Justice In Orestes

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murder of
Iphegenia at Aulis was pure outrage. "Yes he had the heart to sacrifice his
daughter , to bless the war�" (Agamemnon lines 222-223) Agamemnon killed his
own blood relation in order to sail for Troy. This too, is a terrible crime,
seemingly of the same weight as Orestes' act. Clytaemnestra believed she was
justified in avenging her daughter, because her husband violated a sacred tenant
of the old gods. "Here is Agamemnon, my husband made a corpse by this right
hand�a masterpiece of justice. Done is done." (Agamemnon lines 1429-1431) This
shows a clear morality behind Clytaemnestra's motives. She appears to have
justification for her actions. The curse on the House of Atreus is fulfilled.
In the last lines of Agamemnon the chorus foreshadows Orestes' return.
Clytaemnestra responds by saying to her new husband, "We will set the house in
order once for all." (Agamemnon lines 1708) The chorus's purpose for suggesting
Orestes's return is to show that the house is ...

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ancient law of retaliation, which states that blood must be paid for with
more blood, is enforced by the Furies. This task was given to them by Destiny
at the dawn of time. "�you'll give me blood for blood, you must!� Wither you
alive, drag you down and there you pay, agony for mother-killing agony!"
(Eumenides lines 262, 265) Their concept of justice is one where the law of
retaliation is applied absolutely. They have no notion of compassion or
understanding. They uphold the belief that regardless of circumstances, Orestes
must be made to pay for his crime of matricide. The Furies represent something
older and more sacred which Apollo and Zeus do not respect.

Athena's ...

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