Summary

In Chapter 13, "The Trojan Women", Hecabe and her family are still waiting for whatever happens next. The Greeks are almost ready to leave Troy forever, having got what they came for: "All they could see that wasn’t now in Greek hands were the smoking remains of their city" (110). The Greek guards are nowhere to be seen, but the women feel there is little point in running away: "There was nowhere for them to go" (110). The conversation turns to Achilles, the Greek who perhaps did more than any other to bring about the end of Troy. Hecabe believes he would ultimately have returned to battle, even if Briseis had not been returned to him, because it was fundamentally his nature to butcher and destroy. Her thoughts again turn to Hector, the most beloved of her sons. Meanwhile, Cassandra watches gulls diving into the...