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The Libation Bearers (Theatre)

 The Libation Bearers (Theatre)
type
TVTItem
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre)
label
The Libation Bearers (Theatre)
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre)
page
TheLibationBearers
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre)
comment
As the play is Older Than Feudalism, all spoilers on this page are unmarked.Second part of the tragedy trilogy The Oresteia by Aeschylus.Some time after Agamemnon’s murder, his son Orestes and a friend, Pylades, arrive at his grave after a long exile. Soon, they both hide as Orestes’ sister, Electra, arrives at the tomb with some slaves carrying libations. She sees two locks of hair in the tomb, left there by Orestes earlier, prompting him to come out of his hiding place and convince his sister of his identity.She tells him of Aegisthus and Clytemnestra’s plot to murder Agamemnon and, after a long rant that involves summoning the spirit of their father to help them, Orestes decides to avenge his father by murdering both his mother and her lover.Orestes and Pylades pretend to be wandering travelers and knock on the door, calling on Aegisthus with news of Orestes’ death. Clytemnestra, delighted, goes inside to call Aegisthus, only for him to die when he meets Orestes in private. When she finds out, he threatens to kill her too, in spite of her pleading and reminding him of the fact that she bore and raised him. Orestes has trouble deciding if he has to murder her too to avenge his father or not, but eventually decides the cause is just and does it. Then he wraps both corpses on Agamemnon’s cloak.Sadly for Orestes, the cycle of violence doesn’t end there. Anyone in ancient Greece who slays a family member has broken a serious moral law and becomes the rightful prey of the Erinyes or Eumenides ("Kindly Ones"), aka the Furies, incarnations of vengeance whom even the gods cannot control. The story continues in Eumenides...
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre)
fetched
2024-02-19T18:32:35Z
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre)
parsed
2024-02-19T18:32:35Z
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre)
isPartOf
DBTropes
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_114d3902
type
After-Action Villain Analysis
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_114d3902
comment
After-Action Villain Analysis: Orestes delivers a speech at the end about Clytemnestra and Aegisthus, why he thinks they were horrible, and what led them to acting as they did.
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The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_114d3902
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_1439161f
type
Heroic BSoD
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_1439161f
comment
Heroic BSoD: Orestes suffers this after his mother’s death.
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_1439161f
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The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_1439161f
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_18ba2fe
type
Sound-Only Death
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_18ba2fe
comment
Sound-Only Death: Aegisthus (as typical for Greek tragedies where they couldn't show the violence on screen).
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The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_18ba2fe
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_1b8c7503
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The Exile
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_1b8c7503
comment
The Exile: Orestes.
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_1b8c7503
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The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_1b8c7503
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_1c1d243c
type
Brother–Sister Team
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_1c1d243c
comment
Brother–Sister Team: Orestes and Electra, teaming up to avenge their father by killing Aegisthus and Clytemnestra.
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_1c1d243c
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The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_1c1d243c
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_1e8681db
type
Noble Bird of Prey
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_1e8681db
comment
Noble Bird of Prey: Orestes compares Agamemnon to a powerful eagle and him and Electra to the eagle's young.
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_1e8681db
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The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_1e8681db
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_2588feac
type
Winged Humanoid
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_2588feac
comment
Winged Humanoid: The Erinyes.
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_2588feac
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The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_2588feac
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_2fa6b075
type
God Save Us from the Queen!
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_2fa6b075
comment
God Save Us from the Queen!: Clytemnestra killed her husband, the king Agamemnon, and now Orestes plans to kill her in revenge.
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_2fa6b075
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The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_2fa6b075
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_30849c3e
type
Ruling Couple
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_30849c3e
comment
Ruling Couple: Clytemnestra and Aegisthus.
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_30849c3e
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The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_30849c3e
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_423f5a19
type
Killed Offscreen
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_423f5a19
comment
Killed Offscreen: Aegisthus and Clytemnestra (given this was an Ancient Greek play, they couldn't do the violence on screen.
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_423f5a19
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The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_423f5a19
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_44a1dd10
type
King Incognito
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_44a1dd10
comment
King Incognito: Orestes gets into the palace by pretending to be a foreign guest.
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_44a1dd10
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The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_44a1dd10
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_4d1ac25b
type
Villains Want Mercy
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_4d1ac25b
comment
Villains Want Mercy: Clytemnestra tries to convince Orestes to spare her life. It doesn't work.
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_4d1ac25b
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The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_4d1ac25b
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_4e3d253b
type
Downer Ending
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_4e3d253b
comment
Downer Ending: Orestes kills both Aegisthus and Clytemnestra, but not only does the Cycle of Revenge not end there, but he also is tormented by the Erinyes.
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_4e3d253b
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The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_4e3d253b
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_5fd14ab3
type
Sacred Hospitality
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_5fd14ab3
comment
Sacred Hospitality: Orestes and Pylades use this as an excuse to be received when they disguise themselves as travelers.
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_5fd14ab3
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The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_5fd14ab3
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_81ae2774
type
Evil Matriarch
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_81ae2774
comment
Evil Matriarch: Clytemnestra.
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_81ae2774
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The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_81ae2774
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_8437cb10
type
Made a Slave
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_8437cb10
comment
Made a Slave: The chorus describes being made slaves after their cities were taken.
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_8437cb10
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The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_8437cb10
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_8dea03bc
type
Playing the Family Card
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_8dea03bc
comment
Playing the Family Card: When Orestes is about to kill Clytemnestra as revenge for her killing Agamemnon, she pleads for her lives on the ground that she is his mother, baring her breasts to show how she suckled him as a baby. He goes ahead with killing her anyway.
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_8dea03bc
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The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_8dea03bc
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_8ec0abf
type
The Voiceless
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_8ec0abf
comment
The Voiceless: Pylades is silent throughout the play except for one line toward the end, urging Orestes to kill Clytemnestra. Particularly important because Greek tragedies at the time had a maximum of three actors to perform speaking roles; "using up" one of them in many scenes for the silent Pylades is an interesting artistic decision.
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_8ec0abf
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The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_8ec0abf
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_95df2bc3
type
Big Damn Reunion
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_95df2bc3
comment
Big Damn Reunion: Orestes and Electra are reunited after being separated for years at the. beginning of the play.
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_95df2bc3
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The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_95df2bc3
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_978a82e6
type
Big Bad Duumvirate
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_978a82e6
comment
Big Bad Duumvirate: Clytemnestra and Aegisthus.
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_978a82e6
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The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_978a82e6
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_9cbf01d6
type
Stay in the Kitchen
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_9cbf01d6
comment
Stay in the Kitchen: The chorus gives a speech about various women who committed evil deeds and conclude by saying they honor women who stay in their homes and do nothing.
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_9cbf01d6
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The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_9cbf01d6
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_9d12bbc1
type
Foreshadowing
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_9d12bbc1
comment
Foreshadowing: The characters keep mentioning the Erinyes throughout the play, and they finally appear after Orestes has consummated both murders. Also, another that goes back to the previous tragedy, when Cassandra warns that Orestes will kill Aegisthus.
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_9d12bbc1
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The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_9d12bbc1
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_a1b141f4
type
My God, What Have I Done?
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_a1b141f4
comment
My God, What Have I Done?: What Orestes feels afterwards.
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_a1b141f4
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The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_a1b141f4
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_af7d483f
type
Dreaming of Things to Come
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_af7d483f
comment
Dreaming of Things to Come: Clytemnestra dreams of giving birth to a snake and giving it the breast while it also sucks her blood. She understands it shortly before her death.
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_af7d483f
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The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_af7d483f
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_b11ac9f5
type
Abusive Parents
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_b11ac9f5
comment
Abusive Parents: Electra and Orestes see Clytemnestra as this. Electra describes how her mother treats her little better than a slave, and Orestes is furious about being sent away and essentially exiled to give Clytemnestra the opportunity to kill Agamemnon.
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_b11ac9f5
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The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_b11ac9f5
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_b17f6a27
type
I Did What I Had to Do
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_b17f6a27
comment
I Did What I Had to Do: Orestes convinces himself that he must kill his mother to avenge his father.
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_b17f6a27
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The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_b17f6a27
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_b7042372
type
Cycle of Revenge
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_b7042372
comment
Cycle of Revenge: Picks it up from the previous play and leaves it open for conclusion.
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_b7042372
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The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_b7042372
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_be30e493
type
Undignified Death
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_be30e493
comment
Undignified Death: Electra and Orestes see Agamemnon's death as this (being tied up in a bath and killed by his wife while he was helpless), and mention how undignified it is while trying to talk to his ghost, in order to anger him enough that he will help them in their revenge.
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The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_be30e493
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_c83f40d8
type
Bystander Syndrome
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_c83f40d8
comment
Bystander Syndrome: The chorus’ reaction to Aegisthus’ murder.
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_c83f40d8
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The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_c83f40d8
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_d66c4f39
type
Matricide
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_d66c4f39
comment
Matricide: This is, actually, one of the few examples of matricide in fiction.
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_d66c4f39
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The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_d66c4f39
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_e061cb06
type
Rightful King Returns
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_e061cb06
comment
Rightful King Returns: Orestes, Agamemnon's heir, returns to kill Aegisthus and Clytemnestra and take over rulership of Argos again - though the latter part gets delayed courtesy of the Erinyes.
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_e061cb06
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The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_e061cb06
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_e4d079c1
type
Greek Chorus
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_e4d079c1
comment
Greek Chorus: Slave women.
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_e4d079c1
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The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_e4d079c1
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_eda30d58
type
0% Approval Rating
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_eda30d58
comment
0% Approval Rating: None of the slaves and other people in the household are big fans of the current ruler, Aegisthus, on account of Aegisthus conspiring with Clytemnestra to murder the rightful king, Agamemnon, and usurp the throne.
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_eda30d58
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The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_eda30d58
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_f2b365c1
type
Libation for the Dead
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_f2b365c1
comment
Libation for the Dead: It's actually in the title.
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_f2b365c1
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The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_f2b365c1
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_f6624c30
type
Together in Death
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_f6624c30
comment
Together in Death: Orestes threatens to kill Clytemnestra right after killing Aegisthus, saying that because they chose to live together and love each other (instead of Clytemnestra staying with Agamemnon) they should die together. He makes good on his oath.
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_f6624c30
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The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_f6624c30
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_f9876f7e
type
Faking the Dead
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_f9876f7e
comment
Faking the Dead: Orestes, dressed as a guest, tells Clytemnestra that Orestes is dead.
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_f9876f7e
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The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_f9876f7e
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_fb6b207f
type
You Killed My Father
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_fb6b207f
comment
You Killed My Father: Orestes's motivation for murdering both his mother and Aegisthus is their actions in the prior play.
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre) / int_fb6b207f
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The Libation Bearers (Theatre)

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 The Libation Bearers (Theatre)
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Asshole Victim / int_725119a
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre)
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Legend / int_725119a
 The Libation Bearers (Theatre)
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The Voiceless / int_725119a