The Oresteia: A Comedic Masterpiece

The Oresteia, a trilogy of Greek tragedies written by Aeschylus, is a theatrical masterpiece filled with twists, turns, and more family drama than a Thanksgiving dinner with your in-laws. This epic story follows the cursed House of Atreus as they navigate revenge, sacrifice, and justice. But don’t let the serious subject matter fool you, The Oresteia is actually a riotous comedy that will have you laughing from start to finish.

Let’s start with the first play, Agamemnon. Our protagonist, Agamemnon, returns from a decade-long war, only to be killed by his wife, Clytemnestra, because of a curse from the gods. Sounds dark, right? But wait, it gets better! Clytemnestra, while explaining her reasons for killing her husband, exclaims, “I did it all for you, Zeus!” This line is so ridiculous, it’s hard not to snort laugh out loud.

But the real comedic gold in Agamemnon is the arrival of the Chorus, who are essentially a bunch of old men who can’t seem to agree on anything. Throughout the play, they argue about everything from the gods to the weather, and their bickering is priceless. The Chorus even manages to get in some hilarious puns, such as when they refer to the murdered Agamemnon as “Agamemnonchopped.” Classic!

Next up is The Libation Bearers, where we see Agamemnon’s children, Orestes and Electra, avenging their father’s death. But forget about the violence and murder plotline, the real comedy gold is in the character of Aegisthus, Clytemnestra’s lover. Aegisthus is such a bumbling fool that it’s hard not to laugh every time he’s on stage. He can’t even seem to put together a half-decent strategy to defend himself, let alone win the affection of Clytemnestra.

Finally, the trilogy wraps up with The Eumenides, where Orestes is put on trial for killing his mother. But it’s not the intense courtroom drama that will have you rolling on the floor. No, it’s the fact that the prosecutors are literally the Furies- terrifying mythical creatures with snakes for hair. The idea of watching fierce, hissing snakes arguing for the prosecution is beyond hilarious. And when the Furies are ultimately replaced by the kindly and compassionate goddess Athena, it’s hard not to breathe a sigh of relief- and a chuckle of amusement.

In conclusion, The Oresteia is not just a dramatic trilogy of plays, it’s a laugh-out-loud comedy masterwork. So grab a tray of baklava, kick back, and enjoy the non-stop antics of this crazy ancient Greek family. But remember, if you hear ominous thunder, maybe take a break and go outside. It’s not worth sticking around for the inevitable family showdown.