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Aeschylus Eumenides

Aeschylus Eumenides. Closure at Last?. Name that quote…. “The woman you call the mother of the child is not the parent, just a nurse to the seed, the new-sown seed that grows and swells inside her. The man is the source of life – the one who mounts.”. Apollo, Eumenides p. 260. Agenda.

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Aeschylus Eumenides

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  1. Aeschylus Eumenides Closure at Last?

  2. Name that quote… “The woman you call the mother of the child is not the parent, just a nurse to the seed, the new-sown seed that grows and swells inside her. The man is the source of life – the one who mounts.” Apollo, Eumenides p. 260

  3. Agenda • Recap & Update • From Darkness to Light • “Strength of Words” • Clytemnestra and Chorus • Class Discussion • Closure at Last?

  4. Recap & Update From Darkness to Light

  5. Intertwined Imagery • Snakes • “No, no! Women – look – like Gorgons, / shrouded in black, their heads wreathed, / swarming serpents!” (Orestes in LB p. 225) • Nets • “… she shackled her man in robes, / in her gorgeous never-ending web she chopped him down” (Apollo in Eum. p. 259) • Libations • “Our Fury never wants for blood. His (Aegisthus’ blood) she drinks unmixed (i.e., like wine straight up), our third libation to saving Zeus” (Orestes, of Aegisthus in LB p. 203)

  6. Is dikēhubris?

  7. Prologue 1-143 Pythia, Apollo, Or, Clyt, Furies 1st parodos 144-175 Furies mad for the hunt 1st episode 176-241 Apollo, Leader 2nd parodos 241-273 track Orestes to Athens 2nd episode Or, Leader 1st stasimon 321-407 binding song 3rd episode Athena, Leader, Or 2nd stasimon 506-571 “Furious” justice 4th episode 572-791 Ath, Ap, Leader, Or Rage songs 792-888 Athena speaking chorus singing 5th episode 888-926 Ath, Leader Blessing song 927-1030 Athena chanting chorus singing Spoken transition 1031-1041 Athena Lyric exodos 1042-1057 chorus of Athena’s cult personnel Eumenides: Analysis(numbers = Penguin lines)

  8. Mythic-political convergence…

  9. Troy Delphi Aulis Athens Argos Peloponnese Sparta

  10. Orestes at Delphi,Athens Fury Apollo Fury Athena Orestes

  11. There-and-Then mythic cosmic judicial Here-and-Now topical political judicial OresteiaDramatic Planes Political Context 461Areopagus depoliticized Radical democracy strengthened Ephialtes murdered 458Oresteia produced.

  12. visual clear divine new light sky male persuasion harmony democracy judicial process Semnai (Revered Ones) Oresteia:Structural Oppositions, Progressions verbal ambiguous human old dark earth female violence strife aristocracy revenge Erinyes (Furies) dramatic thematic

  13. “Strength of Words” Clytemnestra and Chorus

  14. Clytaemnestra: Awake, my Furies, goddesses of the Earth! A dream is calling - Clytaemnestra calls you now. Chorus muttering Mutter on. Your man is gone, fled far away. My son has friends to defend him, not like mine. Chorus louder muttering. You sleep too much, no pity for my ordeal. Orestes murdered his mother - he is gone. Chorus moaning. Moaning, sleeping - onto your feet, quickly. What is your work? What but causing pain? Sleep and toil, two strong conspirators, they sap the mother dragon’s deadly fury. Choruslabe labe labe labe phrazdou!

  15. “Binding Song” (1st stasimon, 307 ff.) epi de tōi tethumenōitode melos, parakopā,paraphorā phrenodalēs,humnos ex Erinuōndesmios phrenōn, aphor-miktos, auona brotois. “Over the victim’s burning head this chant this frenzy striking frenzy …” (329 ff.)

  16. Class Discussion Closure at Last?

  17. Questions… • Is the decision justified? Fair? • Do the Furies (Erinues) compromise… • validly? • bogusly? • Does the Oresteia achieve closure? • Is dikē still hubris?

  18. divided stopped violence, everyone happy cl forgotten necessary verdict yes closure, realist or’s murder justified but no real decision or justified unfair to cl cycle NOT broken in context, a “just” outcome b/c Athens = misogyny trial pointless not fair furies sell out bribery orest wrong the logic of kinship doesn’t work unfair for him to get a trial (divided group) hubristic defense OR: no remorse, doesn’t take responsibility Discussion Results…

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