15/1/07 - Classical Literature - Aeschylus: Oresteia

Aristophanes noticed that the action in Greek tragedies mostly occurred in one day, and he concluded that this showed the ways in which a man's life could change, even in a day. Lyric poets after this time began to write in Greek; it seemed fitting because Greeks realised that men are creatures of the day and lyric poets were concerned with what kind of person they were one day compared to the next, as they might be changed by the gods at any moment.

In Homer's Odyssey, Zeus uses Aegisthus as an example of a man who has brought about his own death. This is contrary to the above views and the views of Aeschylus in his Oresteia.

In Agamemnon there is the notion of human helplessness versus human responsibility, and all-encompassing divine power versus divine justice.

There was tension between the two theories in Aeschylus' time. In his Oresteia, the chorus in particular struggle with the opposing notions and try to come to terms with the tragic events onstage. Aeschylus develops many motivations, justifications and reasons for the tragic events, all put together to create confusion. Cassandra gives her own reasons: that the children of Thyestes were killed and eaten is the root of all the problems brought upon Agamemnon's family. For Clytemnestra, Agamemnon's murder is revenge for the killing of Thyestes' children. Another explanation is that his murder is revenge for the crimes committed in Troy. No answer is given by Aeschylus, although one explanation would have sufficed.

In Greek tragedy, guilt leads inevitably to another guilt, etc. in succession. Orestes believes that he has no choice but to avenge his father. Whatever one did, the ancient Greeks believed that demons were involved in any action. Clytemnestra believes that demons were involved in the killing of Agamemnon. The chorus believe that the demon was merely an accomplice, but the responsibility is Clytemnestra's.

Aeschylus maintains that Agamemnon had no choice but to sacrifice his daughter Iphigenia for Artemis, who ordered it. Orestes, similarly, had no choice but to kill his mother and be pursued by her hound-furies or be haunted by his father's furies for not avenging his murder. So three is something controlling the characters' actions, yet they are held responsible for them. So did they really have a choice? On page 8, Agamemnon makes a decision, so it is his choice.

There are different levels of causation, but the intervention of the gods does not mean that mortals are not responsible for their actions.

Negative theology is expressed in lines 160-184, by calling a god by what he is not. "Suffer and learn" supposes that knowledge is gained through suffering; it is a law. What do the characters learn through their suffering? Next to nothing? Agamemnon is simply slaughtered and leaves nothing; Aegisthus learns a little. No one is morally improved by the end of the play.