Light and Dark: The Yin-Yang of Aeschylus

Paper Summary:

This paper analyzes how various representations of light and dark in Aeschylus's "Agamemnon", part of the "Oresteia", seem to mirror masculinity and femininity, respectively. It explains how these images also show how the play is mostly about how the female attempts to usurp male power, ultimately achieving it. Nevertheless, because there can never be absolute darkness or absolute light, the overthrow of the male can only be temporary.

From the Paper:

"In Aeschylus's Agamemnon, the use of light and dark revolves around their relation to the masculine and the feminine, respectively. Throughout the play, brilliant metaphors and images are used to express this idea, most obviously when related to Agamemnon and Clytaemestra. These images also show how the play is mostly about how the female attempts to usurp male power, ultimately achieving it. Nevertheless, because there can never be absolute darkness or absolute light, the overthrow of the male can only be temporary."

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