The Oresteia Questions and Answers
The Oresteia
Is Clytemnestra's killing of Agamemnon justified, portraying her as a martyr?
Clytemnestra's killing of Agamemnon is not justified, as it perpetuates a cycle of violence rather than ending it. Her motives are mixed, driven by revenge for her daughter Iphigenia's death and a...
The Oresteia
Clytemnestra's portrayal and representation from a women's perspective in The Oresteia
Clytemnestra in The Oresteia is portrayed as a complex character embodying both traditional and non-traditional female roles. From a women's perspective, she represents strength and agency,...
The Oresteia
Explain the quote from Agamemnon "Apollo, Apollo! Leader of journeys, my destroyer!"
The quote "Apollo, Apollo! Leader of journeys, my destroyer!" from Aeschylus' Agamemnon is spoken by Cassandra. She refers to Apollo as her destroyer because, although he granted her the gift of...
The Oresteia
How does the watchman feel about the state of things at the start of Aeschylus' Agamemnon?
The opening lines from Agamemnon set the tone for the whole play. We see that Agamemnon is a good king and expected to return home, but his wife has been ruling in his place and has made herself very...
The Oresteia
Explain the quote from Aeschylus' Agamemnon: "My tongue's nailed down. .... Well, I speak to those / Who understand...
The quote from Aeschylus' Agamemnon is spoken by the Watchman, who hints at the dark history and current treachery within Agamemnon's house. He implies knowledge of past horrors and the ongoing plot...
The Oresteia
What is the purpose of Athena's intervention in Orestes' trial in Eumenides?
The purpose of Athena's intervention at the end of the trial of Orestes in Aeschylus' "Eumenides", the final play in the "Oresteia" trilogy, is to resolve what appears to be an intractable moral...
The Oresteia
Compare Cassandra from The Oresteia to Teiresias in Oedipus Rex.
Cassandra in The Oresteia by Aeschylus with Teiresias in Oedipus Rex by Sophocles. When Teiresias first appears in Oedipus Rex, Oedipus can't say enough good things about him. However, the...
The Oresteia
Can you explain the "lust for power" message using a motif from The Oresteia?
In "The Oresteia," Aeschylus explores the destructive nature of the "lust for power" through motifs of revenge and familial curses. Characters like Agamemnon, Clytemnestra, and Orestes are driven by...
The Oresteia
Is justice subjective or absolute? Who is correct: Clytaemnestra seeking revenge for her daughter's death, or her...
Justice is portrayed as subjective in Aeschylus's work, with characters like Agamemnon and Clytaemnestra viewing their actions as justified based on personal perspectives. This subjective view leads...
The Oresteia
The complex relationship and differing interpretations of blood bonds between Apollo and the Furies in The Oresteia
The relationship between Apollo and the Furies in The Oresteia centers on differing views of justice and blood bonds. Apollo advocates for rational justice and the end of the cycle of blood...
The Oresteia
Explain this quote from Aeschylus' Agamemnon: "Time and your own enquiries will show, among your people, who has been...
The quote from Aeschylus' "Agamemnon" highlights the theme of loyalty and betrayal, as the Chorus warns Agamemnon that time will reveal who among his people has been true or deceitful. This...
The Oresteia
What happens to the Furies after the trial in Aeschylus' Eumenides and what does it imply about Athenian law?
After the trial, the Furies are transformed from vengeful deities into the Eumenides, or "kindly ones," by Athena, who offers them honor and a place in Athenian society as goddesses of justice. This...