Aeschylus The Oresteia

Aeschylus The Oresteia

The Oresteia The Oresteia is a trilogy of Greek tragedies written by Aeschylus. This trilogy consists of Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers or The Choephoroe, and The Eumenides. The only extant example of an ancient Greek theatre trilogy, the Oresteia won first prize at the Dionysia festival in 458 BC. Many consider the Oresteia to be Aeschylus' finest work. The principal themes of the trilogy include the contrast between revenge and justice, as well as the transition from personal vendetta to organized litigation. In this trilogy there are multiple themes carried through all three plays. Other themes can be found and in one, or two, of the three plays, but are not applicable to the Trilogy as a whole and thus are not considered themes of ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...The play starts off at the temple of Apollo at Delphi, the home of the famous Oracle of Delphi. Orestes find himself there for temporary shelter from the Furies that have been torturing him ever since the murder of his mother. Orestes pleads the gods for help against the Furies. Apollo cannot help him, but with a sleeping curse he slows down the Furies and their evil works against Orestes for a little while. As the Furies surround Orestes again, he begs Athena to save him. This leads to the trial of Orestes. As a result of the trial, Orestes leaves to go home to Argos and the Furies have their name switched to The Eumenides, or Kindly Ones, and ruling that they will now be honoured by the citizens of Athens. By the end of the trilogy, Orestes is seen to be the key, not only to ending the curse of the House of Atreus, but also in laying the foundation for a new step in the progress of

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