Aeschylus Eumenides Closure at Last?

“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.” Name that quote… Apollo, Eumenides p. 260

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

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)

Is dikē hubris?

Eumenides: Analysis (numbers = Penguin lines) Prologue –Pythia, Apollo, Or, Clyt, Furies 1st parodos –Furies mad for the hunt 1st episode –Apollo, Leader 2nd parodos –track Orestes to Athens 2nd episode –Or, Leader 1st stasimon –binding song 3rd episode –Athena, Leader, Or 2nd stasimon –“Furious” justice 4th episode –Ath, Ap, Leader, Or Rage songs –Athena speaking –chorus singing 5th episode –Ath, Leader Blessing song –Athena chanting –chorus singing Spoken transition –Athena Lyric exodos –chorus of Athena’s cult personnel

8 Mythic-political convergence…

Sparta Argos Aulis Delphi Troy Peloponnese Athens

Athena Fury Apollo Orestes Orestes at Delphi, Athens

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

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

ATHENA: “I send you home, home to the core of Earth, escorted by these friends who guard my idol ….” · · · · · “Girls and mothers, trains of aged women women grave in movement, dress our Furies now in blood-red robes.” (p. 276)

“Strength of Words” Clytemnestra and Chorus

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. Chorus labe labe labe labe phrazdou!

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

Class Discussion Closure at Last?

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

20 Discussion Results… 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