Oresteia Act II Two Misconceptions

Oresteia Act II: two misconceptions

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TheTangledWaysofZeus:AndOtherStudiesInandAroundGreekTragedyAlanH.Sommerstein

Printpublicationdate:2010PrintISBN-13:9780199568314PublishedtoOxfordScholarshipOnline:September2010DOI:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199568314.001.0001

OresteiaActII:twomisconceptionsAlanH.Sommerstein(ContributorWebpage)

DOI:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199568314.003.0013

AbstractandKeywords

ThischapterdrawsattentiontotwomisconceptionsaboutAeschylus'Choephoroi.Itpointsout,firstly,thatElectraisrecommendedtopray(11021),andthendoespray(13044),forthereturnofOrestesandthecomingofsomeonewhowillavengeAgamemnon'smurder,asiftheseweretwoentirelyseparatethings;nottillsheandwehearofApollo'soracle(26996)doesshelearnthatOresteshimselfmustbetheavenger.Secondly,Apollo'soracleasatfirstreportedcontainsnopromiseofprotection,onlycommandsandthreats;thefirstmentionofapromisecomesonlyatlines10323,anduntilthentheaudiencecannotbesurethatApollowillnotlettheendlesscycleofrevengecontinueindefinitely.

Keywords:revenge,Choephoroi,Orestes,Electra,Apollo,oracle,avenger,protection


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TheproblemtowhichIwanttodrawyourattentionisonethatwekeepmeeting,indeedonethatwecan'treallyavoid,inthestudyofsomethingthathasbeenstudiedsolongandsointensivelyasGreektragedy.Itisthatbecauseweusuallyknowexactlyhowaplayendsbeforewehavebeguntoseeit,wefinditdifficulttorememberthattheoriginalaudiencedidnothavethispreciseknowledge.

Theywerenot,ofcourse,completelyignorant,andcertainlynotinthisparticularcase.ThestoryofhowAgamemnonwasmurderedtheyhadseenalreadyinAgamemnon.ThestoryofhowOrestesreturnedandkilledhisfather'smurderers,oneofwhomwashismother,hadbeentoldmanytimesbefore,andmoreoverthismatricidehadbeenpredictedinthepreviousplay,inthepropheciesofCassandra.Sotheoriginalaudienceknew,aswedo,thatOresteswasgoingtoreturnandkillhismother.Oresteshimself,ofcourse,alsoknowsthathemustkillhismother,becauseApollohastoldhimso.

ButwhataboutElectra?WhenOrestesarrivesatthebeginningoftheplay,heverysoonseesanumberofwomencomingalongwiththegravegiftswhichgivetheplayitsname.HerecognizesoneofthemashissisterElectra,andheconcealshimself.ThusElectrapraysfordivineaidagainsttheusurpersatatimewhen,unknowntoher,Orestesisactuallypresent.GiventhatweknowthatOresteshasreturnedandintendstokillthetwomurderers,itisveryeasyforustotakeitforgrantedthatsheisprayingforOrestestodojustthat.Letuslook,though,atwhatisactuallysaid.AtfirstElectraisnotsurewhattoprayfor,andsheaskstheoldwomenslavesofthechorusforadvice.Forwhom,sheasks(110),shouldIseekthefavourofthegods?Foryourself,andforallwhohateAegisthus.Youmean,(p.190) therefore,foryouandme?ShouldIaddanybodyelse?Andtheyreply,RememberOrestes(115).Shethanksthemforthisgoodadvice,andthen,andonlythen,theygoon(11721)torecommendthatsheshouldmakementionofthoseresponsibleforthemurder,andpraythatsomegodormortalmanwillcometokillthemintheirturn.

Somegodormortalman:theydon'texpectittobeOrestes,becausetheyhavealreadymentionedOrestesseparately.Rather,theyaresuggestingthatElectrashouldprayfortwodistinctblessings:first,thereturnofOrestes;secondly,thecomingofanavenger.Andthatiswhatshedoes.Addressingthespiritofherfather,sheprays:Pityme,andmakeourdearOrestesshinelikealightforthishouse.Ibegyouandhearme,fatherthatbysometurnoffateOrestesmaycomehere(1309).Sheaddsashortprayerforherself(1401),andthencontinues:Sucharemyprayersforourselves;forourenemies,Iaskforsomeonetoappeartoavengeyou,andthatthemurderersdieinjustrequitalforwhattheydid(1424).Justasthechorusleaderrecommended,twoseparateprayers,oneforthereturnofOrestes,theotherforthecomingofanavenger.Afterher,thechorusinsongalsoprayforthecomingofanavenger,whomtheydescribe(1603)asastrongmanwithaspear,awargodbrandishinghisbowincombat,readyfortheworkoffightinghandtohandandswordtosword.That'sneverOrestes,whoisaveryyoungman(andtheyareperfectlyawareofhisage)withnoexperienceofcombat.

We,theaudience,knowandtheoriginalaudienceknewtoothatElectra'stwoprayers,thoughdistinctinintention,wereineffectoneandthesame.ButElectradoesn'tknow


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this,andthatiswhatiscalleddramaticirony.Andtheironycontinues.WhenElectracomesfacetofacewiththeunknownpersonwhoisinfactOrestes,shestilldoesn'tknowthatheistheonewhowillhavetokillthemurderersoneofthemhismotherandhers.Whenheproveshisidentitytoher,shestilldoesn'tknow.Whenshejoyfullyembraceshimandcallshimherfather,hermother,hersister,andherbrotherinone(23843),shestilldoesn'tknow.WhenhethenpraystoZeusforaid(24663),shestilldoesn'tknowbecauseinthatprayerhemakesnomentionoftherevengekilling,askingonlytoberestored(p.191) tohisrightfulplaceinthehouseandcity,withnomentionofhowthismaybebroughtabout.

WhendoesElectraknowthetruth?OnlywhenOrestes,inhislongest(oratleasthislongestsurviving)speechinthetrilogy,tellsherandthechorusandusofwhatApollosaidtohimatDelphi:heorderedmetopassthroughallthesedangerstellingofviolenttormentsthatwouldchillmyheart,ifIdidnotpursuethosewhocontrivedmyfather'sdeathinthesamemannermeaningImustkilltheminreturn(2704).WeknewApollohadmadethatdemand(thoughweprobablydidn'tknowtillnowjusthowghastlywerethemenacesthataccompaniedit);toElectraitisaboltfromtheblue.

Atleast,however,thereseemstobesomereassurance:ApollohaspromisedOresteshissupport.Well,hashe,actually?Oristhatjustanotherpieceofhindsight?Weknow,orthinkweknow,thatApollowillprotectOrestesfromtheavengingspiritsofhismother(herErinyesorFuries)afterhehaskilledher.Howdoweknowthis?Inthefirstplace,becausethatiswhatactuallyhappenslaterinthetrilogy.Fine,butwehaven'tseentheendofthetrilogyyet.Secondly,becauseitalsohappened(thoughnotinquitethesameway)inanimportantearlierversionofthestory(bythelyricpoetStesichorus).1Fineagain,buthowcanwebesurethatthisdramatizationisgoingtofollowthesametrack?EvenfromthescantyinformationwepossessaboutStesichorus'Oresteia,wecanseethatAeschylushasalreadymadeonequitesignificantchange(havingClytaemestrakillAgamemnonwithaswordinsteadofanaxe),2andifwehadbetterinformationwewoulddoubtlessfindhehadmadeseveralmore.Atthispoint,therefore,ouronlyevidenceforanypromisebyApolloconsistsintheopeningwordsofthisspeechbyOrestes:Apollo'sgreatandmightyoraclewillnotbetrayme(26970).Thatcertainlydoessoundreassuring.Butitsoundsagooddealmorereassuringtousthanitcanhavedonetotheoriginalaudience,becausewecanlookaheadtothenextplay,whenthesamewordswillberepeatedby(p.192) Apolloinperson(Eumenides646),andthentheyreallywillbeanassuranceandapromise:

NeverwillIbetrayyou:Iwillbeyourguardiantotheend,andwhetherIstandneartoyouorfarfromyou,Iwillnotbekindlytoyourenemies.

Butonceagain,wehaven'theardthatyet.WhenOrestesnow,beforetheevent,talksaboutApollo'soracle,hesaysagreatdealaboutdarkandterriblemenacesofwhatwillbefallhimifhedoesnotcarryouthisrevenge;hesaysnotonewordaboutanyprotectionthatwillbegivenhimifhedoes.

HowlongisitbeforeweknowthatOrestescanindeedcountonApollo'sprotection?


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WhentheplottersimmediatelyproceedtomaketheirlonglamentandprayeratAgamemnon'stomb(306509),theymakeappealstoalargenumberofgodsZeus,theEarth,theunderworldgods,theErinyes,PersephonethequeenofHadesaswellastothemightyspiritofAgamemnonhimself.OfApollotheymakenomentionnor,indeed,ofanyoftheothergodsoftheupperworld,ofOlympus(forwhentheyspeakofZeus,3theymakeitclearthattheyaretalkingabouttheotherZeus,theZeusbelow,aeuphemisticnameforHades).*ThereisnothingheretosuggestthatOrestescanlooktoanyoftheOlympiansforprotection.WhenOrestesthereafterexplainshisplottoElectraandthechorus,westilldon'tknowhehasapromisefromApollo.Whenhegainsadmissiontothehouse,westilldon'tknow.WhenAegisthusisluredtothehousealone,westilldon'tknow.Whensonandmotheractuallyconfronteachother,westilldon'tknow.Neartheclimaxofthatconfrontation(924)shewarnshimBewareyourmother'swrathfulhounds!athreatofthetormentingfuryoftheErinyes.Orestes'obviousreplywouldbeWhyshouldIbeafraidofyourwrathfulhounds?IknowApollowillkeepmesafefromthem.Hesaysnothingofthesort.Whathedoessayis:IfIfailtodothis,howcanIescapemyfather'sErinyes?Inotherwords:IknowI'mdamnedifIdo;butI'malsodamnedifIdon't.

Alittleearlier,Oresteshadhesitatedforamoment,whenhismotherhadappealedtothemostbasictiesofnurtureandshownhimthebreastthathehadoncesucked.Heturnstothefriendwho(p.193) hasaccompaniedhimsilentlyallthroughtheplay,andasksPylades,whatshallIdo?ShouldIsparemymother'slife?(899).Here,again,wasthemomentforareassuringreply;buthedoesnotgetone.Instead,speakingfortheonlytimeintheplay,Pyladessays:WherewouldthatleaveApollo'soracledeliveredatDelphi?Wherewoulditleaveyourfaithful,bindingoath?Makeanyoneyourenemy,ratherthanthegods(9002).Inotherwords:ifyoudon'tdoit,youwillhavetoface,notonlytheavengingspiritsofyourfather,butalsothewrathofApollo.

Evenafterthekilling,whenOrestesappearsstandingoverthebodiesofthetwousurpersandmurderers,anddisplaysforalltoseetherobeinwhichhisfatherwastrappedandslain,eventhenwestillhaveheardnothingofanypromiseofprotectionbyApollo.ButthereisonestrangethingaboutOrestes'appearancenow.Hestillhashisswordinhisrighthand,butinhislefthandhehasanolivebranchwreathedinwool(mentionedat1035),thesymbolofthesuppliant.Whatdoesthismean?Weareabouttohear.TheErinyes,hetellsus,arealreadyattackinghimmentally,hefeelshimselfonthebrinkofmadness(10215),andthenhecontinues:

WhileIstillhavemysanity,IproclaimtomyfriendsthatIkilledmymothernotwithoutjusticethepollutedmurdererofmyfather,loathedbythegodsandthepowerthatinducedmetodarethisdeedwas,morethananythingelse,ApollotheseerofDelphi,whoseoracletoldmethatifIdidthisIwouldbebeyondthechargeofwickedness,butifIfailedIshallnottellthepunishmentofthat;noonecouldshootanarrowhighenoughtohitit.(102634)

Sonowatlast,morethan96percentofthewaythroughthisplay,morethantwothirdsofthewaythroughthewholeOresteia,weatlastknowthatApolloisnotgoingtoletthis


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endlesscycleofrevengecontinueindefinitely.Hehasmadeapromise,andOrestes,ashegoesontotellus,isgoingtoDelphitobeghimtofulfilit.Tillnow,wehadthought,Electrahadthought,thechorushadthought,thattherewasnowayoutforOrestes,anymorethantherehadbeenforallthosewhohadsufferedinthepreviousplay.Andnow,atlast,itseemsthatApollohasinfactpromisedhisprotection,and(ifwethinkaboutitbutwealmostcertainlywon't)thatOrestesknewthisallalong.

(p.194) ButthehorrendousErinyesarealreadyonhistrail.Hecanfeelthemwarpinghismind.Andthensuddenly(1048)heseesthem(which,atthisstage,nooneelsecan)andfleesinheadlongterror.

Sowhatisgoingtohappennow?Canwetell?Doweknow?Itissignificantthatthelastwordsofthisplayareanunansweredquestion:wherewillitend,wherewillthepowerofRuingotosleep?Theyhavenoidea.ItwilltakeanotherplaytoprovideananswerandprobablynooneinthatAthenianaudiencecouldhaveremotelyguessedwhattheanswerwasgoingtobe:hereandnow,amongyourselves,inAthens.Iurgeyou,whenyouhaveseenthisplay,togetacquaintedwiththatsequel,Eumenides.PerhapsyoumaythenperceivewhyIfounditsoutterlyappropriatethatwhenIpublishedaneditionofEumenides,itsofficialpublicationdate(namedinadvancenohindsighthere!)was9November1989:thedayofthebreakingoftheBerlinWall.4

Addendump.192whiletheZeusofCho.3825certainlyistheZeusbelow,thereisnoparticularreasontodoubtthatthementionsofZeusinCho.395and409refertothesupremegodofOlympus.Itremainstrue,however,thatinboththesepassagesthereisalso,incloseproximity,prominentmentionofchthonicpowers(399hearme,Earth,andyouhonouredgodsbelow;4057seeus,youmightyrulersoftheunderworld,andyouCursesofthedead).

Notes:(1)StesichorusPMG217.

(2)InStesichorusPMG219,Clytaemestradreamsofseeingasnakewiththetopofitsheadallbloodied,whichimpliesanaxeblowfromabove.ThatherweaponinAeschylusisaswordwasshownbyFraenkel(1950:iii.8069);thecounterargumentsofDavies(1987)wereansweredbySommerstein(1989c)andPrag(1991).

(3)Cho.3825:Zeus,Zeus,whosendsupfrombelowavengingruin,soonorlate,againstaudacious,recklesshumanviolence.

(4)Thischapter,whichoriginatedasapreperformancetalkgivenbeforeaproductionofChoephoroi(underthetitleGraveGifts)bytheActorsofDionysus,wasfirstpublishedinDionysus(York)14(2000)202.IammostgratefultotheActorsofDionysusforgivingpermissionforthisrepublication.Asinthe2000publication,Ihaveleftreferencestotheoriginaloccasionofdeliveryunchanged,thoughafewfootnoteshavebeenaddedinthepresentversion.


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Oresteia Act II Two Misconceptions