36 pages • 1 hour read •
Eumenides
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Book Brief
48
Play • Fiction
Ancient Greece
458
Penguin Classics
Adult
15-18 years
Super Short Summary
In Eumenides by Aeschylus, Orestes seeks purification after killing his mother Clytemnestra to avenge his father. Pursued by the Furies, he turns to Apollo and then Athena for help. Athena organizes a trial in Athens, where Apollo argues for Orestes's acquittal successfully. The Furies, initially enraged, are pacified by Athena and transformed into the Eumenides, protectors of justice.
Mysterious
Dark
Suspenseful
Contemplative
Emotional
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Aeschylus’ Eumenides is lauded for its rich examination of justice, divine intervention, and societal order. Critics appreciate its profound philosophical themes and dramatic culmination of the Oresteia trilogy. However, some find its dense Greek mythology challenging and its pacing uneven. Overall, it remains a pivotal work in classical literature, praised for its thematic depth and dramatic intensity.
Who Should Read Eumenides?
Readers who enjoy ancient Greek tragedies, themes of justice and fate, and moral dilemmas will appreciate Aeschylus' Eumenides. Fans of works like Sophocles' Oedipus Rex and Shakespeare’s Hamlet will find its exploration of divine influence on human affairs compelling.
Apollo
Apollo
The young Greek god who advocates for Orestes, having directed him to avenge his father’s murder, and argues on his behalf during the trial.
Athena
Athena
The wise and powerful Greek goddess who initiates and oversees Orestes’s trial, seeking a resolution to the conflict between the older and newer gods.
Chorus (Furies)
Chorus (Furies)
A group of fearsome goddesses who pursue Orestes, representing ancient justice and retribution for blood crimes.
Ghost of Clytemnestra
Ghost of Clytemnestra
The spirit of Orestes's mother, who appears briefly to remind the Furies of their duty to avenge her murder.
Eumenides is the third and final play in Aeschylus' Oresteia trilogy, which is the only complete trilogy of Greek tragedies that has survived from antiquity.
The title "Eumenides" translates to "the kindly ones," a euphemistic name for the Furies, reflecting the play's themes of justice and transformation.
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The play includes a dramatic trial scene that is considered one of the earliest depictions of a court of law in Western literature.
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48
Play • Fiction
Ancient Greece
458
Penguin Classics
Adult
15-18 years
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