Murder is a painful act and situation that enrages both witnesses and those who are impacted. Trust is broken when a close family member is killed by another member of the family, and this can breed resentment between the victims and the killer. Agamemnon was slain by Clytemnestra without cause, so it was only right that justice be done to avenge his death. Orestes had to take action. Unfortunately, his deed was against the law, which prompted his trial to vindicate Clytemnestra, the subject of Aeschylus' third trilogy. A tragedy called The Furies focuses on the trial for Orestes' murder. As Orestes’ defense attorney I would argue not guilty on the basis of insanity.
Orestes’ act of murder is based on a delusional belief that his family has experienced a series of killings for which he had to follow. According to him, his grandfather Atreus had murdered his brother’s children (Griffith et al. 1-3). Thyestes had committed adultery with Atreus’ wife. Likewise, Agamemnon had sacrificed his daughter Iphigenia to appease Artemis, the god of all good things. Clytemnestra became angry and filled with vengeful feelings towards her husband. She thus teamed up with Aegisthus, the sun of Thyestes to seek revenge for death of their loved ones. He also has an illegitimate romantic affair with Clytemnestra. They succeed in their quest.
The murder of Agamemnon by Clytemnestra greatly injured Orestes. It is hard to believe that a mother can kill his husband. More so, the murder of his father by his own mother is the greatest of all betrayals which would disturb and destabilize Orestes psychologically, emotionally, and rationally. The mental process of trying to understand why such treachery could take place is enough to make one become mentally unstable, albeit temporarily. Additionally, it must have been hard for Orestes to accept that his Uncle, Thyestes would become an accomplice to Clytemnestra, plot, and actualize the murder of his father. The stress that comes with such disloyalty from family members was enough to drive him insane.
Following the history of the murder of his father as done by his mother and uncle, Orestes was not thinking clearly. He heard voices and seen non-existent images. The voice of Apollo drove him to commit murder. Apollo informed him that he had to kill his father’s killers lest he experiences the wrath of gods. Thus, Apollo was the mastermind of his actions. Apollo’s guilt can be seen from Orestes’ belief that Apollo has decided to defend him in the trial (Griffith et al. 29, lines 615-621). However, this is a trial by Orestes to blame somebody else for his actions. A normal man whose thinking faculties are functional cannot put blame on people who did not act or actually talk to them to act.
Moreover, the Furies which Orestes say to have been pursuing him to are non-existent creatures. According to him, they are found in the bowels of hell and would and were created to seek justice for aggrieved people (Mitchell-Boyask 27-28). While these creatures are pursuing Orestes, they are just in his mind and cannot be seen. Although it is normal for people who are guilty of an act to have false impressions of situations, Orestes’ is different. He has fabricated the idea of existence of these creatures and their behaviors which are extreme or radical ideas which cannot exist.
Orestes has not understood the gravity and consequences of his actions. This is why he acts as if he has not committed any crime. A sane person shows remorse and seeks forgiveness for coming a crime. However, because he does not think straight, he delusionally chooses Athena, the Goddess of wisdom who favors men over women to be his judge (Griffith et al. lines 735-739). In his mind, Athena clearly states that she will vote in Orestes’ favor. The Goddess has no empathy for women and would thus find that Orestes committed no wrong against Clytemnestra. In light of his imaginations, Orestes sees himself as a free man and has been acquitted from his wrongs. From these evidence, it is clear that he is mentally unstable and is unable to get the difference between right and wrong. Consequently, it would be unfair to subject such a man to criminal responsibility. He needs to be rehabilitated in a mental institution to help him reinstate his mental abilities.
Orestes is a victim of circumstances. His mother and uncle killed his father. This was a form of unfathomable betrayal. He could not withstand the pain and disappointments which caused him mental disturbances. His action to kill his mother was driven by irrationality caused by emotional and psychological instability. As a consequences, it is our humble suggestion that he is a man caught by unfortunate situation and consequential insanity and should be pardoned.
Works Cited
Griffith, Mark, et al., eds. Greek Tragedies 3: Aeschylus: The Eumenides; Sophocles:
Philoctetes, Oedipus at Colonus; Euripides: The Bacchae, Alcestis. University of Chicago Press, 2013.
Mitchell-Boyask, Robin. Aeschylus: Eumenides. A&C Black, 2013.
