Furies In Sophocles Metemorphoses

The Furies, three ugly sisters in the horrible Underworld, guardians of the gates of Tartarus, and killers of those who deserve it most, are essential to mythology. They are the redeemers of life, making sure that people who kill or commit contemptible acts are taught a lesson, and they change the fate of any soldier, sailor, or epic hero they want. The Erinyes are representatives of justice and vengeance, and their reputation is very dynamic. Most see them as evil-minded, but there are stories where they are known as the “Kindly Ones” because they gained justice. In the story Metemorphoses, by Ovid, the Furies are seen as three sisters who torture someone, and their whole reputation is known as venomous. The Furies were told by Juno that a mortal, Ino, had offended her. Juno ordered them to go seek revenge on her and her husband, Athamas. According to Metemorphoses, “From the middle of her hair she seized two snakes and threw them with a pestilential hand. The
One minor story is in Sophocles’ play, Oedipus at Colonus, Oedipus has to go the Erinyes grave to show that he has recompensed his blood loss, and that he understands what he did wrong. This shows that the Furies did not torture or hurt this man, but they let him live. The story exemplifies their “soft” side, instead of their evil. On the other hand, there was a play, where mortals called the Erinyes the “Kindly Ones,” so the three ladies did not hurt the men. These were called euphemisms, which means using a more kind word instead of one that may be found offensive. If this was true, then men and mortals acted out of fear, so they were not tortured and did not offend the Furies. Overall, these two stories show that the Erinyes are very dynamic, and they are not just known as being malicious, but they are also known for protecting the Greek