The Furies throughout the play intrigued me. They are some sort of curse and "goddesses of the Earth" (120). While they sleep the ghost of Cytaemnestra comes to rouse them of their slumber. They are interesting creatures because they seek justice for the dead. Throughout the play they are out to get Orestes. When the leader of the furies says, "Lord Apollo, now it is your turn to listen. You are no mere accomplice in this crime. You did it all, and all the guilt is yours" (196-198), I am confused. Even if the leader blames it all on Apollo, the furies still hold Orestes accountable for killing his own blood. Yet, the fact that she killed his father does not count because they were only married? So it is only wrong to murder if it is your flesh and blood? Then after a lot of arguing we finally get to the trial, and they lose. Athena sides with Orestes because "the woman you call the mother of the child is not the parent, just a nurse to the seed" (665-667).
Though Athena sides with Orestes, she still rewards the furies. Is it just because they threaten to curse the land or? Either way, the furies now get to share the city with Athena. Their characters reverse from blood thirst and fury to praying that "Fury like a beast will never rampage through the land. Give joy in return for joy, one common will for love, and hate with one strong heart; such union heals a thousand ills of man" (991-96). I just do not understand how they are so quick to side with Athena change their views from hate to love.
I commented on Darby and Daniel's post.
Those are super interesting observations. The Furies are very quick to change their perspectives on true justice when they are being offered a reward to do so.
ReplyDeleteThe furies don't seem very fitting to their name. They changed their minds so quickly when it was in their favor. They shouldn't even be named in a way that references to "fury".
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