aeschylus’ libation bearers the downward spiral. eumenides: writing assign. trial scene…...

Aeschylus’ Libation Bearers

The Downward Spiral

Eumenides: Writing Assign.

Trial Scene…• Closure?• Unsatisfying expedient?

Submit via Blackboard “Assignments”

3

Agenda

• Recap & Update– From Agamemnon to Libation Bearers

• Character and Chemistry(pp. 216 ff.)

– Is Clytemnestra Human?– Is Orestes a Pawn?

• Blood for Blood– Tragic Dilemma in Libation Bearers

Recap & Update

From Agamemnon to Libation Bearers

5

Agamemnon Cassandra Scene: Analysis• amoibaion (lyric

dialogue) 144 ff.– impassioned cries– self-lament– feast of Thyestes– Paris’ crime– riddling visions

• spoken dialogue (“no more riddles”) 149 ff.– vision of Furies

(Erinues)– Thyestes adultery– Cassandra’s

gift/credibility– concrete prediction– overlaid visions (pp.

151-152)

6

Libation Bearers: Characters• Orestes• Pylades• Electra• Cilissa (nurse)• Doorman (“Porter”)• Slave• Clytemnestra• Aegisthus• Chorus of Slave Women

– Trojan captives

7

Crime Blotter…Old Crimes• Ag’s death• feast of Thyestes• sacr. of Iphigenia• war-crimes, war-

losses…– related: red carpet

symbolically connecting Trojan destruction with Argos» with impiety-hubris –

Greeks disrespecting Trojan shrines

New Crimes• adultery

– cl & aegisth

• matricide and killing of aegisth

Libation Bearers: Analysis

(numbers = Penguin pages)

prologue 177 f.• Orestes

– offering of hairparodos 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, invocation1st 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 (doorman), Clyt,

Leader, nurse– deception

2nd stasimon 212 f.– prayers for justice

3rd episode 213 ff.• Aegisthus, Leader, Chorus,

Servant, Clytemnestra, Orestes, Pylades

– killing, agōn, killing3rd stasimon 219 f.

– victory songexodos 221 ff.• Orestes, Chorus, Leader

– victory, madness, Furies

Character and Chemistry(pp. 216 ff.)

Is Clytemnestra Human?Is Orestes a Pawn?

Blood for Blood

Tragic Dilemma in Libation Bearers

11

Tragic Themes, Patterns• Aristotle• “tragic

formula”• epiphany

• clyt

And the ancient pride no war,no storm, no force could tame,

ringing in all men’s ears, in all men’s hearts is gone.They are afraid. Success,

they bow to success, more god than god himself.But Justice (Dike) waits and turns the scales….

and frenzy goes through the guiltyseething like infection, swarming through the brain. (Chorus, p. 179 – parodos)

12

Intertwined Imagery

• Libations• Nets• Snakes

13

Blood-Guilt: similia similibus

• pollution• purification-

retribution• pollution?

Sacrifice of piglet

“Wash old works of blood | in the fresh-drawn blood of justice” (Chorus, 795-6)

Is dikē hubris?ELECTRA:

… teach me what to sayCHORUS 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?