Overview
The lecture covers the core plot, themes, and characters of Aeschylus' The Libation Bearers, focusing on Orestes' quest for vengeance, the curse on the House of Atreus, and the cycle of retributive justice.
Main Characters and Setting
- Orestes is the son of Agamemnon and Clytaemnestra, returning from exile to avenge his father's murder.
- Electra, Orestes' sister, mourns Agamemnon and despises their mother, Clytaemnestra.
- Clytaemnestra, Orestes’ mother, killed Agamemnon with her lover, Aegisthus.
- Aegisthus is Clytaemnestra's partner and co-conspirator in Agamemnon's murder.
- The Chorus consists of slave women loyal to Agamemnon’s memory.
- The play takes place at Agamemnon's tomb and the royal palace in Argos.
Plot Summary
- Orestes returns to Argos and pays homage at his father’s tomb, secretly observed by Electra and the Chorus.
- Electra and Orestes reunite, recognizing each other through offerings and footprints at the tomb.
- Orestes reveals he is commanded by Apollo’s oracle to avenge his father’s murder.
- Electra and Orestes pray for divine support and lament their family's misfortune.
- Clytaemnestra is haunted by prophetic dreams and sends libations to Agamemnon's tomb to appease his spirit.
- Orestes interprets Clytaemnestra’s dream as a sign he must kill her.
- Orestes, with Pylades, enters the palace under disguise and kills Aegisthus.
- Orestes confronts and kills Clytaemnestra, despite her pleas as his mother.
- After the murders, Orestes is tormented by visions of the Furies and flees, pursued by guilt and madness.
Themes and Motifs
- Justice and revenge: The play centers on avenging Agamemnon’s murder to restore justice to the house.
- Divine will: Orestes acts on Apollo’s command, believing his actions are divinely sanctioned.
- Cycle of violence: The curse on the House of Atreus perpetuates endless bloodshed.
- Guilt and madness: After committing matricide, Orestes is plagued by guilt and visions of the Furies.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Libation — ritual pouring of a liquid to honor the dead or gods.
- Furies — avenging spirits of blood guilt pursuing wrongdoers.
- Oracle — a prophetic message from a god; in this play, Apollo’s instructions to Orestes.
- Matricide — the act of killing one’s mother.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the text for examples of retributive justice and references to the curse.
- Prepare an analysis of Orestes’ moral dilemma and its consequences.
- Read about the next play in the Oresteia trilogy, The Eumenides.