This differs from normal virtues where the masses have a common definition and know its apparent portrayal in actions of themselves and others. For example, the Argive elders praised the honor of the men following their ruler to fight in Troy and called Aegisthus, who stayed behind “a coward” (Ag. 1644) and Orestes emasculated him by calling him a “woman at heart” (Cho. 305). Although the people describing Aegisthus had different experiences with him, they saw the same lack of a quality in him in comparison to the honored and glorified men that protected Argive. Virtues such as honor are apparent but justice is more obscure as most everyone has their own view on how justice should work. Apollo represents a type of justice that also extends mercy to those who did wrong with right reasoning and describes the Furies’ type of justice that “slaughters men for their crimes,- where heads are cut off and eyes gouged out” where no mercy is shown (Eum. 186-187). These types of justice often conflict and cause chaos when disagreements arise. The pursuance of these different justices…
The Anonymous Years (Enters Orestes into the main living area) The Chorus Orestes, we have brought news from Argos. Your mother has betrayed your father and his kingdom. Your father has endured a gruesome death. The Kingdom of Argos is now laying at rest alongside your father. We no longer have a reason to thrive. Unless, the justice that your mother deserves is carried out upon her and her lover, Aegisthus. Orestes The news from Argos, but how could this be? My mother has murdered my father.…
In the opening pages of Book I of “The Odyssey” written by Homer and translated by Robert Fagles, the gods are conversing in assembly regarding the death of “handsome” Aegisthus. Similar to the modern-day court system, the gods attempt to justify the fate that Aegisthus, the human, has received. However, the gods - with knowledge of everything happening around the human world - rely not on the testimonies of mere mortals or on evidence received. Instead, the gods recall whether or not they from…
cousin Aegisthus. Orestes, a young boy at the time of his father's murder was smuggled to safety by Electra, his sister and taken to stay with their father's old friend King Strophius of Phocis. Strophius raised Orestes with his son Pylades, they became close friends. Upon manhood, Orestes killed Clytemnestra and Aegisthus, since it was the best way to avenge his father's death said the Oracle of Apollo. Orestes was pursued by Erinyes, chthonic deities of vengeance who drove men crazy because of…
Eumenides summary Atreus and Thyestes are competing for the throne of Argos. Thyestes seduced his brother’s wife and was driven out of Argos by his brother. When Thyestes returns he and his brother seem to be cool with each other. At least that’s what Thyestes thinks. Atreus looks to seek revenge for what his brother did. Atreus murdered the two sons of Thyestes, and had them chopped up and cooked to be served to their father at his honor banquet. When Thyestes finds out he has eaten his sons,…
Agamemnon (referred to as Aga) and sister of Helen. During the Trojan War, while Aga was gone, Cly played the role of a regent. Cly also acts as the antagonist; killing Agamemnon and Cassandra. Cly’s motivation to kill Mycenae’s king is rooted in Agamemnon’s sacrifice of their daughter Iphigenia, her affair with Aegisthus, and the curse of the House of Atreus. Cly developed…
Foreshadowing: Orestes and Electra talk about getting vengeance on their mother and her lover, Aegisthus, for killing their father previously (196). Protagonist’s goal: The protagonist’s goal (Orestes) is to get vengeance on his father’s death by killing Aegisthus and Clytemnestra. Point of Attack: Orestes knocks on the doors of the palace and Clytemnestra answers. He pretends to be someone else and tells her that Orestes is dead and asks her to send Aegisthus to hear the news (209).…
In the SGU’s latest theater department production Electra was seemingly themed in the 1970’s or 1980’s. The play had guns and cargo pants set in a war torn land. Although these drastic changes were made from the original play the storyline did not vary too much. The human experience was still revenge, finding and exacting it. This play did a great job of showing the pull between Electra and her sister Chrysothemis also Electra’s own struggle with insanity. What this play did best was show that…
brother Orestes wanting to get revenge on their mother Clytemnestra and her lover Aegisthus, for killing their father Agamemnon. The events that led to the actions in this play was Clytemnestra killing her husband, to avenge her daughter Iphigenia, Agamemnon and his concubine Cassandra after they returned from the Trojan War. The play’s setting unlike Sophocles’ does not take place entirely in their palace in Argos but on a farm. Euripides takes a more realistic and morbid approach to the play…
However, Agamemnon’s wife was not quite as faithful to him as Penelope was to Odysseus, because she was having an affair with Aegisthus. Agamemnon was “killed by Aegisthus’ cunning—by his own wife” (Fagles 115). Aegisthus and Agamemnon’s wife decide to kill Agamemnon so that they may continue their affair. Eventually, Aegisthus is killed to avenge the death of Agamemnon. Aegisthus is the extreme example of improper hospitality while a man is away at war. Odysseus had to return disguised as a…