Gender and Sexism in the Oresteia

by means ofout the Oresteia, Aeschylus portrays sexual urge as a socially volatile issue that results in increasing miasma deep d throw the House of Atreus. Aeschylus engages the cultural import behind such discriminatory disputes by depicting gender-based opposition among Greeks who feel threatened when former(a)s do not maintain their expect masculine and feminine identities. However, he indicates that when wo men do act accordingly, they atomic number 18 still belittled from both men and other women. Through his portrayal of sexist bivalent standards and societys rejection of diverse gender expression, Aeschylus exposes the widespread, dirty at a lower placeestimation of females, who in the end, ironically possess authority. \nFor an Athenian citizen, causation and strength are inwrought qualities to have in dress to be respected; and such traits are deemed as well masculine for women and therefore are only celebrated when men obtain them. For example, Agamemnon is well regarded for representing the culturally ideal sense of manfulness for fighting at troy and returning home safely, while, Aegisthus on the other hand, is mocked for his weak, effeminate qualities. In The Libation Bearers, Orestes honors the soldiers efforts and then ridicules Aegisthuss unmanly complacency, saying, Besides, the lack of patrimony presses hard; and my compatriots, the celebrity of men who toppled Troy with jumpiness of singing steel, go at the beck and call of a span of women. Woman-hearted he is (Aes., Ag., ll. 307-311). Aeschylus specifically uses this restate to show Orestess disapproval of Aegisthus who remain at home under the rule of Clytemnestra, while other real men standardised Agamemnon defend Athens. \nHowever, Aeschylus also highlights Orestess misogynistic views towards his own incur, a perspective that resurfaces. For instance, Orestes maintains these views notwithstanding when he disguises himself as a foreigner to greet his mother: Come out! Whoever rules the house. The woman in charge. No, the man, bet...