Transcript Slides
The Eumenides Acropolis and Environs Areopagus Areopagus The Eumenides • Dramatis personæ – – – – – – – Orestes Clytemnestra (ghost) The Pythia Apollo Athena Chorus 1: Eumenides Chorus 2: Athenian women • Setting – 1: The temple of Apollo at Delphi – 2: The acropolis at Athens • The Plot – Athena and an Athenian court exonerate Orestes and give the Eumenides a new divine role. The Eumenides: Plot – I. At the temple of Apollo in Delphi (1-234) • A. The Pythia’s speech (1-63) – 1. Before entering temple (1-33) » a. History of prophecy at Delphi / Prayer to Apollo and Zeus (1-19) » b. Prayer to Athena, Dionysus, springs, Poseidon, Zeus again (20-31) » c. She enters the temple (32-33) – 2. After entering temple (34-63) » a. She describes her horror (34-38) » b. She retells what she saw (39-59) » c. She calls upon Apollo (61-64) Red-Figure Krater 1 Red-Figure Krater 2 Red-Figure Krater 3 The Eumenides: Plot (cont.) • B. Apollo’s speech (64-93) – – – – – – – – 1. He will defend Orestes (64-66) 2. He has lulled the Eumenides to sleep (66-68) 3. He describes the Eumenides (67-73) 4. He tells Orestes to seek sanctuary at Athena’s temple in Athens (74-80) 5. Foretells the trial and Orestes’ acquittal (81-83) 6. Declares that he did indeed order Orestes to murder Clytemnestra (84) 7. Interruption: Orestes begs Apollo for further aid (85-87) 8. Apollo asks Hermes to accompany Orestes to Athens; invokes Zeus Xenios (88-93) The Eumenides: Plot (cont.) • C. Clytemnestra wakes the chorus (94-139) – 1. She is dishonored for her murder among the dead, but Orestes has gone free (94-105) – 2. She reminds the Eumenides of her sacrifices and their duty (106-116) – 3. She awakens them (117-139) • D. 1st Stasimon: the Eumenides sing of their shame and disgust at Apollo (140-177) – 1. They rouse themselves (140-142) – 2. Their shame at falling asleep... (143-148) – 3. …turns to anger at Apollo, a young god who has unjustly used force against senior citizens (149-154) The Eumenides: Plot (cont.) – 4. They are driven on by the foul murder of Clytemnestra (155-161) – 5. Zeus’ generation rules by force, not by right (162-167) – 6. Apollo has sullied himself and his shrine (169-172) – 7. They vow to fight on (175-178) • E. Apollo appears and argues with the Eumenides (179-234) – 1. Apollo orders them away, threatening and abusing them (179-197) – 2. Stichomythia: Eumenides blame Apollo for his actions and defend their own (198-212) The Eumenides: Plot (cont.) – 3. Apollo accuses them of ignoring Zeus, Hera, and Aphrodite’s rights with their one-sided view (213-224) – 4. The Eumenides refuse to quit (225-231) – 5. Apollo will continue to help Orestes, who sought his help (232-234) – II. Outside the temple of Athena in Athens • A. Orestes argues with the Eumenides (235-298) – – – – 1. He prays to Athena; she does not appear yet (235-244) 2. The Eumenides search for Orestes (245-257) 3. The spy him and sing of his punishment (258-275) 4. Orestes claims he has been purified by Apollo (276286) The Eumenides: Plot (cont.) – 5. He summons Athena; again she does not appear (287298) • B. 2nd Stasimon (299-396) – – – – 1. Orestes must pay (299-306) 2. The Eumenides pursue only the guilty (307-320) 3. Their divine role is ancient (321-359) 4. They perform a necessary service none of the other gods will undertake (360-367) – 5. They bring down the arrogant (368-385) – 6. They are steadfast and right, though terrible (385-396)