Aeschylus: The Oresteia

My Thoughts

I struggled with this trilogy. It took me 4 readings to capture the story and track the whole way through. During the first three readings, I’d get lost and couldn’t get back into the story. But I really wanted to understand it. Robert Fagles’ introduction in this edition is simply astounding, perhaps the best introduction I’ve ever read before a classic. I also read that twice to get my bearings.

This is an extraordinary work. The storyline from regicide to matricide to an eventual shift to democracy and rule by law is the reason this is such an important work. It was worth the 4 readings.