Discrediting Orestes' Trial

Paper Summary:

This paper analyzes Aeschylus' play, "The Eumenides." It specifically focuses on Orestes' trial. It looks at the two parties involved in his trial and the misleading notions in Apollo's speech. The paper also discusses modern society's notion of there being a greater burden on motherhood than fatherhood and how this notion relates to "The Eumenides."

From the Paper:

"Many view Aeschylus' trilogy as a work of patriarchal sexism, designed to further deteriorate the importance of female roles in society. Aeschylus uses Orestes' trial to belittle motherhood as it is juxtaposed to fatherhood. Although logical and warranted on the surface, Apollo's arguments can be easily destructed once it is analyzed in fragments, for deeper examinations. The relationships between human children and their mothers are incomparable to that of human children and their fathers. Not only do all mothers contribute an equal share of biological genes to their infants, they also carry and nourish their babies for nine months, during which they are the sole individuals dictating the fate of their newborns. Finally, the example of Athena's birth is extraneous to the trial, as is Orestes' potential contribution to the future of Athens. Thus, if Aeschylus truly intended to advance the depreciation of women in society, he did this under a prejudiced court without substantial evidence of proof as to why fatherhood is more significant than motherhood."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Aeschylus, The Eumenides. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1953.

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