Women In The Oresteia

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There is a distinction between men and women within the Oresteia that presents a detachment within the house of Atreus and in turn Athens. However, the three plays of the Oresteia provide a conclusion to the battle of the sexes. Characters within the play show their side to misogyny or misandry. It is quite obvious that the women are misandrists, while the men are misogynists. This division between men and women within the Oresteia reflects the division within the household, but is overcome through women rather than men. The thesis of the Oresteia proves to be the sacrifice of Iphigenia, for it is with the death of a woman that the tables of the curse on the house of Atreus start to unfold. The sacrifice of Iphigenia becomes the start of the continued curse within this particular generation of the house of Atreus. Agamemnon, a misogynist, did not value the life of his innocent daughter over the spoils of men. It is significant that an innocent woman, ready for marriage, an act that brings together two households, was not married but instead murdered. Her sacrifice shows a separation between men and women along with failure within the household.
“The glory of my house/ a father’s
The Furies, full of rage, are transformed into the Eumenides by Athena. Their transformation into the Eumenides restores the balance of Athens into the way it was before the death of Iphigenia. It is interesting that Athena is on the side of Orestes. She relates more with men and states that she honors them in all things but marriage. Since Athena is on the side of the men, one can say that she herself can be compared more to a man rather than a woman. Therefore, when she presents the offer she gives the Furies it can be compared to a man giving woman the right and power to rule over the household. Therefore, it infers that men have given women a power in which they themselves have not taken hold

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