Orestes by Euripides (405)
The play revolves around the story of Orestes, who returns to Argos after his mother Clytemnestra's murder of his father Agamemnon. Orestes seeks revenge for his father's death and is aided by Apollo, who commands him to avenge his father's killing. Orestes' sister Electra helps him devise a plan to kill their mother and her lover Aegisthus. The play explores the complexities of family dynamics, morality, and the consequences of taking revenge. The chorus provides commentary on the events unfolding, highlighting the tragic nature of the situation and the inevitability of Orestes' actions. Ultimately, Orestes kills his mother and her lover, but is pursued by the Furies for committing matricide. The play raises questions about justice, morality, and the role of the gods in human affairs, leaving the audience to ponder the consequences of Orestes' actions.
By Euripides · First published 405 · Genre: Tragedy, Drama, Classical Literature · 21,225 words
First lines
Composed in 408 BC, this tragedy concerns the aftermath of Orestes' murder of his mother Clytemnestra to avenge the death of his father Agamemnon. In the chronology of events following Orestes, the play takes place after the events contained in plays such as Electra by Euripides or The Libation Bearers by Aeschylus, and before events contained in plays like The Eumenides by Aeschylus and Andromache by Euripides.
What this Textopian page supports
Orestes is listed on Textopian as a play by Euripides, dated 405 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Play
- Author: Euripides
- Date: 405 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Tragedy, Drama, Classical Literature, Mythological, Philosophical
- Length: 21,225 words
- Structure: 1 section, 565 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
- Medea by Euripides
- A Fragment From The Agamemnon Of Aeschylos by Oscar Wilde
- Helen by Euripides
- Electra by Euripides
- Iphigenia At Aulis by Euripides
- The Trachiniae by Sophocles
Genres
- Tragedy — The work explores themes of fate, revenge, and moral conflict, characteristic of tragic literature.
- Drama — The narrative is structured for performance, focusing on intense emotional and psychological conflicts among characters.
- Classical Literature — It reflects the conventions and styles of ancient Greek literature, particularly in its use of dialogue and monologue.
- Mythological — The plot is rooted in mythological themes and characters, drawing from ancient Greek myths.
Tags
Tragedy · Greek Drama · Ancient Greek Literature · Mythology · Family Conflict · Revenge Tragedy · Cyclical Time · Fate vs Free Will · Hubris · Atreus Family · Orestes' Quest · Apollo's Role