IRONY
Breanna Poole
Where The Libation Bearer really shines is that it's very ironic.
Electra and Orestes are obsessed with finding justice for their father's murder at the hands of Clytemnestra, years later still traumatized by the events that occurred. And that justice includes killing the woman responsible -- their mother -- along with her lover. This is exactly what Clytemnestra did in retaliation for her daughter's death, killing the man responsible and his own lover.
Electra is treated as being this pinnacle of goodness, grief-ridden by her father's death years after the event has taken place. And this is true, in many respects, because she comes to the temple with an army of women to mourn and crying out to the gods for them to grant justice or return him to life. But the fact of the matter is that Electra doesn't reflect really what Electra is -- Electra's attitude seems to be to remise of Clytemnestra more than what we saw of Agamemnon.
Both mother and daughter are passionately loyal to their loved ones, at least to the ones they don't believe they have been wronged by, and are willing to murder (or at least, in Electra's case, let someone kill) the people they've in turn deemed betrayers. Electra and Orestes are treated by the narrative as being akin to their father -- better than Clytemnestra and hailed as the heroes sent to vanquish her, but to me it feels like Electra and her brother are more like their mother than they would care to admit.
In other words, Clytamenstra's downfall comes not from some outside source but from a nature seemingly buried in her children as well -- a deep, vengeful hate for those they believe have not seen justice, and it to me it is very ironic that she would meet her downfall the same way her husband did -- at the hands of someone who believed more than anything it was justice that they die. This is irony in one of it's simplest forms.
Where The Libation Bearer really shines is that it's very ironic.
Electra and Orestes are obsessed with finding justice for their father's murder at the hands of Clytemnestra, years later still traumatized by the events that occurred. And that justice includes killing the woman responsible -- their mother -- along with her lover. This is exactly what Clytemnestra did in retaliation for her daughter's death, killing the man responsible and his own lover.
Electra is treated as being this pinnacle of goodness, grief-ridden by her father's death years after the event has taken place. And this is true, in many respects, because she comes to the temple with an army of women to mourn and crying out to the gods for them to grant justice or return him to life. But the fact of the matter is that Electra doesn't reflect really what Electra is -- Electra's attitude seems to be to remise of Clytemnestra more than what we saw of Agamemnon.
Both mother and daughter are passionately loyal to their loved ones, at least to the ones they don't believe they have been wronged by, and are willing to murder (or at least, in Electra's case, let someone kill) the people they've in turn deemed betrayers. Electra and Orestes are treated by the narrative as being akin to their father -- better than Clytemnestra and hailed as the heroes sent to vanquish her, but to me it feels like Electra and her brother are more like their mother than they would care to admit.
In other words, Clytamenstra's downfall comes not from some outside source but from a nature seemingly buried in her children as well -- a deep, vengeful hate for those they believe have not seen justice, and it to me it is very ironic that she would meet her downfall the same way her husband did -- at the hands of someone who believed more than anything it was justice that they die. This is irony in one of it's simplest forms.
P.S. I commented on Will and Anna Kate's comments.
I agree that Electra is a lot like Clytaemnestra. However, there is one stark difference: Electra doesn't take matters into her own hands. She doesn't break the social structure and become the avenger. Instead, she prays to the gods for Orestes to come back and bring vengeance. I think this is why she is held up as an example of goodness. She keeps her place in society, even though she is unhappy. Remember, these plays were sponsored by the state and were supposed to teach the audience how to live. This is one of the lessons they could get out of this play: even if you don't like your leaders, don't rebel. Keep your place in society and pray to the gods for help.
ReplyDeleteThe connection of Electra and Clytemnestra is very interesting to say the least. I would agree also in that they, being mother and daughter, share many similar traits and attitudes. However, upon reading and understanding the character of Electra, she evokes the image of a pure Clytemnestra, one that survived the great sorrow and depression of losing a loved one. Electra, while being in deep sorrow at the loss of her father, sought justice (or revenge) in a manner that didn't grant an instant impression of her growing increasingly insane. Clytemnestra's inner self before the corruption of sorrow is apparent in Electra. In conclusion, they are very similar, but thankfully Electra hasn't "broken the social structure" as Eliza said, and I've come to be a die hard fan of team Electra.
ReplyDeleteI've never thought of the irony of her children that way. While I agree that they unjustifiably agreed to do the exact same thing to their mother as she did to their father, I don't think that they are as spiteful and vindictive as their mother. I think that they are acting out of a different hurt than their mother and are only doing what they believe is right and just.
ReplyDeleteI don't see it so much as an irony as an emotional response of revenge... yet that is when I read it as a part of the story and feel for the characters. If you gave me a plot overview only, I could probably agree. But the wording of their sentiments, sadness, etc. makes me think that it is less ironic and more... tragic.
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