58 pages • 1 hour read
AeschylusOresteia
AeschylusFiction | Play | AdultA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Book Brief
335
Play • Fiction
Argos • Mythic Past
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
The Oresteia follows the curse of the House of Atreus through three plays: "Agamemnon," "The Libation Bearers," and "The Eumenides." In "Agamemnon," Queen Clytaemnestra murders King Agamemnon. In "The Libation Bearers," their son Orestes avenges his father by killing Clytaemnestra. In "The Eumenides," Orestes is tried and acquitted, ending the curse and establishing the Athenian justice system.
Dark
Mysterious
Contemplative
Melancholic
Challenging
Reviews & Readership
177 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Aeschylus' Oresteia is widely praised for its complex exploration of justice, power, and familial ties. Reviewers commend the trilogy's poetic language and compelling characterizations, highlighting its significance in the Western literary canon. Some criticism is noted regarding the dense and archaic language, which can be challenging for contemporary readers. Overall, it remains a powerful and thought-provoking work.
Who Should Read Oresteia?
A reader who appreciates Greek tragedies, complex family dramas, and ancient literature would enjoy Oresteia by Aeschylus. Fans of works like Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex or Euripides' Medea will find its themes of justice and revenge compelling.
177 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
335
Play • Fiction
Argos • Mythic Past
Adult
18+ years
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