What’s meant by “Prologue”?

1. Prologue What’s meant by “Prologue”? It’s the introduction of the play in this play. It is in the form of a flashback where we start with the end of the story to recount the beginning.

2. Setting • The Palace, Babylon. P. 5 • We are introduced to Alexander the Great of Macedon lying in his death bed and surrounded by his men and his family. • They came to salute him and know his successor before his death. • Most of the characters are introduced, Mazares, Perdiccas, Ptolemy,the Queen Mother and Roxana. • All of them are eager to know from Alexander, the name of his successor.

3. P. 7 • Alexander moves between phases of consciousness and unconsciousness, he expresses his fears that he will be dying in bed and not in battle. • “I am dying, Alexander is dying. God, not in bed – in battle – not in bed.” [Comment] Alexander expressed his own agony for dying in bed and not in battle as a courageous soldier. He wished to die in battle rather than in bed as an ordinary man which shows his bravery.

4. Alexander was heard by Ptolemy saying; “Who shall I condemn to death?” [Comment] • Ptolemy heard him whispering such words in his death bed. • He refused to name his successor saying that this would be as if he was putting him to death. • He considered that his last act of mercy as he felt he’s going to die. • He decided not to choose any one of his men to rule after him as it’s a heavy load [burden]. He didn’t want his men to suffer like he had and he wanted them to fight for it. • This shows his humanity. P. 6

5. The prologue ends with Alexander’s soldiers going to the room and saluting him (their dying general] • Alexander died at the age of thirty – two. He died before conquering the whole world. He died very young.