welcome to the third and final part of this series on escalus or esta in this video we will discuss the concluding play of the tragic Trilogy the Humanes at the beginning of the play orestes is tormented by the guilt of having killed his mother the furies who are the Greek goddesses of Vengeance chase him to the shrine of Apollo where orestes seeks Refuge Apollo encouraged orestes to murder clym nestra so he feels compelled to help orestes I desert thee never to the end heart at thy side is now or sundered far I am thy guard Apollo orestes and the Furies agree to go to trial before a jury of Athenians and the goddess Athena the initial vote concerning orestes guilt is a tie Athena then casts the deciding vote declaring that orestes is innocent of murder mine is the right to add the final vote and I award it to arrest these cause behold this man is free from guilt of blood Athena then remarks that the use of reason is of the utmost importance to the development of laws and to the execution of Justice she also promises the furies that the Athenians will build them a sanctuary and offer sacrifices to them every year the furies are appeased and they banish Vengeance from Athens they are renamed the Humanes which means the kindly ones the central focus of this play is Justice specifically the old conception of Justice represented by the vual fear juries and the new conception of Justice represented by Athena and the Athenian jury the old notion of Justice requires a strict adherence to the eye for an eye principle without any regard for mitigating circumstances or undesirable consequences this type of Justice results in a bloody cycle of Revenge the new notion of Justice on the other hand requires an accused person to be judged by an impartial jury sworn to act according to Justice the jury should consider the circum ances and motivations of the crime and also the consequences of punishment for the crime before judging this type of procedure seeks to banish the destructive nature of Revenge from society at the end of the play the new Social and moral disposition of Athens is one of compassion mercy and forgiveness rather than irrepressible desire for Revenge the guiding principle is that of calm dispassionate reason the closing pageant serves to arouse feelings of Pride about the Athenian way of life and persuade the Athenians and attendance that their way of life is best I hope that you enjoyed watching this video please like comment and subscribe farewell