Act 5 — HERCULES FURENS
Frank Justus Miller translation
HERCULES FURENS
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
HERCULES Son of Jupiter and Alcmena, but the reputed son of Amphitryon.
Juno Sister and wife of Jupiter, and queen of heaven.
Amphitryon Husband of Alcmena.
Theseus King of Athens and friend of Hercules.
Lycus The usurping king of Thebes, who has, prior to the opening of the play, slain king Creon in battle.
Megara Wife of Hercules and daughter of Creon.
Chorus Of Thebans.
The scene is in the princely palace of Hercules at Thebes, on the day of the return of the hero from the lower world.
The jealous wrath of Juno, working through Eurystheus, has imposed twelve mighty and destructive tasks on Hercules, her hated stepson. But these, even to the last and worst, the bringing of Cerberus to the upper world, he has triumphantly accomplished. Abandoning her plan of crushing him by toils like these, she will turn his hand against himself, and so accomplish his destruction. Upon the day of his return from hell, she brings a madness on him, and so precipitates the tragedy which forms the action of the play.