How Does Aeschylus Portray Suffering In Oresteia
Ahmed Ahmed 12/04/08
Prof. Staines
Lit 230-02
Oresteia Paper
People suffer for many different reasons, and they cope with the suffering the only way they know how. In addition, sometimes people seek their own justice for their suffering. There is always controversy about what is justified and what is not. In Oresteia, Aeschylus portrays suffering for many characters; however, Clytemnestra suffers the most. Therefore, Aeschylus illustrates Clytemnestra’s suffering when her husband is at war, and then to add to that suffering, the sacrifice of her daughter, so she murders Agamemnon claiming it was justifiable in avenge for …show more content…
Orestes says “He said to kill the way they killed, and claim my birthright like a savage bull, or pay the penalty myself with a life gripped by evil, and full of pain.” (Orestes, The Libation Bearers, 274-277). And to add to that, Orestes does not take any pride for his deed in killing his mother. If he could choose, he probably would not kill his mother for what she did. Orestes tells the chorus of eastern slave women “I grieve for our family, the things that were done, the suffering. But do not envy me, I have won a tainted victory.” (Orestes, The Libation Bearers, 1016-1017). Consequently, Orestes was doing as he was told by the God Apollo, so he would not suffer, because unlike his mother, he did not avenge on his own, but by order of Apollo. Another example is when Athena votes for Orestes to be free from punishment by the Furies when the votes by the jury were tied, which shows you that he was meant to be free from suffering. And when Athena offers the Furies a place in Athens to be goddesses to protect the country from civil wars and bring peace shows that vengeance and violence has
Prof. Staines
Lit 230-02
Oresteia Paper
People suffer for many different reasons, and they cope with the suffering the only way they know how. In addition, sometimes people seek their own justice for their suffering. There is always controversy about what is justified and what is not. In Oresteia, Aeschylus portrays suffering for many characters; however, Clytemnestra suffers the most. Therefore, Aeschylus illustrates Clytemnestra’s suffering when her husband is at war, and then to add to that suffering, the sacrifice of her daughter, so she murders Agamemnon claiming it was justifiable in avenge for …show more content…
Orestes says “He said to kill the way they killed, and claim my birthright like a savage bull, or pay the penalty myself with a life gripped by evil, and full of pain.” (Orestes, The Libation Bearers, 274-277). And to add to that, Orestes does not take any pride for his deed in killing his mother. If he could choose, he probably would not kill his mother for what she did. Orestes tells the chorus of eastern slave women “I grieve for our family, the things that were done, the suffering. But do not envy me, I have won a tainted victory.” (Orestes, The Libation Bearers, 1016-1017). Consequently, Orestes was doing as he was told by the God Apollo, so he would not suffer, because unlike his mother, he did not avenge on his own, but by order of Apollo. Another example is when Athena votes for Orestes to be free from punishment by the Furies when the votes by the jury were tied, which shows you that he was meant to be free from suffering. And when Athena offers the Furies a place in Athens to be goddesses to protect the country from civil wars and bring peace shows that vengeance and violence has