a.d. elliott - Take the Back Roads

  Dear Henry, Book Five, Aeschylus's The Eumenides, of the Bucket List Book Adventure ( read about that here ) is done! So let me tell you all about it. This book can be summed up as the trial of the century. The story begins with Orestes and the Furies sleeping at the temple of the Oracle of Delphi. Orestes had fled to the Oracle of Delphi after the events in The Libation Bearers , with the Furies hot on his trail, determined to punish him for kin-slaying. Apollo suggests that Orestes go to Athens and appeal to Athena. Orestes sneaks away. Clytemnestra's ghost is having none of this and convinces the Furies to continue their pursuit of Orestes.   The Furies catch up to Orestes in Athens and bind him, but Athena comes along just in time and agrees to a trial over the matter. Apollo acts as the defense attorney, the citizens of Athens are the jury, and Athena presides as judge. The cases are presented, and the people of Athens have split down the middle. Athena casts the d...

 Dear Henry, Book Four, Aeschylus's The Libation Bearers, of the Bucket List Book Adventure ( read about that here ) is done! Let me tell you all about it. This story can be summarized as Clytemnestra and Aegisthus getting their comeuppance. It begins about seven years after the events in Agamemnon , and Orestes, having been sent by an oracle of Apollo, returns from exile to Mycenea to mourn his father and exact revenge. While in the cemetery, Orestes meets and eventually recognizes his sister Electra. The two lament the loss of their father and the current state of their lives. Then, Orestes goes to the house, lies to his mother about his origins, and kills Aegisthus. Orestes briefly considers sparing his mother's life but, remembering the words of Apollo's oracle and the curse he will receive if he doesn't, kills her too. Of course, Orestes didn't escape a curse. The Furies begin to torment Orestes for killing his mother, and the story ends with Orestes leaving My...