The Oresteia’s trilogy, of Aeschylus, consists on the plays Agamemnon, The Libation
Bearers and The Eumenides. This
Ancient Greek literature masterpiece was staged in 458 b.C. In addition of
being the creator of multiple dramas that would change the History of Western
Literature, Aeschylus actively participated in the production and rehearsals,
as well as in scenography coordination, mounting the sets, props, music and
choreography. He also joined in as an actor. These aspects gather the plot’s
work (drama) and the show’s
production (theatron).
The main aim of the
playwright is to touch the mind and the senses of his spectators.
After twenty five
centuries, the author of The Oresteia’s
trilogy reaches the readers’ spirit that admire him, and the restless spirit of
the directors, always conscientious of the contemporary life that revolves
around them. The current directors look for, very often, in the Classical
Antiquity, motives and reasons that can be used to re-invent contemporary
behaviors.
The Greek tragedy themes
were chosen between religious or mythical stories, distant of the spectators’
time. This distance in the references that were staged allowed the spectator to
see issues that didn’t involved him directly discussed, but helped him to think
about the general aspects of the human being. Few are the tragedy situations
that deal with themes of his contemporaneity. One rare example of that type of
approach can be found in Aeschylus’ The
Persians, a play that was also thought as being one of the oldest of all
Greek plays.
The Oresteia’s plot is based on the
kidnapping of Helena by Paris ,
after he has been welcomed by Helena Paris Helena and bring her back to the
Hellas . However the gods involved themselves
in that adventure and setbacks begin to emerge which called into question the
future of the expedition. Artemis demands the sacrifice of Agamemnon’s
daughter, Iphigenia, so the fleet is able to leave. Agamemnon lives a unique
dilemma: sacrifice his daughter or lack to the duties and obligations of a
military chief (Agamemnon 204-213). The fleet leaves and Agamemnon, after ten
intense fight years, conquers the city of Troy
In his return,
Clytemnestra receives him, in the palace, with excessive honors, the ones that
only gods could receive. Agamemnon doesn’t understand the boundaries of his
action. After entering in the palace, Clytemnestra murders her husband with the
help of Aegisthus, her lover. This death should be avenged, as Cassandra
annunciated and the Chorus expects (Agamemnon 1667).
In The Libation Bearers, the following play, a righteous man will
appear: Orestes, son of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, who will avenge his
father’s death. Elektra have sent her brother Orestes into exile, from where he
will return by Apollo’s order to punish his father’s murders. After killing
Clytemnestra, Orestes is followed by the Erynies, the remorse goddesses’.
Orestes turns mad.
In the third play, The Eumenides, Orestes, supplicant,
found himself in Delphos. Apollo promises to protect him from the action of the
vindictive Erynies. The god advises him to ask for help from Athena. He is
upheld by the goddess and protected by Apollo against the Erynies.
The Greek tragedy brings
into discussion the human problems with gods and fate as also existent problems
among men. The Greek tragedy goes deep in the conflicts between the individual
and the power created by him.
Ana Lúcia Curado
Universidade
do Minho
