In the following essay, Minkler proposes that in many ways, Walcott's Omeros retells Homer's version of the story of Helen of Troy — but with Helen a victorious rather than victimized figure. Minkler also offers comparisons with The Tempest, by William Shakespeare—a play that, similarly to Walcott's work, features an island setting and a much-desired central female character.

But she'd last forever, Helen.

In book 1 of The Histories Herodotus implies that Helen of Sparta (alias Helen of Troy) was lewd and unchaste (an opinion shared by other fifth-century men of letters as well), "for," hesays, "itis obvious that no young woman allows herself to be abducted if she does not wish to be." Herodotus also mentions another version of the abduction story (a version, however, of which he himself seems quite skeptical), according to which Helen did not really go to Troy but ended up...