Реферат: Progression Towards Light Essay Research Paper Progression

that he deserves. They do not take into account the circumstances under which

Orestes killed his mother, specifically the pressure which he had received from

Apollo. Therefore, the Furies are at first enraged that Athene allows Orestes

to escape their dark and bloody vengeance. Eventually, however, the Furies’

hate begins to subside and they accept the arbitration of Athene, who offers

them land and honor in Athens. This acceptance marks the beginning of their

movement from darkness to light. They embrace the just attitude of the Olympic

gods Apollo and Athene, progressing from a doctrine of bloody revenge to one of

reason and justice. The light images emerge along with this progression, and

the Furies proclaim near the end of the Eumenides: ?So with forecast of good I

speak this prayer for them [the citizens of Athens] that the sun’s bright

magnificence shall break out wave on wave of all the happiness life can give ,

across their land? (lines 921-925). The Chthonic gods have given up their dark

ways and have called for light. This light image is also manifested in the

garments that the Furies change into at the end of the Eumenides: where they

had previously worn black robes, they now wear bright crimson robes. Now

calling themselves the Eumenides, or Benevolent Ones, these gods have progressed

from symbols of evil darkness into symbols of bright goodness.

In his trilogy the Oresteia, Aeschylus’ use of darkness and light

imagery coincides with his progression of themes. Orestes, who represents light,

brings and end to the vicious cycle of dark death continued by Clytaemestra. He

illuminates the dark evil in the house of Atreus. Likewise, Athene and Apollo

bring the Furies out of their dark, blood-lusting ways and into an order of

justice and reason, transforming them into the brightly clad Benevolent Ones.

In the end, goodness prevails over evil just as light conquers darkness.

Aeschylus effectively makes use of his images to emphasize this movement.