Orpheus and Eurydice: Analysis of Major Characters

Author: Unknown

First published: Unknown

Genre: Short fiction

Locale: Thrace and the Underworld

Plot: Mythic

Time: Remote antiquity

Orpheus (OHR-fee-uhs), the son of Apollo and the Muse Calliope. His father teaches him to play the lyre so that all nature stops to listen to his music. He goes to the Underworld to redeem the shade of his dead wife, Eurydice. His wish to have her returned to him is granted, providing he does not look back until he has left the Underworld. He does look back, however, and Eurydice disappears. Later, Orpheus is killed by a group of Thracian maidens in a Bacchic frenzy. Upon his death, he joins Eurydice in the Underworld.

Apollo (uh-POL-oh), a god and the father of Orpheus. He gives a lyre to his son and teaches him to play it beyond the power of any other mortal.

Eurydice (yew-RIH-dih-see), the mortal wife of Orpheus. Fleeing from a shepherd who desires her, she is bitten by a snake and dies. She is granted permission to return to the world with Orpheus if he will not look back until they have left the Underworld. When he looks back, she disappears again.

Hades (HAY-deez) and Proserpine (proh-SUR-puh-nee), the king and queen of the Underworld. Moved by Orpheus' music, they grant his request to take Eurydice back among the living, providing he does not look back at her while he is still in the Underworld.

Calliope (kuh-LI-uh-pee), one of the Muses, Orpheus' mother.

Hymen (HI-mehn), the god of marriage, who brings no happy omens to the wedding of Orpheus and Eurydice.

Tantalus (TAN-tuh-luhs), Ixion (ihk-SI-uhn), The Daughters of Danaus (DAN-ee-uhs), and Sisyphus (SIHS-ihfuhs), shades of the Underworld who are spellbound by the beauty of Orpheus' music.