This essay will ask you to think of the Oresteia as a Gesamtkunstwerk ("total work of theater art"), one that requires all three plays—Agamemnon, Libation Bearers, and Eumenides-to fulfill its vision.
Assignment:
Write an essay that focuses on the "problems" featured in the trilogy:
• The evolving meaning of blood
Begin the essay by showing how Eumenides brings this "problem" to a resolution. Then demonstrate exactly what it is that Eumenides is resolving through an examination of the complications, tensions, paradoxes, complexities, etc., featured in the first two plays. To be clear, then, the goal of the essay is to start by making an argument about some feature of Eumenides, and then to work back through Libation Bearers and Agamemnon to bring context and complexity to the resolution. For example, you might argue that the Eumenides culminates in some new configuration of state-sanctioned violence. The question then becomes, how did we get here? What was happening in the earlier two plays to make this new arrangement ideal? Work extensively with quoted passages from all three plays. Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
The Evolving Meaning of Blood in the Oresteia Trilogy
The Oresteia trilogy, composed of Agamemnon, Libation Bearers, and Eumenides, is a masterpiece that can be seen as a Gesamtkunstwerk, or a total work of theater art. One of the recurring themes throughout the trilogy is the evolving meaning of blood. In this essay, we will explore how Eumenides resolves this “problem†by examining the complications, tensions, paradoxes, and complexities featured in the first two plays.
To fully understand the resolution presented in Eumenides, it is crucial to explore the context and complexities that lead to it. In Agamemnon, blood is presented as a symbol of both power and violence. The murder of Agamemnon by his wife Clytemnestra is an act of revenge for the sacrifice of their daughter, Iphigenia. This act establishes a cycle of bloodshed and vengeance that permeates the trilogy.
In Libation Bearers, the theme of blood takes on a more complex and ambiguous role. Orestes, Agamemnon’s son, returns to avenge his father’s death by killing Clytemnestra. However, this act also raises questions about the morality of shedding blood for personal revenge. Orestes is torn between his duty to avenge his father and the guilt he feels for taking another’s life. His internal struggle reflects the larger societal tension between the need for justice and the consequences of violence.
It is in Eumenides that the resolution to the evolving meaning of blood emerges. The play introduces the Furies, ancient deities who represent vengeance and the blood ties that bind families together. However, with the help of Athena, a new order is established that reconciles the conflicting demands of justice and mercy. The Furies are transformed into Eumenides, benevolent goddesses who become guardians of Athens’ legal system.
This transformation signifies a shift in the perception of blood. Instead of being associated solely with violence and vengeance, it now becomes a symbol of communal bonds and shared responsibility. In Eumenides, blood ties are no longer a source of endless cycles of revenge but become a foundation for establishing a just society. The resolution presented in Eumenides suggests that through reason and mediation, blood can be transformed from a destructive force into a unifying element.
To fully grasp the significance of this resolution, it is essential to analyze the complications and tensions present in the first two plays. The cycle of bloodshed initiated by Agamemnon’s sacrifice in Agamemnon sets the stage for the conflicts that follow. The act of shedding blood for personal revenge in Libation Bearers highlights the moral dilemmas faced by individuals seeking justice.
Through extensive analysis of quoted passages from all three plays, it becomes evident that Eumenides culminates in a new configuration of state-sanctioned violence. The transformation of the Furies into Eumenides represents a shift towards a more rational and just approach to resolving conflicts within society.
In conclusion, the evolving meaning of blood in the Oresteia trilogy is resolved through an examination of the complications, tensions, paradoxes, and complexities featured in Agamemnon and Libation Bearers. Eumenides presents a new configuration where blood is no longer solely associated with violence and revenge but becomes a symbol of communal bonds and shared responsibility. By transforming the Furies into benevolent goddesses, the play suggests that through reason and mediation, blood can be transformed into a unifying force within society. The Oresteia trilogy serves as a powerful exploration of the complexities surrounding justice, vengeance, and the evolving meaning of blood.
