambition and rivalry. Through these characters, "Funeral Games" delves into themes of legacy, power, and the consequences of ambition in the wake of the legendary conqueror's death.
Funeral Games: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Mary Renault
First published: 1981
Genre: Novel
Locale: Greece, Egypt, and Asia Minor
Plot: Historical
Time: 323–286 b.c.e.
Alexander the Great, the charismatic Macedonian conqueror of Asia. He dies in Babylon at the age of thirty-two. (Later references to Alexander will be to this person, Alexander III.)
Alexander IV, the son of Alexander and his Asiatic wife Roxane. Inheriting her dark complexion but his father's keenness, he learns Macedonian ways under his Greek pedagogue, Kebes, and shows promise of ability to inherit his father's kingship but is poisoned in boyhood by Kassandros.
Antigonos (an-TIHG-uh-nuhs), who is nicknamed One-Eye, having lost an eye fighting in Phrygia for Alexander. He is promoted from general to satrap of Phrygia to commander in chief in Asia and is the founder of the Antigonid dynasty.
Antipatros (an-TIHP-ah-trohs), the regent of Macedon at the time of Alexander's death. He retains the regency well into old age, despite the hatred of Alexander's mother, Olympias. On his deathbed, he appoints Alexander's staff officer Polyperchon guardian of the kings, passing over his own son, Kassandros.
Bagoas, Alexander's Persian boy, brought to him at the age of sixteen by a Persian general involved in King Darius'murder. He is twenty-three at the beginning of this narrative. He later accepts the protection of Ptolemy in Egypt.
Eurydike (yuhr-IH-dih-kee), a descendant on both sides from Macedonian royalty, named Adeia until her betrothal to Philip III. A tall, fresh-faced, athletic girl of fifteen at the time of Alexander's death, she tries to use her marriage to Alexander's mentally retarded half brother as a stepping-stone to power but finds herself out of her depth.
Kassandros, the eldest son of the Macedonian regent Antipatros, a lifelong enemy of Alexander but deeply envious of his magic. Although he conspired to poison Alexander, his father Antipatros passes him over for the regency. Ambitious for the throne, he is a successful contender in the power struggle that follows the death of Alexander. He is an unsympathetic figure.
Kleopatra, Alexander's sister, the Queen of Molossia and widow of Alexandros, King of Molossia. Her betrothal to Perdikkas ends with his death.
Meleager, a phalanx commander since Alexander's first command. He has risen no higher, however, having been appraised by Alexander as a good soldier if one did not stretch his mind. An enemy of Perdikkas, he is the first to exploit Philip III as a pretext for seizing power after Alexander's death.
Olympias, the mother of Alexander and widow of Philip II of Macedon. She is the daughter of King Neoptolemos of Molossia. She attempts to manipulate events in favor of Alexander IV.
Perdikkas (puhr-DIHK-uhs), the second in command to Alexander after the death of his beloved Hephaistion. Perdikkas receives Alexander's ring on the great king's deathbed. He uses his betrothal to Kleopatra to support his claim to the succession and is opposed to Eurydike's betrothal to Philip III. Unsuccessfully, he attacks Ptolemy's forces in Egypt and is killed in a mutiny of his officers.
Philip III, the son of Philip II by a minor wife and first named Arridaios before his exploitation by various opportunists seeking to profit from his royal ancestry. He is epileptic and mentally impaired and is protected by Alexander. His physical resemblance to Alexander's father aids his claim to the succession. A pathetic figure, he is married to Eurydike and becomes her puppet.
Ptolemy (TOL-eh-mee), a staff officer of Alexander and reputedly his half brother, later king of Egypt and founder of the Ptolemaic dynasty. Able but not brilliant or overly ambitious, he is the only genuinely successful one of Alexander's successors. Author of a history of Alexander, he establishes a stable regime in Egypt and lives into old age.
Roxane, Alexander's young widow, the mother of Alexander IV. Murderously ambitious for her son, she poisons her pregnant rival Stateira but eventually dies by poison with her son.
Stateira, Alexander's second wife, whom he married at Susa, and the daughter of Darius III. Nearly six feet tall, she has inherited much of her famous mother's beauty. Pregnant at the time of Alexander's death, she is poisoned by her rival Roxane before she can bear a claimant to the succession.