Literally no one asked but here's my ideal Helen of Troy interpretation
Her marriage to Menelaus is...fine. He treats her well, he's proud to pieces of the daughter. The early years especially feel like a fairytale come true.
But then as the years roll by the two of them stop trying for each other. Helen no longer gets flowers at her bedside every morning, Menelaus stops hearing all about Helen's latest tapestry.
And when Paris comes around, Helen can't lie, she's a little charmed. She'd never leave Menelaus of course, that's a given, but a little attention is nice. It makes her feel like a person again instead of a nice piece of furniture.
And then when Helen wakes up the next morning she's on a ship to Troy. And then she's in Troy, standing before King Priam and Paris is saying something about new wife and WHAT THE HELL?!
Helen tries to escape. She tries literally everything, but Troy's guards are everywhere. Paris somehow always knows where she is. The gods don't answer her prayers for escape. So she starts praying for Paris's death instead. And finally, FINALLY he's dead. But she's still in Troy...WHY IS SHE STILL IN TROY?!
Helen decides she's had enough and tries one last escape attempt. Everyone in the city is asleep, something about some horse. She knows the Achaeans are in there, she impersonated all of their wives and heard whispers. They're coming for her, but she's not gonna just wait around and hope it works out. She steals a guard's armor and books it out of the palace, and there in the chaos of battle...there's Menelaus. She runs to him and won't let him go, even as they're setting sail.
And in Egypt, with the two of them alone as much as Helen just wants to get the hell home and STAY there....it's kind of nice. Her and her Menelaus together again. Finally able to talk. Able to spend time together. Able to work on their marriage. And by the time they finally return to sparta their love is stronger than it ever was.
