Briseis

Briseis is the 19-year-old wife of Mynes, daughter-in-law of Maire, sister of Ianthe, and prize of Achilles. She quickly loses favor with Maire after a year passes in which she fails to bear any children for Mynes. Though the two women battle constantly, Mynes remains oblivious. He quickly replaces Briseis with a slave named Ismene, who dies at the hands of Greek soldiers while four-months pregnant with his child. Despite their strained relationship, Briseis visits the ailing Maire before Lyrnessus falls to ensure her comfort, admitting that she struggles to hate a woman ravaged by sickness. This act establishes Briseis as a morally decent character from the outset of the novel.

Though Greek soldiers kill her family, Briseis remains strong and refuses to commit suicide. She hides her pain from Greek men and encourages other Trojan women to fight their grief as well. When the Greek army awards...