The House of Atreus The Background The House of Atreus‚ a tragic story of many generations passed down‚ is focused around on the royal family of Mycenae which is said to be one of the most important families in literature. This story is created from a curse‚ put on the whole family line. When It First Begins Tantalus‚ the son of Zeus had a foolish idea. He wanted to prove that he was better than the gods‚ so he cut up his son Pelops and fed him to the gods thinking that
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The House of Atreus is one of the finest examples of uncontrollable fate in all of ancient literature. The lineage of Atreus is steeped in the spilling of family blood starting with Tantalus and continuing with Agamemnon. However it is Atreus who is responsible for the curse on the family‚ since he was the one who tricked Thyestes into eating his children. It was this one event that caused the continuation of family bloodshed and forced family members of the House of Atreus to fulfill their obligatory
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avenging another person. After Atreus boiled his brother’s children‚ Aegisthus‚ Thyestes’ only living son‚ was determined to avenge the death of his siblings. Aegisthus used his relationship with Clytemnestra to ensure that Agamemnon would be punished for the crimes his father committed. In the play‚ the chorus states “only reckless act can breed impiety‚ multiplying crime on crime‚” referring to the multiple crimes that have streamed from the ones committed by Atreus. The Greeks believed they should
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Dramatic Irony – Dramatic irony is one the most crucial elements in an ancient Greek tragedy. It is a format used in many of Aeschylus‚ Euripides‚ and Sophocles plays. Usually the tragedy will begin with a monologue from a character or the chorus telling the audience what will happen. When the events unfold to be true a sense of irony unveils. An awesome example of irony is in Aeschylus’ Agamemnon. Cassandra has prophetic powers; however‚ the Chorus does not listen to and understand anything she
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The Transformation of Justice A cycle of murder and death spurs from the curse on the House of Atreus in Aeschylus’ The Oresteia but transforms from justice as vengeance to justice as fairness and forgiveness through the wisdom of Athena‚ establishing a new cycle of growth and life. The curse upon the House of Atreus was brought forth through the event of Zeus’ eagles devouring a pregnant hare which angered Artemis for she is the goddess of young animals and creatures. The big black bird swoops
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sort of thrown into a tragic event that had nothing to do with him. The curse against both men is represented in varying ways. Starting with Agamemnon‚ the curse on his house starts even before the play begins with a curse thrust upon the house of Atreus who is Agamemnon’s father. This play is a never ending cycle of revenge upon members of this house. These actions set up the play and has Agamemnon trying to come back home after the Trojan War. However‚ Artemis will not let the winds blow in favor
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Agamemnon and Menelaus’ mission was permitted by Zeus. Paris dishonored Zeus the god of Xenia‚ hospitality‚ by smuggling Helen back to Troy‚ but Paris also simultaneously infringed on Menelaus’ liberties as her husband. On their expedition to Troy‚ Atreus’ sons are held at Aulis: “port of anguish…head winds starving‚ sheets and the cables snapped and the men’s minds strayed” (pg. 109). The omen they witness‚ told through the chorus entailed two
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as a hero murdered by his lecherous wife Clytemnestra and his cowardly cousin Aegisthus‚ Agamemnon portrays him as cold and arrogant while his wife is a more sympathetic character and is reasonably justified in her actions. Agamemnon is the son of Atreus‚ nephew of Thyestes‚ brother of Menelaus and king of Mycenae. Prior to the tale in question‚ Agamemnon travels to Troy to rescue his brother’s wife
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Kenneth Studebaker Mrs. Halpin Lit. 11/12 11-24-09 The Oresteia The Oresteia‚ written by playwright Aeschylus‚ is a trilogy about the fall of the House of Atreus. Throughout The Oresteia‚ Aeschylus shows that it is personal responsibility and rationality rather than Fate that determines a person’s experience. This is shown at many various times‚ like when the Furies decide to change from their role as Furies to the Eumenides‚ Orestes‚ also does not kill Clytaemnestra simply because he is predetermined
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And that the past of lots of blood of the House of Atreus will still take full effect the next generations after generations. We learned that on going throughout the play there was going to be no stop violence because of the past. No matter how much blood was use to paid there’s still going to be violence
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