The Libation Bearers

Definition

The Libation Bearers is the second play in Aeschylus's Oresteia trilogy, focusing on themes of revenge, justice, and familial duty. It centers on Orestes, who returns home to avenge his father Agamemnon's murder by killing his mother Clytemnestra and her lover Aegisthus. This play continues the exploration of divine and human justice and the cycle of vengeance that pervades Greek tragedy.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Libation Bearers is set in Argos, where Orestes plots his revenge against Clytemnestra and Aegisthus with the help of his sister Electra.
2. The play is known for its exploration of justice as Orestes struggles between avenging his father's death and dealing with the moral implications of killing his mother.
3. The act of carrying libations is symbolic; it represents both a ritualistic offering to the dead and the weight of familial duty that Orestes bears.
4. The play emphasizes the tension between old codes of vengeance and emerging concepts of justice, which is a central theme throughout the Oresteia trilogy.
5. The Libation Bearers ends with Orestes killing Aegisthus and Clytemnestra, leading to his ultimate pursuit by the Furies, setting up the conflict that will be resolved in The Eumenides.

Review Questions

• How does Orestes' internal conflict illustrate the theme of justice in The Libation Bearers?
  • Orestes' internal conflict showcases the theme of justice by highlighting the struggle between personal vengeance and moral righteousness. He is torn between his obligation to avenge his father's murder and the horror of committing matricide. This tension represents a larger societal shift from old forms of retributive justice towards a more civilized approach that will be fully explored in The Eumenides.
• Analyze how Aeschylus uses the Chorus in The Libation Bearers to reflect societal views on revenge and justice.
  • In The Libation Bearers, Aeschylus uses the Chorus as a moral compass that reflects the societal views on revenge and justice. Their songs express anxiety about Orestes’ planned revenge while also upholding traditional values that demand retribution for murder. This duality emphasizes the conflicting beliefs within society about justice, where honor demands vengeance but moral implications complicate this duty.
• Evaluate the impact of divine intervention versus human agency in The Libation Bearers as presented by Aeschylus.
  • In The Libation Bearers, Aeschylus presents a complex interplay between divine intervention and human agency. While Orestes feels compelled to avenge his father under divine instruction from Apollo, his actions lead to dire consequences that raise questions about free will versus fate. This tension sets up a deeper examination of justice as it evolves into a more structured system in The Eumenides, suggesting that human choices must align with ethical considerations rather than purely fulfilling blood debts.

Related terms

Oresteia:

A trilogy of Greek tragedies written by Aeschylus, comprising Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers, and The Eumenides, which collectively explore themes of justice, revenge, and the evolution of societal laws.

Furies: Supernatural beings in Greek mythology who represent vengeance and retribution; they play a significant role in The Eumenides as the embodiment of Orestes' guilt for killing his mother.

Chorus:

A group of performers in Greek drama who comment on the action and themes of the play, often reflecting the thoughts and feelings of society or providing moral insight.