Justice and Aeschylus Oresteia :: Oresteia Essays

rightness and Aeschylus Oresteia At first glance, the picture of justice found in the Oresteia appears precise different from that found in Heraclitus. And indeed, at the surface level at that place are a number of things which are distinctly un-Heraclitean. nevertheless, I remember that a close culture reveals more similarities than differences and that there is a robust undercurrent of the Heraclitean world view running throughout the trilogy. In distinguish to demonstrate this, I go a expression first describe those ways in which the views of justice in Aeschylus Oresteia and in Heraclitus appear dissimilar. Then I pull up stakes examine how these dissimilarities are problematized by other randomness in the Oresteia information which expresses views of justice very akin to Heraclitus. Of course, how similar or dissimilar they are will depend not only on ones reading of the Oresteia, that also on how one interprets Heraclitus. Therefore, when I identify a way in which justice in the Oresteia protrudems different from that in Heraclitus, I will also identify the interpretation of Heraclitus with which I am contrasting it. argue my interpretation of Heraclitean justice as such is beyond the scope of this essay. However I will always refer to the particular fragments on which I am basing my interpretation, and I conjecture that the views I will attribute to him are fairly non-controversial. It will be my contention that, after a extreme examination of both the apparent discrepancies and the similarities, the nature of justice portrayed in the Oresteia will appear more deeply Heraclitean than otherwise. I will not argue, however, that there are therefore no differences at all amongst Aeschylus and Heraclitus on the issue of justice. Clearly there are some reliable ones and I will point out any differences which I get hold remain despite the many deep similarities. It is definitely possible to meet views of justice in the Oresteia which appear to be very different from what we see in the fragments of Heraclitus. I will identify and describe what I think are the four major differences which one notices on an initial reading of the trilogy. These differences are with respect to 1) the apparent linear movement and progress in the Oresteia. 2) the necessity of conflict and its relationship to justice and harmony 3) the origin/ first appearance of justice and 4) the implications for justice of the fundamental unity of nature.