1. Aeschylus’ Libation Bearers The Downward Spiral Orestes Aegisthus

2. “Where will it end?” (Chorus, p. 226) Feast of Thyestes Sacrifice of Iphigenia Murder of Agamemnon Murder of Clytemnestra and Aegisthus Feast of Thyestes Sacrifice of Iphigenia Murder of Agamemnon Murder of Clytemnestra and Aegisthus 16-Jul-15 aeschylus libation bearers 2

3. Agenda Issues in Performance Orestes-Electra Recognition Scene (pp. 187–189) Discussion Topic Clytaemnestra: Mother or Monster? Libation Bearers: Introduction to Play Here We Go Again... Libation Bearers Tragic Patterns?... 16-Jul-15 aeschylus libation bearers 3

4. Issues in Performance Orestes-Electra Recognition Scene (pp. 187– 189)

5. Discussion Topic Clytaemnestra: Mother or Monster?

6. Ancillary Considerations Tragedy is?... Clytemnestra sympathetic? Clytemnestra tragic? Matricide... Fitting punishment? “Just” justice? 16-Jul-15 aeschylus libation bearers 6

7. Comment 16-Jul-15 aeschylus libation bearers 7

8. Libation Bearers: Introduction to Play Here We Go Again...

9. Oresteia: Ideological Conflicts manv.woman civic harmonyv.civic chaos persuasionv.violence newv.old JUSTICEv.JUSTICE 16-Jul-15 aeschylus libation bearers 9

10. Libation Bearers Prologue 177 f. Orestes offering of hair Parodos 178 ff. mourning, libations, Clytemnestra’s dream, general foreboding 1st episode (begin) 180 ff. Electra, Leader, Orestes, whole Chorus recognition, reunion Kommos (lyric interlude) 192 ff. Electra, Orestes, Chorus mourning, invocation 1st episode (end) 198 ff. Electra, Leader, Orestes more invocation, Clytemnestra’s dream, plan 1st stasimon 204 f. Clyt’s crime, natura/myth parallels 2nd episode 206 ff. Orestes, Porter, Clyt, Leader, Nurse deception 2nd stasimon 212 f. prayers for justice 3rd episode 213 ff. Aegisthus, Leader, Chorus, Servant, Clytemnestra, Orestes, Pylades killing, agōn, killing 3rd stasimon 219 f. victory song exodos 221 ff. Orestes, Chorus, Leader victory, madness, Furies

11. Associative Poetics Libations Nets Snakes 11-oct-2011 aeschylus libation bearers 11

12. Libation Bearers Tragic Patterns?...

13. Aristotelian Analysis... Complex plot Anagnorisis (recognition) ? Peripeteia (reversal) ? Desis (complication) ? Lusis (resolution) ? Pity, fear, catharsis? 16-Jul-15 aeschylus libation bearers 13

14. Aeschylean Epiphany? verbal ambiguity human visual clarity divine to 16-Jul-15 aeschylus libation bearers 14

15. Tragic Formula? Koros Hubris Atē Dikē 16-Jul-1515 aeschylus libation bearers

16. Orestes with Erinyes

17. Blood-Guilt & Justice on Trial Pollution Purification-retribution Pollution? Guilt? Justice? “Wash old works of blood / in the fresh-drawn blood of justice” (Chorus, p. 212) “What of the future? What of the prophet god Apollo? … Make all mankinf your enemy, not the gods.” (Pylades, p. 217) “Wash old works of blood / in the fresh-drawn blood of justice” (Chorus, p. 212) “What of the future? What of the prophet god Apollo? … Make all mankinf your enemy, not the gods.” (Pylades, p. 217) Orestes purified with blood of piglet 16-Jul-15 aeschylus libation bearers 17

18. ELECTRA: … teach me what to say CHORUS LEADER: Let some god or man come down upon them. ELECTRA: Judge or avenger, which? LEADER: Just say “the one who murders in return.” ELECTRA: How can I ask the gods for that and keep my conscience clear? LEADER: How not, and pay the enemy back in kind? Is dikē hubris? 16-Jul-15 aeschylus libation bearers 18