Summary

Chapter 13 – Menelaiad: In the longest piece of the book, Menelaiad retells the ancient mythological story of the soldier Menelaus. It chooses to focus on Menelaus’ relationship with Helen of Troy, more specifically their marriage. As Helen and Menelaus tell their stories, he questions the union several times. He rightly believes Helen could have married anyone and yet she chose to marry him and it is not logical, as he is not as strong, powerful, or attractive as her other suitors. Helen reassures him of her devotion and he continues to question it openly to his friends after she has retired to bed.

The piece is an interesting choice for Barth who has spent much of the book lamenting the fact that there are no original stories left to be told. By retelling an ancient story in his own unique way, Barth is re-creating it and telling...