The Breaking of Familial Ties
In Arlene W. Saxonhouse’s essay, “Founding vs. Constitution: Ancient Tragedy and The Origins of Political Community”, Saxonhouse argues that while ancient civilizations often could not employ the language for constitutions, in the founding of Athens, The Oresteia, a play by Aeschylus, the people clearly state a foundation for this new city. The foundation they set, Saxonhouse asserts, is one where the familial ties must be suppressed in favor of working towards a better society for the citizens of Athens. This is clearly supported through the trial set forth by Athena, the speech given by Apollo during the trial, and the slow deconstruction of Orestes’ family throughout The Oresteia.
The argument set forth by Saxonhouse, describes a society envisioned by Aeschylus while the actual Athens was being founded, where its citizens move past the ancient traditions that focused on protecting one’s family, to a society that relied upon its citizens to protect the city first, then the family. This separation of family and state, is first shown in the breaking down of Orestes’ family; where justice starts to take precedence over the preservation of family. This occurs in “Agamemnon”, when Clytemnestra executes her own husband, in retaliation for his murder of their daughter, so he could win the favor of the gods to protect his army on the way to …show more content…
Saxonhouse’s essay, “Founding vs. Constitution: Ancient Tragedy and The Origins of Political Community”, employs the idea that The Oresteia, by Aeschylus, attempts to project a society that is similar to the thinking of present-day democracies, which is “E Pluribus Unum”, or “Out of Many, for One”. This belief states that as a society, it is more beneficial to work for the betterment of the state, rather than tear it up to preserve the ancient familial bond or “one”. This is the famous slogan of the seal of the United States, displaying that this ideal is still very relevant to today’s
In Arlene W. Saxonhouse’s essay, “Founding vs. Constitution: Ancient Tragedy and The Origins of Political Community”, Saxonhouse argues that while ancient civilizations often could not employ the language for constitutions, in the founding of Athens, The Oresteia, a play by Aeschylus, the people clearly state a foundation for this new city. The foundation they set, Saxonhouse asserts, is one where the familial ties must be suppressed in favor of working towards a better society for the citizens of Athens. This is clearly supported through the trial set forth by Athena, the speech given by Apollo during the trial, and the slow deconstruction of Orestes’ family throughout The Oresteia.
The argument set forth by Saxonhouse, describes a society envisioned by Aeschylus while the actual Athens was being founded, where its citizens move past the ancient traditions that focused on protecting one’s family, to a society that relied upon its citizens to protect the city first, then the family. This separation of family and state, is first shown in the breaking down of Orestes’ family; where justice starts to take precedence over the preservation of family. This occurs in “Agamemnon”, when Clytemnestra executes her own husband, in retaliation for his murder of their daughter, so he could win the favor of the gods to protect his army on the way to …show more content…
Saxonhouse’s essay, “Founding vs. Constitution: Ancient Tragedy and The Origins of Political Community”, employs the idea that The Oresteia, by Aeschylus, attempts to project a society that is similar to the thinking of present-day democracies, which is “E Pluribus Unum”, or “Out of Many, for One”. This belief states that as a society, it is more beneficial to work for the betterment of the state, rather than tear it up to preserve the ancient familial bond or “one”. This is the famous slogan of the seal of the United States, displaying that this ideal is still very relevant to today’s