Question

The ancient spirits of vengeance, the Furies ensure that no blood crime goes unpunished. They inflict horrible diseases and torment upon those who thwart their laws. Towards the beginning of the play, Orestes tells us how Apollo warned that the Furies would come after him if he failed to avenge Agamemnon's death. Although Orestes obeys and carries out their commands, the Furies do not favor him because of it, but rather come after him at the end of the play after he has committed matricide. The Furies do not play favorites and do not care if their laws tear society apart. In the Eumenides, Athena will negotiate a truce wherein the Furies cede the rights to judge crimes of murder to the law courts of Athens. By doing so, she harnesses and weakens their power.

What is the role of the Furies in The Libation Bearers?

Answer 1

In The Libation Bearers, the Furies represent the relentless enforcement of ancient laws of vengeance, punishing Orestes for matricide despite his obligation to avenge his father. Their power is ultimately moderated by Athena who introduces a new legal order.

Step-by-step explanation:

Role of the Furies in The Libation Bearers

In Aeschylus' The Libation Bearers, the second play of the Oresteia trilogy, the Furies play a crucial role as ancient spirits of vengeance. They enforce the consequences of blood crimes and do not discriminate based on the circumstances surrounding these actions. The protagonist, Orestes, is bound by the ancient law to avenge his father Agamemnon's death by killing his mother Clytemnestra, despite the dire consequences he faces from the Furies for committing matricide. Athena ultimately intervenes, negotiating a truce that transforms the Furies' role and establishes Athenian law courts to adjudicate matters of murder, thus tempering their power and influence.