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- Herausgeber: Booksell-Verlag
- Kategorie: Poesie und Drama
- Sprache: Englisch
The Oresteia Trilogy, Aeschylus's seminal work, is a powerful exploration of justice, revenge, and the dynamics of familial loyalty. Comprising three plays'ÄîAgamemnon, The Libation Bearers, and The Eumenides'Äîthis trilogy unfolds the tragic tale of the House of Atreus, marked by cycles of bloodshed and moral confrontation. Aeschylus employs a rich, lyrical style that masterfully intertwines dialogue and choral interludes, allowing for a profound engagement with themes that resonate through time. The trilogy is often viewed within the context of the transition from archaic to democratic justice in ancient Athens, reflecting the societal upheavals and philosophical inquiries of the era. Aeschylus, regarded as the 'Father of Tragedy', was deeply influenced by the sociopolitical landscape of 5th-century BCE Athens. His experiences as a soldier in the Persian Wars and his engagement with the evolving Athenian democracy informed his dramatic works. The Oresteia Trilogy stands as a culmination of his philosophical reflections on morality, divine retribution, and the complexities of human fate, establishing a narrative that invites scrutiny and discourse surrounding justice and retribution. This unabridged English translation of The Oresteia is essential for both scholars and general readers alike, offering a poignant invitation to witness the foundational narratives of Western tragedy. Through its tragic depth and philosophical richness, this trilogy not only captivates but also challenges readers to reflect on contemporary issues of justice and morality, making it a timeless and necessary read.
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Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023
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The Oresteia Trilogy (Unabridged English Translation)
Table of Contents
Of the life of Aeschylus, the first of the three great masters of Greek tragedy, only a very meager outline has come down to us. He was born at Eleusis, near Athens, B. C. 525, the son of Euphorion. Before he was twenty-five he began to compete for the tragic prize, but did not win a victory for twelve years. He spent two periods of years in Sicily, where he died in 456, killed, it is said, by a tortoise which an eagle dropped on his head. Though a professional writer, he did his share of fighting for his country, and is reported to have taken part in the battles of Marathon, Salamis, and Plataea.
Of the seventy or eighty plays which he is said to have written, only seven survive: "The Persians," dealing with the defeat of Xerxes at Salamis; "The Seven against Thebes," part of a tetralogy on the legend of Thebes; "The Suppliants," on the daughters of Dana's; "Prometheus Bound," part of a trilogy, of which the first part was probably "Prometheus, the Fire-bringer," and the last, "Prometheus Unbound"; and the "Oresteia," the only example of a complete Greek tragic trilogy which has come down to us, consisting of "Agamemnon," "Choephorae" (The Libation-Bearers), and the "Eumenides" (Furies).
The importance of Aeschylus in the development of the drama is immense. Before him tragedy had consisted of the chorus and one actor; and by introducing a second actor, expanding the dramatic dialogue thus made possible, and reducing the lyrical parts, he practically created Greek tragedy as we understand it. Like other writers of his time, he acted in his own plays, and trained the chorus in their dances and songs; and he did much to give impressiveness to the performances by his development of the accessories of scene and costume on the stage. Of the four plays here reproduced, "Prometheus Bound" holds an exceptional place in the literature of the world. (As conceived by Aeschylus, Prometheus is the champion of man against the oppression of Zeus; and the argument of the drama has a certain correspondence to the problem of the Book of Job.) The Oresteian trilogy on "The House of Atreus" is one of the supreme productions of all literature. It deals with the two great themes of the retribution of crime and the inheritance of evil; and here again a parallel may be found between the assertions of the justice of God by Aeschylus and by the Hebrew prophet Ezekiel. Both contend against the popular idea that the fathers have eaten sour grapes and the children's teeth are set on edge; both maintain that the soul that sinneth, it shall die. The nobility of thought and the majesty of style with which these ideas are set forth give this triple drama its place at the head of the literary masterpieces of the antique world.
AGAMEMNON
Agamemnon is one of four Greek tragedies written by Aeschylus in 450 B.C. collectively known as The Oresteia. This English translation of the original work was performed by E. D. A. Morshead, English classicist and teacher.
