4016 Fall07 Questions and Discussion 5
From Studyplace
'This week's class question: "Some one cries out, inside. Do you hear?"
(To be read in class, session #4, 9/26.)
This week's respondent:David Solomita
Revenge
Power of Men/Women
God
Moral Conflict
Death/Value of Life
Tyranny
These are some of the major themes that I think come forward as we read the Oresteia and then Sophocles’s Electra. The premise that there is a curse that has been placed upon the family due to the actions of Agamemnon’s father is the beginning of a series of events that unfold in very dramatic and absolute ways.
First I will deal with the Aeschylus and the Oresteia as its theme of revenge is very predominant throughout. The focal points revolve around death and power and it begins with the death of Agamemnon and his mistress Cassandra. Clytaemestra was compelled to kill her husband presumably for his sacrificing of their daughter to the gods in relation to his campaign with Troy.
Clytaemestra in justification speaks, “ You try me out as if I were a woman and vain; but my heart is not fluttered as I speak before you. You know it. You can praise or blame me as you wish; It is all one to me. That man Agamemnon, My husband; he is dead; the work of this right hand That struck in strength of righteousness. And that is that.” (1401) This is decisive and absolute. She is not hesitant in her actions and is fully aware of the power that she is gaining.
Zeus here is seen as omnipotent and his touch influences and ultimately is responsible for all things. The chorus recites in response Clytaemestra, “Surely it is a huge and heavy spirit bending the house you cry; alas, the bitter glory of a doom that shall never be done with; and all through Zeus, Zeus, first cause prime mover. For what thing without Zeus is done among mortals? What here is without God’s blessing? (1482)
So reasonably straightforward Clytaemestra feels justified in killing Agamemnon and Cassandra and does not believe the curse will continue because of her actions. She is content with Aegisthus to take control and live on. Aegisthus sufficiently power hungry explains his part in the collusion, “No, clearly the deception was the woman’s part, and I was suspect, that hated him so long. Still clearly with his money I shall endeavor to control The citizens….” (1636) Echoed by Clytaemestra, “ ..you and I have the power; we two shall bring good order to our house at least,” (1675)
Questions: Responses to their actions? Man vs. Woman?, God’s role as compared to earlier works, Hesiod’s Theogony? Revenge as a theme? Corruption?
In the Libation Bearers although there is still a great deal of revenge involved as the motive for Orestes matricide I find the moral questioning and the justification from God to be different before he perpetuates the murders. He needs reassurance that his actions are correct and righteous, “And now I call upon the god who stands close, to look on, and guide the actions of my sword.” (583) Additionally right and destiny play important factors as Orestes is essentially trying to right the wrong that befell his father. “Right’s anvil stands staunch on the ground and the smith, Destiny, hammers out the sword….”(646)
Questions: Is this justification and is matricide worse simply because it is matricide? Moral conflict, do you agree or are his actions as absolute as his mother’s were towards his father?
The Eumenides I found to be the most interesting in its treatment of the actions taken by Orestes, the gods, the Furies and Athene. The trial I found to be an interesting vehicle to deal with the actions of Orestes and the blood curse upon his family. The Furies are convinced that matricide is a worse crime than the murders set forth by Clytaemestra and pursue Orestes in his crime. Given that there are equal votes on both sides in his trial Orestes is freed from his curse. Also there is a shifting of powers as the chorus extols in, “Gods of the younger generation, you have ridden down the laws of the elder time, torn them out of my hands…” (778) Clearly god/s and their relationship to man is changing.
Questions: How is the role of god changing and is the relationship of Athene to Orestes important? Athene was not born of a woman, but sprang from her father Zeus' head. Is this significant? Is the trial significant in that the jurors are Athenian citizens? In what ways are the themes of this play more complex? What is the significance of Apollo’s testimony?
Sophocles’s Electra takes us into a variation on the revenge of Agememnon’s murder. It is more a character study of one character and we see and feel all of her desires. Sophocles seems interested in what kind of a woman wants to kill her mother. She states, “Mother! I do not count you a mother of mine, but rather a mistress. My life is wretched because I live with multitudes of sufferings, inflicted by yourself and your bedfellow.” (597) The storyline is a bit more elaborate in that we are led to believe that Orestes is dead when in fact it is just a ruse to gain access to Clytaemestra and Aegisthus to kill them just the same. Additionally, god seems to have slipped in importance, the chorus reminds, “ Where are Zeus’s thunderbolts? Where is the glowing sun? If they see this and hide it And hold their peace.” (824) It is a more emotional piece that even questions the relationship of god to man’s actions.
Questions: Is this an evolution? Is it more appealing? If so how? What is the role of god in Sophocles’s Electra and how is it different from the god in Aeschylus?
