AlcEstis OutlinE
Prologue (1-76) Apollo, Thanatos (Death)
- Hospitality and salvation
Parodos (77-135)
- Death, mourning -- resurrection
- Hope and despair
First Episode (136-212) Chorus, serving woman
- Living and dead -- perfection of Alcestis
First Stasimon (213-243)
- Life and death -- prayers for salvation
Second Episode (244-434) Alcestis, Admetus, [children--mute]
- Farewells, marriage, life in death, death in life
- promises: the "deconstruction" of Admetus
Second Stasimon (435-475)
- Perfection of Alcestis, music/Orpheus, marriage
Third Episode (476-567) Heracles, Admetus
- Human modalities, hospitality, life and death, Knowledge
Third Stasimon (568-605)
- Heroic hospitality of Admetus, Apollo as Orpheus
Fourth Episode (606-860)
- Admetus, Pheres: father-son, house, property, obligation, value of life
- Empty stage, departure of chorus
- Heracles, serving man: value of life
Kommos (861-961) Admetus, chorus
- Loss, house, Admetus education, marriage
Fourth Stasimon (962-1005)
- Nothing is stronger than necessity -- Hope/despair: Orphic images
- Worship, heroization of Alcestis
Exodos (1006-1163) Admetus, Heracles [Alcestis, mute]
- friendship, hospitality >>> "wedding" >>> a better life