Final answer:
The Furies drive Orestes crazy to punish him for his crimes of killing his mother and her lover. They represent the cycle of violence and the need for reason and reconciliation.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Greek mythology, the Furies were ancient goddesses responsible for avenging crimes, particularly those committed within a family. In the play 'The Eumenides' by Aeschylus, the Furies drive Orestes crazy to punish him for killing his mother, Clytemnestra, and her lover, Aegisthus, as revenge for their murder of his father, Agamemnon.
The Furies represent the cycle of violence and the consequences of committing acts of violence, highlighting the importance of reason and reconciliation over revenge.