David’s Reviews > Aeschylus | Sophocles | Euripides | Aristophanes > Status Update

Prometheus Bound shows an attitude toward religion which is pervasive in ancient Greek works. Prometheus suffers a terrible punishment for taking the side of men over that of God. This may happen in Judaic tradition, but not with sympathy for humans and vilification of God. Not only is God defied, but his falling is foretold, and Prometheus, though Bound, has the last laugh.

Oedipus Rex, Antigone, & started Oedipus at Colonus

Orestes arrives in Athens after a year's travel and embraces Athena's icon, asking for judgment. The Furies arrive close behind and begin harrying Orestes. Then come Athena and Apollo. Ap. asks At. to judge the matter and they hold a trial at the Areopagus. The Furies first debate with Or., who then defers to Ap. Ap. appeals to At., who was born without a mother.

Eumenides begins with the prophetess of Apollo. Upon entering the Oracle, the sybil recoils at the sight of Orestes and the Furies slumbering around him. Apollo appears and reassures Orestes, sending him to be judged. Clytemnestra's ghost then enters and rouses the Furies, entreating them to punish Orestes. They awake and begin quibbling with Apollo over the iniquity of killing a husband versus a mother.

Orestes does as he planned. Pretending as a traveler, he hails Clytemnestra and Aegisthus and tells them he is to pass on news that Orestes has died. He is allowed to rest in the palace while the chorus relates the household's reactions. Orestes' nurse is saddened but tells how Clytemnestra is secretly relieved. In short time, though, Orestes kills Aegisthus and Clytemnestra, and immediately begins his defense.

Orestes plans to kill Clytemnestra and Aegisthus, as foretold in Clytemnestra's dream of an asp suckling at her breast. He and Pylades will masquerade as foreigners to approach them.

Agamemnon dead!