Eumenides
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We've been searching for our roots. Politically, we
aren't like
- Gligamesh
- Egypt
- Israel
- Greece
- Monarchy
- Democracy Demokratos Demos (people) kratos (power).
Oikos --> Polis. City state. Politics, political, police.
EUMENIDES
The Greek of vengeance are the Furies.
Ἐρῑνύες (Erinyes) is
the Greek word translated 'Furies.' But the word is
ill-omened. To speak it aloud meant that you risked
drawing their attention. A similar feeling is expressed
by the English proverb, "Speak of the devil, and he surely
shall appear." This fear lead to a euphemism to use in
place of the dangerous word: Εὐμενίδες (Eumenides),
the Gracious Ones or the Kindly Ones.
The sight of the Furies overwhelmed early audiences. Sent
pregnant women into labor. The Chorus is the chief character of
the drama. Furies clash with Apollo--conflicting divine
judgments (Lattimore 87).
Apollo purifies Orestes. The Furies will have none of it. They
accuse Apollo of injustice (162-163), as he does them (217-222).
Agonistic (αγων, agōn. 'contest') form of
justice. New venue for the contest. Trial by persuading jury
rather than by combat. How can both sides agree? Must compete
before impartial jury. Δίκη expressed in a court of law (δικαι,
dikai). Legal justice.
Levels of struggle in Eumenides
- Struggle between offices. Furies have an office (λάχος) to
perform. Apollo interferes.
- Old order vs new order. New gods (150, 162, 731, 778f)
Athena respects their age (848, 882ff). 3.
- τιμή vs ἀτιμία. (timē vs atimia, honor vs
dishonor) Apollo dishonors them (227, 324, 721f). Athena sees
it as a new kind of honor (795-796, 824, 833, 854-5, 890-5,
916-7, 992-3).
- Mutterrecht vs Vaterrecht.
Mother-right vs father-right. Matriarchy vs patriarchy.
Female vs male. (Bachofen)
- Greek vs barbarian (Lattimore 87). Apollo especially sees
the Furies are barbaric.
Furies are older, therefore more childish & barbarian than
Apollo and Athena. Furies stand for woman's right to act. They
represent the Greeks' pre-Hellenic barbarism, archaic strictness
& cruelty. The blood on Orestes' hands matters; his reasons
don't. Motive irrelevant. (Cf. Oedipus' "crimes") (Lattimore
87-88). They are primeval goddesses, daughters of Night,
mercilessly & automatically punish. (Hammond 94).
Apollo stands for Hellenism, civilization, intellect,
enlightenment. Is male and young. He's as ruthless as the
furies, but despises cruelty for its own sake. Olympians are
fighting their own past (Lattimore 88). Furies criticize the way
Zeus took over (Eumenides p. 10 col. 1). Apollo more
aesthetically pleasing. Beautiful rather than monstrous in
appearance. Concerned with form.
The Four Stases Stasis
- The facts (conjecture)
- The meaning or nature of the issue (definition)
- The seriousness of the issue (quality)
- The plan of action (policy).
The Apologia -- Trial of Socrates
Charge -- Corrupting the youths. (Moral panic).
Teaching atheism!
Socrates' Apologia disputes the facts. Says he uses
what we now call the Socratic Method. Just asking questions.
Gadfly (horse fly).
Types of patriotism.
Serve the state with your body.
Serve the state with your mind.
The polis shifts our relationship to the state
- From subjects
- To citizens
SOURCES
Hammond, N. G. L.
"Personal Freedom and Its Limitations in the Oresteia." Aeschylus:
A Collection of Critical Essays. Ed. Marsh H. McCall, Jr.
Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1972. 90-105.
Lattimore, Richmond.
"Introduction to the Oresteia." Aeschylus: A Collection of
Critical Essays. Ed. Marsh H. McCall, Jr. Englewood
Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1972. 73-89.
Nietzsche, Friedrich.
Die Geburt der Tragödie. Sämtliche Werke: Kritische
Studienausgabe in 15 Bänden. Ed. Giorgio Colli and Mazzina
Montinari. Vol. 1. Munich: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag, 1980.
9-156. 15 vols.
Nietzsche, Friedrich.
The Birth of Tragedy. Ed. Oscar Levy. Trans. William A.
Haussmann. Vol. 1. The Complete Works of Friedrich Nietzsche.
1909-1911. New York: Russell & Russell, 1964. 18 vols.
Podlecki, Anthony J. The Political Background of Aeschylean Tragedy. Ann Arbor: U. of Michigan P.,1966.
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