The OresteiaHe who learns must suffer. Before setting out for the Trojan War, King Agamemnon sacrificed his daughter Iphigenia. Many years later, when Agamemnon returns to his palace, his adulterous Queen Clytemnestra takes her revenge by brutally murdering him and installing her lover on the throne. How will the gods judge Orestes, their estranged son, who must avenge his father's death by murdering his mother? The curse of the House of Atreus, passing from generation to generation, is one of the great myths of Western literature. In the hands of Aeschylus, the story enacts the final victory of reason and justice over superstition and barbarity. The original trilogy, comprising Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers and Eumenides, is distilled into one thrilling three-act play in this magnificent new translation by award-winning playwright Rory Mullarkey. |
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Aegisthus Aeschylus Agamemnon Apollo’s oracle Argos Atreus black Furies Blood for blood blood-mad body breath bring brother Calchas Cassandra screams child Chorus of Furies Cilissa citizens city’s coming curse d’you dead death deed didn’t Electra exile eyes father father’s fear friends Ghost of Clytemnestra god’s gods goes inside gone Greek grief gutted hands happened happy hate he’s hear heart Herald Hermes hopeful stay Hopeless and hopeless hopeless say house’s husband I’ve intentionally left blank justice killed king king’s land libations listen look man’s Menelaus mighty mother Night mother’s blood murder never Oresteia Orestes and Pylades pain Phocis pray prayers Priam queen sacrifices slaughtered slave someone speak good things spilled stand stop Strophius suffer swift sword tell There’s They’re things tonight Thyestes tongue trap triumph Troy vanquished vengeance We’re What’s who’s wife woman women wrath you’re You’ve Zeus