Topic > Aeschylus' Oresteia: Justice Rewritten

The Oresteia is a multipurpose work that sets the stage for the evolution of modern political thought over the centuries. It also serves to outline the beginning of understanding humanity through multiple different lenses. Human life is examined in depth and the result is the beginning of a new form of justice. However, is this new justice the permanent form? The power dynamics that shift in the Oresteia present a complex question. The questions posed in this work are fundamental to the formulation of democracy. The principles of justice, equality, power and fairness are called into question and critical reflection. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay In The Oresteia, the shift from the old form of justice to the new one is powerful, but it is only one step on the ladder of political evolution. The Oresteia represents an effective political solution as it involves the transition to a new order that involves trial by jury, the appointment of impartial judges and the delegation of checks and balances. Trial by jury is a staple in today's democracy. However, this was not always the case. Blood law was used to govern ancient Greece. In this form of justice blood flowed freely. Cyclic patterns of violence have produced ten times more violence, leaving no room for any logic. The times of murder by murder have led to an open, cyclical, ruthless and disruptive lifestyle. In this, the importance of individual life has been reduced to a single unit. In the Oresteia, the path from blood feud to trial by jury is paved with the suffering of the House of Atreus. In a series of bloody murders, it is decided that the blood must stop somewhere. While Athena witnesses the birth of the process, the Furies give their contribution to the transition of the systems. “No, you will give me blood for blood, you must” cried the Erinyes (The Oresteia 243). While it seems like the Furies are calling on the old system for revenge, this quote takes on a stronger role based on the surrounding text. In this scene Athena begins the process of forming the new judicial system. The Furies keep saying “And there you will see them all. Every mortal who has outraged God or guest or loving parent: each receives the pain that his pains demand” (243). The system is moving from literal to metaphorical bloodshed. The idea of ​​a prison or some type of confinement comes from that phrase in the Furies. When Athena is called upon to make a judgment, her wisdom comes to the fore. He decides to leave the matter in the hands of his peers, which leads to the birth of a new political community. “Too big a question, some might think, for mortal men to decide. But in any case I shouldn't decide a murder case either – murder excites the passions” (243). Athena points out the perfect explanation for why the current system needs to be reformed: murder drives irrational thoughts and judgments. The cyclical bloodshed could never be stopped on the basis of the human passion by which it is driven. In her confession that she cannot be impartial either, she implies that a different form of judgment should occur. Another feature of modern democracy is the appointment of impartial judges, who must remain impartial and rely on facts to make decisions. In the Oresteia the judges are appointed by Athena, in her wisdom. Since Athena has recognized that she is not impartial enough to make a decision involving murder, she decides to appoint mortals to carry out such a task. Athena is forced to face.