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Aeschylus’ Libation Bearers

Aeschylus’ Libation Bearers. The Downward Spiral. Orestes. Aegisthus. “Where will it end?” (Chorus, p. 226). Feast of Thyestes. Murder of Agamemnon. Murder of Clytemnestra. Agenda. Discussion Topic Clytemnestra: Mother or Monster? Recap & Update Here We Go Again. .  .

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Aeschylus’ Libation Bearers

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  1. Aeschylus’ Libation Bearers The Downward Spiral Orestes Aegisthus

  2. “Where will it end?”(Chorus, p. 226) Feast of Thyestes Murder of Agamemnon Murder of Clytemnestra aeschylus libation bearers

  3. Agenda • Discussion Topic • Clytemnestra: Mother or Monster? • Recap & Update • Here We Go Again. . . • Issues in Performance • Clytemnestra-Orestes Face-Off aeschylus libation bearers

  4. Discussion Topic Clytemnestra: Mother or Monster?

  5. Ancillary Considerations • Tragedy is?. . . • Clytemnestra sympathetic? • Clytemnestra tragic? • Matricide. . . • Fitting punishment? • “Just” justice? aeschylus libation bearers

  6. Comment aeschylus libation bearers

  7. Recap & Update Here We Go Again. . .

  8. Aeschylean Patterns. . . Tragic Cycle Associative Poetics Parodos Fire signals Carpet scene Cassandra scene • Crime begets crime • Blood guilt • Tragic knowing • Pathei mathos • “From suffering, knowledge” aeschylus agamemnon 2

  9. Oresteia So Far:Ideological Conflicts, Social Resonance Tragic consciousness as social critique? aeschylus agamemnon 2

  10. Libation Bearers • Prologue 177 f. Orestes • offering of hair • Parodos 178 ff. • mourning, libations, Clytemnestra’s dream, general foreboding • 1st episode (begin) 180 ff. • Electra, Leader, Orestes, whole Chorus • recognition, reunion • Kommos (lyric interlude) 192 ff. • Electra, Orestes, Chorus • mourning, invocation • 1st episode (end) 198 ff. Electra, Leader, Orestes • more invocation, Clytemnestra’s dream, plan • 1st stasimon 204 f. • Clyt’s crime, natura/myth parallels • 2nd episode 206 ff. Orestes, Porter, Clyt, Leader, Nurse • deception • 2nd stasimon 212 f. • prayers for justice • 3rd episode 213 ff. Aegisthus, Leader, Chorus, Servant, Clytemnestra, Orestes, Pylades • killing, agōn, killing • 3rd stasimon 219 f. • victory song • exodos 221 ff. Orestes, Chorus, Leader • victory, madness, Furies

  11. Orestes with Erinyes

  12. Aristotelian Analysis. . . • Anagnorisis(recognition)? • Peripeteia(reversal)? • Desis(complication)? Lusis(resolution)? • Pity, fear for?... • Catharsis? aeschylus libation bearers

  13. verbal ambiguity human visual clarity divine Aeschylean Epiphany to aeschylus libation bearers

  14. Oresteia: Ideological Conflicts gods v. gods? aeschylus libation bearers

  15. Blood-Guilt: Similiasimilibus “Wash old works of blood / in the fresh-drawn blood of justice” (Chorus, 795-6) Orestes purified with blood of piglet pollution purification-retribution pollution? aeschylus libation bearers

  16. Is dikēhubris? • ELECTRA: • … teach me what to say • CHORUS LEADER: • Let some god or man come down upon them. • ELECTRA: • Judge or avenger, which? • LEADER: • Just say “the one who murders in return.” • ELECTRA: • How can I ask the gods for that and keep my conscience clear? • LEADER: • How not, and pay the enemy back in kind?

  17. Issues in Performance Clytemnestra-Orestes Face-Off

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