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| Character | Athena | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | Female | |
| Age Range(s) | Young Adult (20-35), Adult (36-50), Senior (>50) | |
| Type of monologue / Character is | Persuasive, Praising | |
| Type | Dramatic | |
| Period | Ancient Greek | |
| Genre | Tragedy, Drama | |
| Description | Athena welcomes the Furies to Athens | |
| Location | End of play | |
Summary
This play concludes the Oresteia trilogy which started with Agamemnon and The Libation Bearers. The first play focuses on Clytemnestra's revenge on Agamemnon for sacrificing their daughter during the Trojan war. She kills him along with his mistress Cassandra. In The Libation Bearers, Orestes, Agamemnon's exiled son, along with his sister Electra, murder their mother and her lover Aegisthus, avenging their father's death. Right after the murder, Orestes is tormented by the Erinyes (Furies), goddesses that avenge patricide or matricide.
The Eumenides about the Furies' wrath on Orestes. They pursue him relentlessly and he is forced to seek the help of Apollo and Hermes. Hermes casts a spell on them and the goddesses fall asleep. After being awaken by Clytemnestra's ghost, they continue their pursuit until Athena intervenes and forces a trial. She invokes a jury of 12 Athenians to judge the case, with Apollo defending Orestes and the furies advocating for Clytemnestra. They decide in favor of Orestes, who leaves and becomes king.
After the trial, to placate the Furies' outrage for the decision, Athena offers them a place in Athens and names them the city's protectors. In this monologue Athena tries to persuade the Furies to accept her offer.
The Eumenides about the Furies' wrath on Orestes. They pursue him relentlessly and he is forced to seek the help of Apollo and Hermes. Hermes casts a spell on them and the goddesses fall asleep. After being awaken by Clytemnestra's ghost, they continue their pursuit until Athena intervenes and forces a trial. She invokes a jury of 12 Athenians to judge the case, with Apollo defending Orestes and the furies advocating for Clytemnestra. They decide in favor of Orestes, who leaves and becomes king.
After the trial, to placate the Furies' outrage for the decision, Athena offers them a place in Athens and names them the city's protectors. In this monologue Athena tries to persuade the Furies to accept her offer.
Written by Administrator
| Excerpt |
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| ATHENA: Not slighted are ye, powers august! through rage Curse not with hopeless blight the abode of man. I too on Zeus rely; why speak of that? And sole among the gods I know the key That opes the halls where sealèd thunder sleeps. But such we need not. Be appeased by me, Nor scatter o'er the land, from froward tongue, The harmful seed that turneth all to bane. Of bitter rage lull ye the murky wave; Be venerated here and dwell with me. Sharing the first fruits of this ample realm, For children offered, and for nuptial rite, This word of mine thou wilt for ever praise. I'll bear thine anger, for mine elder thou, And wiser art, in that regard, than I. Yet me, with wisdom, Zeus not meanly dowers. But if now ye seek some alien soil, Will of this land enamour'd be; of this You I forewarn; for onward-flowing time Shall these my lieges raise to loftier fame; And thou, in venerable seat enshrined Hard by Erectheus' temple, shalt receive Honours from men and trains of women, such As thou from other mortals ne'er may'st win. But cast ye not abroad on these my realms, To waste their building strength, whetstones of blood, Evoking frantic rage not born of wine; Nor, as out-plucking hearts of fighting cocks, Plant ye among my townsmen civil strife, Reckless of kindred blood; let foreign war Rage without stint, affording ample scope For him who burns with glory's mighty rage. No war of home-bred cocks, I ween, is that! Such terms I proffer, thine it is to choose; Blessing and blest, with blessèd rites revered, To share this country dear unto the gods. |
