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The Libation Bearers (2000)

by Aeschylus(Favorite Author)

3.61 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

1593772807 (ISBN13: 9781593772802)

languge

English

genre

Fantasy

publisher

Hayes Barton Press

series

Ορέστεια

review 1: A beautiful tragedy written by a master playwright! I loved the language and characterization of the play. It is a play about vengeance, which is considered just by the gods. According to them, bloodstain cannot be washed up but with more bloodshed. Thus, Orestes was asked by Apollo to avenge his father, and thus fulfilling the divine plan. However, this plan will bring him the fury and harmful consequences in the future, but he accepts what the god Apollo asked him to do. And Aeschylus gave hints that this will be the last blood, and Orestes will not be punished for it, as Apollo guaranteed. What I find a bit surprising in the play is that there is no value for family ties, the relationships among the family members were free from affections, respect, and love; no love is... more there between the married couples, nor love between children and their mother, even the relationship between Electra and her brother is cold. Moreover, the news about the death of Orestes did not move his mother neither the killing of his mother - and her supplications to spare her life - moved Orestes’ heart, who favored commitment to gods’ dictation, as well as his duties toward his father rather than his mother. At the same time, I find the play, as an ancient tragedy, a great one that sheds light on the human condition, namely, his relationship to Gods and the role of fate in humans life.
review 2: In this second part of the trilogy that began with Agamemnon, we see the continued tragedies that affect the house of Atreus. Orestes returns and carries out revenge on his mother and uncle. The issues dealt with include that conflicting part of the Greek religion -- carrying out justice for a family member but also killing a family member. Orestes hears from the chorus a dream had by his mother of her nursing a snake (dragon) that drinks all of her curdled blood. He returns as a stranger under the guise of announcing his own death. He slays Aegisthus immediately and his own mother after arguing the matter with her. At the end, he knows that the same curse of the family will now come after him. Biographical notes: Aeschylus lived from 525 to 456 BC. Like Socrates and other of his contemporaries, he fought at Marathon. He is considered the founder of Greek tragedy and won many competitions at these regular events. This trilogy is the only full trilogy remaining. less

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