Orestes An innocent hero
Throughout time there has been a universal question that does not yet yield a universal answer. All people have a different view on whether or not it is right to avenge the killing of another, through the death of the killers. In America during this day and age, it is the obligation of the court system to decide whether or not a murderer should be put to death. Most of the time, the criminal is sentenced to a prison term, but when a judge decides to issue the death penalty there is usually an uproar among the people. Does the court now become a murderer along with the convicted felon or is the court an innocent body. Is it a hero who is looked upon as the hand of justice or just another bad guy? In the trilogy of "The Oresteia," we come across a similar situation. When his jealous wife Clytaemnestra and his cousin Aegisthus kill Agamemnon, the king of Argos, it is up to his long lost son Orestes, to avenge his death. To the people of Argos and the house of Atreus, Orestes was an innocent hero in yet another chess game played by the gods. Deep into the first story of "The Oresteia," better known as "Agamemnon," Cassandra, who has been cursed by Apollo to be a seer who will never be believed
At the end of the trilogy, the jury was split fifty fifty, and in another proof of innocence the tie breaking lot thrown by Athena was in favor of Orestes. He was officially proven innocent. Once more in Greek mythology, human beings were used as pawns in a godly game of chess; but at least this is one of those times when an innocent hero emerged. "Apollo will never fail me, no, his tremendous power, his oracle charges me to see this trial through. I can still hear the god - a high voice ringing with winters of disaster, piercing the heart within me, warm and strong, unless I hunt my father's murderers, cut them down in their own style - 'gore them like a bull!' he called, 'or pay their debt with your own life, one long career of grief." (Aeschylus, 191) It is also apparent that Clyteamnestra was evil. When the chorus states, "Mad with ambition, shrilling pride! - some Fury crazed with the carnage rages through your brain . . ." (Aeschlus, 163) we can see that she is taken in and possessed by the Furies, evil beings who were in contrast with the gods. This is only an added incentive to the innocence of Orestes. Apollo who aided Orestes in this act of revenge totally despised the furies. As he points to them with his mystical finger he angrily yells out, ". . . these obcenities! - I've caught them, beaten them down with sleep. They disgust me." (Aeschylus, 234) Some may ask the Question, "Who is Apollo to say that this man is innocent, and why does his opinion matter?" In this case, Apollo has a huge authority over all of the other gods and for one reason only. He is a servant of Zeus, and through Orestes, he has carried out the will of the Olympian Father (Zeus). Apollo swears that " This is his justice - omnipotent, I warn you. Bend to
Some common words found in the essay are:
Agamemnon Electra, Hero Throughout, Bearers Orestes, Clytaemnestra Apollo, Clyteamnestra Aegisthus, Agamemnon Cassandra, USA Penguin, Father Aeschylus, Orestes Apollo, Bearers Electra, libation bearers, innocent hero, house atreus, orestes avenge, orestes innocent hero, death agamemnon, justice aeschylus, innocence orestes, aeschylus 183, orestes innocent, avenge death, orestes avenge death,
Approximate Word count = 1189
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
|
