Summary:
In the Greek play, the Oresteia, suffering acts as a vital role in the lives of the main characters. One character, the chorus, discusses suffering at great length. The chorus is made up of old men who were too old to fight against Troy, and who often give the audience an inside view to the actions happening on stage.
In the Greek play, the Oresteia, suffering acts as a vital role in the lives of the main characters. One character, the chorus, discusses suffering at great length. The chorus is made up of old men who were too old to fight against Troy, and who often give the audience an inside view to the actions happening on stage.
The chorus sites hubris, the Greek word referring to mortal pride or arrogance, as being the cause of many bad fates. Someone guilty of hubris aspires to be more and do more than what the gods allow, resulting in severe punishment and a tragic destiny. As an example, the chorus recites the story of Ouranus in lines 168-175 of Agamemnon. They tell of his pride and arrogance, and how both ultimately led to his fall. They continue to list two of his successors who suffered the same fate. Hubris is also discussed in lines 461-470, explaining that, "The gods are not blind to men who... unjustly prosper." The chorus views this arrogance as a terrible offense to the gods, and warns all those who dare set themselves beyond Justice to limit their belongings to what they need and what the gods allot them. They offer this warning so that all people might "avoid this suffering," (Agamemnon, lines 370-381).
But once someone commits hubris or any other offense towards the gods, can their fate be changed? The chorus suggests that one's destiny is set and unchanging, leading to a great deal of suffering. In lines 67-72 of Agamemnon, they chant, "It is the way of Destiny/ that what will be, will be,/ and neither by burning offerings on high,/ nor pouring sacred wine below,/ can you calm the relentless rage." Nearly as often as Destiny is discussed, pain and suffering are included. In line 130, the chorus speaks of Troy as, "doomed to Destiny's death." The chorus never speaks of fate nor destiny in a positive manner, because they view both as the fundamental causes of human suffering. This idea is especially apparent in lines 1535-1536 when they sing, "The sword of Justice is being sharpened/ on the grindstone of Destiny to cut more pain." The chorus views Justice and Destiny as cause and effect. In their view, when someone commits hubris, the justice they receive shapes their destiny.
Knowledge of one's destiny, however, appears to be the greatest cause of suffering to the chorus. In line 253 of Agamemnon, they state that "to know the future is to bring sorrow in advance." This statement is proven later on when the chorus speaks with Cassandra, a slave woman who becomes aware of her own death; to occur that very day. One member says to her, "I am gripped with deadly pain,/ it breaks my heart to know/ your fearful fortune..." (lines 1164-1166). The chorus has already expressed their contempt for fate as the being the root of all suffering, so it is rational that they would consider knowledge of this fate all the more horrendous. If one were to be given a terrible destiny, how much worse would it be to become aware of it? In line 1295, the chorus directly refers to this knowledge as suffering.
So is there an answer to this suffering? In the third part of The Oresteia, the Eumenides, a second chorus, a group of horrid women known as "The Furies," believe that they hold the destiny of mortals who have killed their own blood. In pursuit of one such criminal, the Furies sing, "Our share of the thread/ spun by the spirits of Destiny,/ woven in permanent place," (lines 334-336). They believe that Destiny cannot be changed and that they must carry out the punishments owed. Later, they question why any man would not shudder in fear at Destiny's decree, (lines 389-392). Their authority is also acknowledged from higher gods. In lines 475-478, Athena, the daughter of Zeus, comments, "But Destiny has allotted their place, and it cannot/ simply be dismissed."
However, the case presented in Eumenides proves that Destiny, what the Furies believe to be permanent, can be changed. However, it can only be changed if the situation fits a certain criteria. For example, a mortal who commits hubris is not able to change his destiny. The mortal at trial in the Eumenides, Orestes, committed a crime that the god Apollo told him to do, (line 84). Through the whole trial, Apollo is brought up as being the instigator of the crime, much to the annoyance of the Furies, "These new gods, this is how they behave,/ their power exceeds the bands of justice," (lines 162-163). The Furies become increasingly frustrated that the young, "new" gods are twisting the ancient laws, (lines 171-172). They rant later about how Apollo had previously persuaded the spirits of Destiny to change their plans, (723-724). At his trial, Orestes testifies that Apollo told him to kill his mother, (lines 465-469), and after a split vote by a jury, Athena votes in favor of Orestes, he is acquitted, and his fate is changed. Predictably, the Furies react in outrage, crying out twice, "You young gods have ridden roughshod over/ the ancient ways,/ wrenched them from our grasp./ We are dishonored and dejected,/ and our anger rises..." (lines 778-781 and 808-811).
In this case, Orestes's suffering was answered. His fate was changed. However, it is important to note that Orestes did not commit hubris. He did not go out of the bounds of what the gods had set for him. Apollo told him to kill his mother, and he obeyed. Even though this contradicted the laws of the Furies, the help of the young, "new" gods prevailed. So, an answer to suffering is found in the end, but only for certain cases. Even in the final verses, a hint of change is found in the voice of the Furies, "All -seeing Zeus/ and Destiny, unite to seal our truce," (lines 1045-1046). It appears to be a case of a new generation of gods taking over an out-of-date decree.
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