Thomas Heywood

THE BRAZEN AGE

(Revision of I HERCULES 1595?)

1610–1613

a synoptic, alphabetical character list

ABSYRTUS

Absyrtus is prince of Colchus. He is son of Oetes and brother of Medea. Absyrtus promises Medea that he will not tell Oetes about her meetings with Jason. Absyrtus also delivers a letter from Oetes to Medea instructing her to betray Jason. Absyrtus is taken hostage and killed by Medea in her attempt to assist Jason.

ACHELOUS

A warrior and river god that battles Hercules at the beginning of the play in an attempt to win the hand of Princess Deianeira. His weapons are brought onto the stage by water nymphs. Achelous boasts that Hercules is no match for him. He also brags of his ability to shape-shift. During the battle, Achelous transforms into a dragon, fireworks and a bull, all the while being pummeled by Hercules. Achelous escapes his defeat without sacrificing any treasure, since all Hercules seeks is Deianeira's love.

ADONIS

Adonis is a young man pursued by Venus. Adonis refuses Venus's sexual advances and instead joins the hunt for the Caledonian boar. He promises to meet Venus after the hunt. Adonis sounds the horn to release the hounds and start the hunt. His horn playing is widely admired. He is killed by the boar during the hunt.

AENEAS

Aeneas is a Trojan who first sees Jason and the Argonauts approach the site of Hesione's sacrifice. He flees the city during Hercules's assault.

ALCIDES

An Egyptian tyrant who succeeds Busiris and fulfills an Oracle.

ALTHEA

Queen of Calidon. Wife to King Oeneus and mother to Meleager and Deianeira. Sister to Plexippus and Toxeus. Since Meleager's birth, Althea has kept hidden a particular fiery brand because it was prophesized that the boy would die at the moment the brand was completely consumed. After Meleager kills Plexippus and Toxeus in a dispute, Althea fires the brand, killing Meleager. She then kills herself with his sword.

ANCEUS

A "ghost character." Anceus is a Greek lord killed by the Caledonian Boar.

ANCHISES

Anchises is a Trojan who binds Hesione to the rock as a sacrifice. He later reports Hercules's return to Troy. Anchises flees during Hercules's assault upon the city.

APOLLO, PHOEBUS

The sun god. He specializes in exposing crimes and sins at dawn. He exposes Mars and Venus's elicit affair and reports the adultery to Vulcan.

ARCHAS

Archas is a Greek lord who accompanies Meleager in the hunt for the Caledonian Boar. He is killed during the hunt.

ASPICIO

Aspicio joins Meleager in the hunt for the Caledonian Boar. He is the first to welcome Atlanta to their group.

ATLANTA

Atlanta is a virgin huntress from Arcadia who joins Meleager's band in search of the Caledonian Boar. She politely, yet firmly, declines Meleager's offer to protect her during the hunt. Meleager tells Atlanta not to kill the boar. She is betrothed to Meleager.

ATREUS

Atreus comes to hunt the Caledonian Boar with Meleager and is one of Jason's Argonauts. He rules Mycenes and is father to Agamemnon and Menelaus. Atreus travels to Lydia to rescue Hercules from Omphale. He reports the death of Deianeira.

AURORA

Aurora is the goddess of night. She meets her polar opposite companion Apollo every twelve hours for a kiss and a farewell.

BERONTES

Berontes is a Cyclops in service to Vulcan. He is brother to Pyragman.

BUSIRIS

Busiris is an Egyptian tyrant killed by Hercules in a mime show onstage at the end of act one.

CASTOR

Castor of Lada serves Meleager and is one of Jason's Argonauts. He is Tyndarus's son and brother to Pollux and Helen. Castor travels to Lydia to rescue Hercules from Omphale. Castor is assigned to distract Omphale so that Jason and the Argonauts can free Hercules from his trance.

CALEDONIAN BOAR

A "ghost character." Spelled Catalonian Boar in the text, this animal is a vicious beast sent to torment Oeneus's people because the king fails offer a suitable sacrifice. He kills a number of hunters, most notably Adonis, before finally being killed by Meleager and his entire band of hunters.

CLORIS

Cloris is a nymph and serves as Venus's handmaid. Her job is to set the bed for Venus's affairs. Vulcan is able to set a trap for Venus and Mars by tracking Cloris.

DEIANEIRA

Daughter to King Oeneus and Queen Althea of Calidon. Spelled Deyaneira in the text. Sister to Meleager. Achelous and Hercules battle for Deianeira's hand in marriage at the beginning of the play. Deianeira is pleased when Hercules wins the contest. Deianeira is lusted after by the Centaur Nessus, a former foe of her fiancé. Hercules agrees to let Deianeira ride Nessus' back across the Euenus flood. Nessus takes her across the river and attempts to rape her. After Nessus is shot from across the river by Hercules with a poisoned arrow, the Centaur tricks Deianeira into soaking the tainted blood and touching Hercules with it to prevent him from committing adultery. After Hercules becomes enthralled by Omphale, Deianeira sends the bloody shirt to Hercules to win him back. After Hercules puts on the shirt and flies into a bloody homicidal and suicidal rage, Deianeira kills herself.

DIANA

A "ghost character." The Goddess Diana never appears on stage, but figures prominently in the play's action. She sets the Caledonian Boar against the Aetolian King Oeneus because he neglects her in his sacrifices.

EUPALEMON

A "ghost character." Eupalemon is a Greek lord killed by the Caledonian boar.

GALLUS

Gallus is the incompetent servant of Mars. He falls asleep while guarding Mars and Venus's dalliance from interlopers. As punishment, Mars turns Gallus into a cock and orders him to wake people before dawn from that time forward.

HECATE

Only mentioned. Medea of Colchus possesses the magic of Hecate.

HELEN

A "ghost character." Helen of Lada is daughter of Tyndarus and sister to Castor and Pollux.

HERCULES

A warrior and half-god from Thebes that battles Achelous for Deianeira's hand in marriage at the beginning of the play. Hercules boasts that he will defeat Achelous to demonstrate his love, since he cannot write poetry. Hercules beats Achelous, even though his enemy shape-shifts repeatedly during the battle. After the battle, Hercules releases Achelous without demanding treasure as payment. Al Hercules wants is Deianeira. Although Meleager offers to pay for a lavish wedding in Calidon, Hercules insists that he and Deianeira must return to Thebes on account of the fact that Hercules' stepmother Juno has charged him with a number of further trials. On the way to Thebes, Hercules and his new fiancé meet Nessus, a Centaur that Hercules had defeated in combat before. Hercules believes that Nessus has gotten over his loss and humiliation. Hercules allows Nessus to carry Deianeira on his back across the Euenus flood. After Nessus takes Deianeira across the river and attempts to rape her, Hercules shoots the centaur with a poisonous arrow. Hercules joins Jason and the Argonauts and kills the giant whale Neptune has set against Troy. Hercules turns against Troy after King Laomedon refuses to pay Hercules for saving Heloise. Hercules leaves Troy to help Jason secure the Golden Fleece, but Hercules soon returns to kill Laomedon and destroy Troy. Somehow, Hercules becomes the servant of Omphale, who completely feminizes the hero. Hercules seems to repent his fall and vows to return to his wife, but he is driven insane by Nessus's tainted shirt. He first goes on a bloody rampage and then kills himself, with the assistance of his father. At his death, Hercules is made a star.

HESIONE

Hesione is the daughter of Laomedon and sister of Priam. She is offered as a sacrifice to Neptune's giant whale. Hercules rescues Hesione from the beast, but turns against her after Laomedon refuses to pay Hercules for the service. After Hercules kills her father and destroys her home, Hesione is offered to Telamon as a prize. Hesione asks to be killed instead, but Hercules refuses to allow her to die as an escape.

HOMER

Homer speaks at the beginning of the play and tells the audience what follows depicts the third age, the age of brass. According to Homer, the world becomes more debased with each age. Homer ends the introduction by telling the audience that they will see the heroic feats of Hercules and that they will see him succumb to his own fate. At the end of the first act, Homer informs the audience that Hercules completed many feats assigned to him by Juno. He then shifts the attention to the Egyptian tyrant Busiris. Homer returns to the stage at the end of the play to confess that it is difficult to portray all of the important actions in five short acts. Homer also alludes to the fact that some members of the audience is more familiar with the source materials than others. Homer pleads for the affection and approval of the audience and concludes the play. Homer returns to tell of Hercules's labors at the Stables of Augeus. He adds that Hercules decides to join Jason and the Argonauts. Later, Homer reports that the Golden Fleece is returned to Greece. He adds that Medea kills and mutilates her brother to aid Jason in his escape. Homer then shifts the scene back to Troy, where Laodemon awaits the return of Hercules. Homer later shifts the attention back to Venus, who is rekindling an affair with Mars. Before the final act, Homer reports that Hercules has been enslaved by Omphale. Homer delivers an epilogue to bid the audience adieu.

JASON

Jason serves Meleager and is the captain of the Argonauts. He accompanies Meleager in the hunt for the Caledonian Boar. After Meleager causes a bloody uproar by giving credit for the successful hunt to Atlanta, the female huntress he loves, Jason helps to restore order. After Meleager is killed by his mother Althea, Jason proposes that the men head out on an adventure on the Argo. After Hercules slays Neptune's whale in Troy, Jason urges Hercules on to Colchus in the hunt for the Golden Fleece. Jason uses Medea's affection for him as a tool to secure the fleece. He convinces the witch to render helpless the bulls and dragon that guard the Fleece. Medea then helps Jason flee from her father Oetes. Jason travels to Lydia to rescue Hercules from Omphale.

JOVE

Jove is another name for Jupiter.

JUPITER

Jupiter, or Jove, is the most powerful of the gods. He is father to Hercules and Vulcan. Jupiter witnesses the shame of Venus and Mars, who have cuckolded his son Vulcan. He splits Venus and Mars. At the end of the play, Jupiter sends a lightning bolt to assist in Hercules's suicide.

JUNO

A goddess, wife to Zeus and Hercules' stepmother. She witnesses Mars and Venus's shame.

LAOMEDON

Laomedon is King of Troy. He is father of Hesione and Priam. Because he borrowed money from priests and refused to repay the loan, Neptune has ordered that the Trojans sacrifice one virgin per month (drawn by lot) to Neptune's giant whale. At the time of the play, Troy has just about run out of virgins, forcing Laomedon to offer his own daughter Hesione. Laomedon agrees to pay Hercules two prize white horses if Hercules slays the whale. After Hercules slays the whale, Laomedon refuses to pay the debt. He locks himself up behind Troy's walls and accuses Hercules and the Argonauts of being Greek spies. After a brief respite, Hercules returns to destroy Troy and kill Laomedon.

LYCHAS

Lychas is servant to Deianeira. He presents Hercules with a number of gifts to disrupt Omphale's hold on the hero. After Hercules is sickened by one of the gifts, he kills Lychas.

MAIDS to OMPHALE

A number of maids serve Omphale along side the enthralled Hercules.

MARS

Mars is the god of war. He has an affair with Venus. The pair is caught by Apollo and exposed by the jealous Vulcan. Because he does not have his sword with him, Mars cannot fight Vulcan.

MEDEA

Medea of Colchus is the daughter of King Oetes and sister to Absyrtus. Medea is a witch who possesses the magic of Hecate. Medea betrays her father by assisting Jason in his challenge for the Golden Fleece. Medea subdues the dragon and bulls that guard the Fleece. After Jason succeeds, Medea disobeys Oetes's order that she kills Jason. Instead, Medea helps Jason escape. She goes so far as to take her brother Absyrtus hostage and kills him at sea to throw off pursuing Colchian forces.

MELEAGER

Son to King Oeneus and Queen Althea of Calidon. Brother to Deianeira. The sisters of Fate made a prophesy at Meleager's birth that he would die at the moment a particular fiery brand was completely consumed. Throughout his life, Meleager's mother has kept the brand. After Hercules wins Deianeira's hand in marriage, Meleager offers to prepare the wedding. He voices his support for Hercules and celebrates Deianeira's good fortune at having such a heroic husband. Meleager organizes the hunt for the Caledonian Boar. He takes a special interest in Atlanta, the virgin huntress. After Meleager and the group kill the boar, Meleager, over the objections of his male companions, seeks to award Atlanta a majority of the glory for the hunt. During an argument on the matter, Meleager kills his uncles Toxeus and Plexippus. Once order is restored, Meleager regrets the violence and takes Atlanta as his fiancé.

MERCURY

The god Mercury witnesses the shame of Mars and Venus.

NEPTUNE

Neptune is the god of the sea. He sets a giant whale against Troy after the Trojan king refuses to pay back loans from Neptune's priests. Neptune demands that Troy offer a virgin a month in sacrifice. Later in the play, Neptune witnesses Mars and Venus's shame.

NESSUS

Nessus is a Centaur who had been beaten by Hercules before in combat. Nessus comes upon Hercules and Deianeira as the two make their way from Calidon to Thebes. Nessus pretends to have recovered from the defeat, yet confides in the audience that he is simply waiting for the opportunity to seek revenge. Nessus, in addition to hating Hercules for defeating him, also wants to harm him out of jealousy: Nessus lusts after Deianeira. Nessus plans to serve Hercules while waiting for the opportunity to betray him. When the trio approaches the Euenus flood, Nessus offers to carry Deianeira across the water on his back. Nessus takes Deianeira across the river and is shot with a poisonous arrow by Hercules while the Centaur is attempting to rape the princess. As Nessus dies, he tricks Deianeira into soaking up the poisoned blood and touching Hercules with it.

NESTOR

Nester is the ruler of Pylos. He comes to hunt the Caledonian Boar with Meleager and is one of Jason's Argonauts. He escapes the boar by climbing a tree. Nester travels to Lydia to rescue Hercules from Omphale.

OENEUS

The elderly king of Calidon. He neglects to offer Diana a proper sacrifice and she sets the Caledonian Boar against Oeneus's people in retribution. Oeneus unsuccessfully tries to calm his wife Althea down after their son Meleager kills Althea's brothers in a dispute. Oeneus dies of a broken heart after Althea kills Meleager.

OETES

Oetes is King of Colchus. He is the father to Medea and Absyrtus. Because the well-being of Colchus and his own health depend upon the kingdom's possession of the Golden Fleece, Oetes is not pleased when Jason and the Argonauts come to challenge for it. Oetes tries unsuccessfully to convince Medea to prevent Jason from succeeding, or at least kill him before he leaves Colchus.

OMPHALE

Omphale is the queen of Lydia. She enslaves Hercules with her affections and feminizes him. Hercules kills Omphale, mistaking her for his wife.

PELEUS

Peleus is a Greek lord that serves Meleager and is one of Jason's Argonauts. He is wounded by the boar. An oracle tells Peleus that Jason will be successful in securing the Golden Fleece.

PELEGON

A "ghost character." Pelegon is a Greek lord killed by the Caledonian boar.

PHAETON

A "ghost character." Phaeton sets the world afire, causing Jove to drop Vulcan to the earth.

PHILOCTETES

Philoctetes is an Argonaut who refuses to leave Hercules, even at the height of his murderous rampage in Lydia. Right before he dies, Hercules gives Philoctetes his bow and arrows as recognition of his loyalty.

PLEXIPPUS

Brother to Queen Althea. He accompanies Meleager in the hunt for the Caledonian Boar. Plexippus is killed by Meleager in an argument over whether Atlanta should be given credit for the boar's slaying.

POLLUX

Pollux serves Meleager and is one of Jason's Argonauts. He is Castor and Helen's brother, Tyndarus's son. Pollux travels to Lydia to rescue Hercules from Omphale.

PRIAM

Priam is a Trojan prince. He is son of Laomedon and brother to Hesione. Priam flees during Hercules's attack on the city.

PYRAGMAN

Pyragman is a Cyclops in service to Vulcan. He is brother to Berontes. Pyragman assists Vulcan in the trap for Venus and Mars.

TELAMON

Telamon serves Meleager and is one of Jason's Argonauts. He is the first to challenge the Caledonian Boar. Telamon helps restore order after a fight between the Greek men breaks out. Telamon is the first Greek to scale Troy's walls during Hercules's assault upon the city. For his valor, Hercules offers Telamon the first choice of the city's spoils. Telamon chooses Hesione, over her objections. Telamon travels to Lydia to rescue Hercules from Omphale.

THESEUS

Theseus serves Meleager and is one of Jason's Argonauts.

TOXEUS

Brother to Althea. He assists Meleager in the hunt for the Caledonian Boar. Meleager kills Toxeus in an argument over whether Atlanta should be given credit for the boar's slaying.

TYNDARUS

A "ghost character." Tyndarus of Lada is father to Castor, Pollux and Helen.

VENUS

Venus is the goddess of love and the wife of Vulcan. At the beginning of the play, Venus is chasing Adonis. She mourns Adonis when he is killed by the Caledonian boar, yet she soon after embarks on an adulterous affair with Mars. After Vulcan finds out about the affair and exposes the pair to all the gods, Venus expresses relief. She refuses to return to Vulcan now that there is nothing to hide.

VULCAN

Vulcan is the son of Jove and husband to Venus. He ended up beneath the earth after his father dropped him as a child. Vulcan learns from Apollo that Venus has been cheating on him. He sets a trap for Venus and Mars and catches them in the act. Yet after Vulcan exposes the pair to the shame of public exposure, he learns that Venus had only been staying with him to preserve her reputation. With her good name gone, Venus feels free to leave Vulcan for her lover.

WATER NYMPHS

Water nymphs carry Achelous' weapons onto the stage at the beginning of the play when the river god prepares to fight Hercules for Deianeira's hand in marriage.

WHALE

A "ghost character." Neptune's giant whale is killed by Hercules during the attempt to sacrifice Hesione to the monster.

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