Helena de Eurípides y los roles de género

Abstract

From the point of view of gender roles, the "old Helen" depicted by the archaic epic and lyric poetry turned out to be a wholly transgressing character. By means of successive changes, her behaviour adapted to what society assigned to women creating the "new Helen". Euripides goes a step beyond in this same direction and presents on stage a Helen who incarnates the lostiest Attican model of feminine behaviour. Menelaus' character is similarly adapted to the matching masculine ideal. Euripides confirms this way the validity of the traditional model which regulated the couple relationships in the oîkos.