Justice And Forgiveness In The Oresteia

317 Words1 Page
bulb-icon

Recommended: Oresteia and justice

In the Greek tragedy, The Oresteia, justice, revenge, and forgiveness unfold throughout Agamemnon, Libation Bearers, and Eudmenides. The use of justice, revenge, and forgiveness developed throughout the play seems to portray human nature, human endeavor and morality. As well, whether or not the quest for revenge and the concept of justice is disentangled, comes into question for the chorus and the characters. In the first play of the trilogy, Agamemnon, it is aware overall in the literal and figurative themes depicted in the context that the central concept is justice, or other words justice as revenge. For example, we find a clear notion of justice from the murders of Agamemnon and Cassandra, as well as Cassandra’s prophesy believing Clytemnestra

Show More
Related

  • Be Warned and Study Justice:The Shifting Definition of Justice in Virgil’s Aeneid

    4362 Words  | 9 Pages

    A twenty-first century reading of the Iliad and the Odyssey will highlight a seeming lack of justice: hundreds of men die because of an adulteress, the most honorable characters are killed, the cowards survive, and everyone eventually goes to hell. Due to the difference in the time period, culture, prominent religions and values, the modern idea of justice is much different than that of Greece around 750 B.C. The idea of justice in Virgil’s the Aeneid is easier for us to recognize. As in our own culture, “justice” in the epic is based on a system of punishment for wrongs and rewards for honorable acts. Time and time again, Virgil provides his readers with examples of justice in the lives of his characters. Interestingly, the meaning of justice in the Aeneid transforms when applied to Fate and the actions of the gods. Unlike our modern (American) idea of blind, immutable Justice, the meanings and effects of justice shift, depending on whether its subject is mortal or immortal.

    Read More

  • Comparing Aeschylus Oresteia And Plato's Republic

    1494 Words  | 3 Pages

    Justice is generally thought to be part of one system; equally affecting all involved. We define justice as being fair or reasonable. The complications fall into the mix when an act of heroism occurs or morals are written or when fear becomes to great a force. These complications lead to the division of justice onto levels. In Aeschylus’ Oresteia and Plato’s Republic and Apology, both Plato and Aeschylus examine the views of justice and the morality of the justice system on two levels: in the city-state and the individual. However, Plato examines the justice system from the perfect society and Aeschylus starts at the curse on the House of Atreus and the blood spilled within the family of Agamemnon.

    Read More

  • Comparing Forgiveness And Justice

    839 Words  | 2 Pages

    Forgiveness and justice are very similar than we believe them to be. We believe that justice is

    Read More

  • Theme of Revenge in Homer's Odyssey

    868 Words  | 2 Pages

    Orestes’ revenge is the first important example of the gods’ revenge in the poem. In Book 1, Hermes told Aegisthus, “’Don’t murder the man,’ he said, ‘don’t court his wife. Beware, revenge will come from Orestes…” (Homer 260). King Nestor delivers the story of Orestes’ revenge to Odysseus’ son Telemachus, while Telemachus is visiting Nestor to discover answers about his fathers’ whereabouts. In Book 3 of The Odyssey, King Nestor tells this of Agamemnon, “…Aegisthus hatched the kings’ horrendous death” (Homer, 285). King Nestor continues on telling of the revenge Agamemnon’s son Orestes has on Aegisthus, “Orestes took revenge, he killed that cunning, murderous Aegisthus…”(Homer, 285). This example of Orestes’ revenge shows that the gods should be listened to or they will give horrific revenges to those who disobey.

    Read More

  • Essay On Forgiveness In The Glass Castle

    1024 Words  | 3 Pages

    As humans, we are entitled to making mistakes in our lives, but by forgiving one free himself from anger. Marianne Williamson wrote this about forgiveness: “ Forgiveness is not always easy. At times, it feels more painful than the wound we suffered, to forgive the one that inflicted it. And yet, there is no peace without forgiveness.” In the book The Glass Castle undergoes many difficult circumstances in which the act of forgiveness is the only way to be at peace with her family, but more importantly herself. But the real question is does she truly forgive them. Jeanette’s ability to constantly forgive her parents enabled her to have a positive attitude because the negativity was released when

    Read More

  • Antigone by Sophocles

    973 Words  | 2 Pages

    A Greek drama is a series of actions within a literary presentation in which the chief character has a disastrous fate. Many Greek dramas fall under the theatrical category of a tragedy due to the tragic events and unhappy ending that cause the downfall of the main character. During the famous play “Antigone” the Greek author Sophocles incorporated several features of a tragedy. These features include a morally significant dilemma and the presence of a tragic hero. The grand debate over which character can hold the title of the tragic hero has been discussed in the literary world for ages.

    Read More

  • Irony In The Odyssey

    129 Words  | 1 Pages

    Throughout Greek mythology, we see a lot of repetition of different events, facts and scenario’s. In Greek mythology stories or “myths” are told numerous times by different Greek figures. Each containing their own rendition of the events that took place. In the book The Odyssey, one particular death was told on numerous occasions Agamemnon. Agamemnon was the king of Mycenae and commander of the Achaean forces at Troy. He was also the brother of Menelaus. Agamemnon was murdered by his wife, Clytemnestra, and her lover, Aegisthus as a result of an ongoing affair while Agamemnon was away at war. He was later avenged by his son Orestes. The repetition of this story, as told throughout Odyssey offers the reader an inverted image of the fortunes

    Read More

  • The Theme Of Revenge In Euripide's Medea

    1129 Words  | 3 Pages

    The realm of revenge often warps the mental state of characters, leading them to enact vengeance regardless of the repercussions which may permeate their world. In Shakespeare’s renowned play “Hamlet,” the main character, Prince Hamlet, is conflicted between his quest to adhere to his private passion, in regards to his eagerness to avenge his father’s death, and his need to avoid neglecting his responsibilities towards his loved ones. Further, the effects of vengeance are illustrated by Medea, the main character in Euripides’ play “Medea,” who allowed her passion for revenge to supersede her duties to her children. Despite the numerous forms of retaliation, this brutalized world is one that ceaselessly dilutes the minds of characters, leaving them ravenous for revenge and oblivious towards any repercussions.

    Read More

  • Suffering in the Oresteia

    723 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the Greek play, the Oresteia, suffering acts as a vital role in the lives of the main characters. One character, the chorus, discusses suffering at great length. The chorus is made up of old men who were too old to fight against Troy, and who often give the audience an inside view to the actions happening on stage.

    Read More

  • The Notions of Justice in The Republic and Antigone

    1696 Words  | 4 Pages

    In both Antigone and The Republic, elements of death, tyranny, morality, and societal roles are incorporated into each work’s definition of justice. Both works address the notions of justice in a societal form, and an individual form. However, these definitions of justice differ with some elements, they are closely tied with others.

    Read More

  • Agamemnon

    736 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Aeschylus’ Agamemnon there are many different opinions about what kind of king and commander Agamemnon was. Some argued that he was good, while others dispute that his motives were wrong. Clytemnestra, Agamemnon’s wife, gained a strong hatred for him, after he sacrificed his own daughter so he could go to war. Many believe that this was not necessary and could have been overcome. The chorus seems to agree with this to an extent, and feels that Agamemnon could have prayed and requested that he not sacrifice his daughter.

    Read More

  • How Is Clytemnestra Justified In Agamemnon

    634 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Aeschylus’ The Agamemnon, Agamemnon and Clytemnestra have to make tough decisions throughout the play, decisions they believe are justified. The actions of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra are not justified because they are caused by their blinding hubris and desire for power. Agamemnon makes the choice to kill his daughter just so he could lead his troops to Troy. Clytemnestra kills her husband, not just for revenge, but for his position and power as king of Mycenae. They make selfish choices and do not believe they will be punished for them. By exposing their true motives, Aeschylus makes it clear they are not justified in their actions.

    Read More

  • The Power of Guilt and Shame in Phaedra

    380 Words  | 1 Pages

    In neo-classical works of literature, the themes are often based on reason and passion. The two factors of influence collide in a struggle that an individual character or group of characters must overcome and decide which to follow, and this conflict usually leads to suffering, guilt, and shame. In Racine's classic, Phaedra, the title character is influenced by her overwhelming passion, which leads to her commit her crimes by the power of guilt and shame.

    Read More

  • How Is Honor Justified In Othello's Reputation

    553 Words  | 2 Pages

    Othello questions the egocentric, narcissistic honor that is shown by the men in the play. For the sake of this paper, “honor” will be used as a synonym for reputation. Honor is not necessarily a bad thing, but it should not be a justification for misconduct. In history, a lot of actions were justified if they were committed to defend one’s honor. A man is justified in murdering his wife’s lover in order to protect his honor (Klene 140). Thousands of people died in duels to defend honor.

    Read More

  • The Importance of the Role That the Chorus Plays in Euripedes’ Medea

    1154 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Chorus, in this play, guides the audience. In the end, it is up to the individual as to what reaction they have to the play, but the Chorus is there to, in a way makes this reaction more complicated. One could leave the play totally condemning Medea, but the Chorus display’s Medea in a way that makes the audience sympathise with her, and so the moral conclusions that need to be come to side, become more complex. The audience has to base their reaction to Medea on what crimes they have seen her commit, and on what they have heard of her through the Chorus. Their integral part in the play acts in many ways, to follow, revise, and extend the plot of the play, and to influence the opinions and sympathies of the audience. It is a literary, and dramatic device that Euripedes uses, and uses well, to help portray a tragedy, and also a moralistic play, in which the Chorus is the voice that provides the morals.

    Read More

More about Justice And Forgiveness In The Oresteia

Open Document