1 The Living Art of Greek Tragedy Marianne McDonald, Ph.D., MRIA ...

He is seduced onto the carpet by Clytemnestra who plays on his vanity. By walking on
the carpet, Agamemnon shows his lack of restraint and contempt for public opinion. Like an
animal victim in ancient sacrifices that nods its head when water is sprinkled on it, just before its
throat is cut, Agamemnon, when he walks on the carpet, symbolically consents to his own
slaughter. This carpet has offered directors an opportunity for showing important symbolism.
Cassandra's mad scene before she enters the palace is a coup de théâtre. It is only topped
by Clytemnestra's mad exultation after killing her husband and his concubine. The sexual
imagery of her speech builds up to the climax of her saying that she was refreshed by his blood
pouring over her as the crops in spring are refreshed by the rain. The denouement when
Aegisthus appears, and Clytemnestra calms him, is seen to be merely the lull before the next
storm. Agamemnon may have committed the first crime, but Clytemnestra has committed the
next. It calls for vengeance.
Libation Bearers
In this second play in the Oresteian trilogy Orestes had a genuine dilemma, and no
solution was good: kill his mother and satisfy the command of Apollo, but violate the laws of
man, and be hounded by his mother's Furies, or not kill her and suffer from not avenging his
father as commanded by Apollo. A real no-win situation. Orestes opts for following Apollo.
This play is the tautest dramatically and is an exciting adventure story: we are in suspense
for fear Agamemnon's children will be apprehended, and at the same time eager to see how they
will achieve their vengeance. The chorus (of young foreign female servants) again has the most
lines, and they take an active role in the drama. They are unlike the old men in the first play who
do nothing to help Agamemnon when he cries for help.
The play opens with Orestes praying to Hermes, the guide to the underworld, to help him
avenge his father. The chorus enters with a grieving Electra. Clytemnestra has had a nightmare
about a snake biting her breast, and blood flowing from the wound. She sends the chorus to offer
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