Confusion in Aeschylus

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Dilemma of confusion of values in Aeschylus Trilogy Orestia represents 21st century’s confusion of values. Orestean trilogy- probably the finest work of Aeschylus,is full of confusion and complexity.we find this confusion among various social,moral and religious values. The events and situations which create confusion are mentioned below: 1.Agamemnon,the hero of the first play is going to wage a war against Troy for the recovery of an unchaste woman,Helen who ran away with Paris,on the orders of Zeus. 2.Confusion is present not only between human beings but also between various gods and goddesses.For example Zeus has ordered Agamemnon to launch a war against Troy but his ships are struck in the middle of the sea by strong opposite winds,sent by a goddess Artemis. 3.Agamemnon is caught between two choices.On one side Artemis demands the sacrifice of his daughter Iphigenia for movement of ships and if he does not sacrifice his daughter then he will have to accept retreat in the war and punishment from Zeus too. So he is entangled between Zeus and Artemis.we as reader or audience do not know that which god is right and which is wrong. 4.The chorus disapproves the decision of Agamemnon to sacrifice his daughter.The sacrifice is not only morally wrong,but futile and the sacrifice becomes the victim. 5.On his return,Agamemnon,is killed by his wife Clytaemnestra.She gives justification of his murder that he killed her innocent daughter Iphigenia and brought another woman Cassandra as his concubine.Now here again is confusion that whether Clytaemnestra is innocent or guilty?So a conflict between male and female gender. 6.The highly ambiguous nature of words of Clytaemnestra. 7.The cycle of Vengeance and its complexity also creates confusion.The curse on the House of Atreus takes the lives of many persons. 8.There also exists a divine disorder in the story.

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