Addison Hinson

Dr. Parrish
Theatre History 1
Aeschylus

Aeschylus was a Greek playwright (mostly tragic plays), in fact he was often described as

the father of Greek tragedy. Born c. 523 till 456. Aristotle had said that Aeschylus has expanded

the number of characters in the theatre. Allowing conflict among them; before this characters had

only interacted with the chorus. Only seven of his possible ninety plays have survived and even

with that there is a longstanding authorship of one of these plays. Fragments of his other works

still survive in quotes, however the others dont. His work the The Persians is the only surviving

classical Greek tragedy that was concerned with contemporary events (very few plays of this

kind were written at the time). One of his most critically acclaimed works is the Oresteia, even

still it is acclaimed by modern critics and scholars.

His seven shows:

The Persians- Based on Aeschyluss own life, specifically the Battle of Salamis. The Persians
focuses on the popular Greek theme of hubris by blaming Persias loss on the pride of its king.

Seven against Thebes- This show has the contrasting theme of the interference of gods in
human affairs. This show tells the story of Eteocles and Polynices, the son of Oedipus. They(the
sons) agree to alternate in the throne of the city, but after the first year that Eteocles refuses to
step down and Polynices wages war to claim his crown. The bothers kill each other in combat
and the play originally ended in lamentations of the brothers. However, nearly fifty years later a
new ending was added. Antigone and Ismene mourn their dead brothers when a messenger
announces an edit that prohibits the burial sod Polynices. Antigone declares her intention to defy
this edit. This connected the Oedipus trilogy.

The Suppliants- this continued Aeschylus emphasis on the polis. This pays tribute to the
democratic undercurrents running through Athens in advance of the establishments of a
democratic government in 461. In the play, the Danaids, the fifty daughters of Danaus, founder
of Argos, flee a forced marriage to their cousins in Egypt. They turn to King Pelasgus or Argos
for protection, but Pelasgus refuses until the people of Argos weigh in on the decision, a
distinctly democratic move on the part of the king. The people decide that the Danaids deserve
protection, and they are allowed within the walls of Argos.
The Oresteia- The only complete trilogy of Greek plays by any playwright that still exists. The
Trilogy consists of : Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers, and The Eumenides.

Agamemnon- This play tells the story of king Agamemnon from his victory in the Trojan War,
from the perspective of the towns people (the Chorus) and his wife Clytemnestra. However, dark
foreshadowings build to the death, of the kind at the hands of his wife. Who was angry at the
sacrifice of their daughter Iphigenia. The end of the play includes a prediction of the return of
Orestes, son of Agamemnon, who will seek to avenge his father.

The Libation Bearers- This counties the tale, opening with Orestes arrival. He begins to plan
revenge for his father, with the help of Electra (Clytemnestras daughter) to kill Clytemnestra.
Orestes arrives and pretends to bear the fake news of his death, with Clytemnestra calls in
Aegisthus to share the news, Orestes kills both of them. Orestes is then beset by the Furies, who
avenge the murder of Kin in Greek Mythology.

The Eumenides- The final play of The Oresteia. This one addresses the question of Orestes;
guilt. The Furies drive Orestes from Argos and begs him to drive the furies away. The Furies then
track him down and the goddess Athena, patron of Athens, steps in and declares that a trial is
necessary. Apollo argues Orestes case and, after the judges including Athena deliver a tie vote
Athena announces that Orestes is acquitted. Athena renames the Furies The Eumenides, and
extols the importance of reason in the new development of laws. Just like in Suppliants, the
ideals of a democratic Athens are praised.

Prometheus Bound- The play is about the Titan Prometheus, is bound to a rock as a punishment
from the Olympian Zeus for providing fire to humans. Prometheus meets Io, a fellow victim of
Zeus; and prophesies her future travels, revealing that one of her descendants will free
Prometheus. The play closes with Zeus sending Prometheus into the abyss because Prometheus
refuses to divulge the secret of a potential marriage that could prove Zeus downfall.