In three pages a character analysis of O'Neill's character Lavinia is provided with a comparison with the character Orestes also included. Two sources are cited in the bibliography.
Name of Research Paper File: D0_GSElectr.rtf
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a story of revenge. Basically, Electra and her brother Orestes kill their mother Clytemnestra, and her lover Egisthus - both of whom are wicked - in order to avenge
the death of their murdered father, Agamemnon. "The house of Arteus is the embodiment of savagery" (Aeschylus, 1984, p. 14).
Its a tale of Greek mythology, and it is known as one of the most dramatic stories of all time. We see murder, passion, greed - all within this
compelling story where family members are against each other. "Every crime in the house of Arteus, whether children kill their parents or parents kill their children and feed upon
their flesh, is a crime against the filial bond itself" (Aeschylus, 1984, p. 17). I believe the overall meaning of
Oresteia is that the perspective of blood begets blood doesnt solve anything and actually makes things worse. By the end of this story, no one has "won". Everyone
is either dead or miserable locked up in a house. Furthermore, no one was guilt-free. The father had sacrificed the life of his daughter. The mother had
an affair. The whole family was corrupt and unforgiving, but most importantly their downfall came at their very own hands because their hate overpowered their love.
In ONeills version, the setting is New England during the Civil War as opposed to ancient Argos in the Greek version. Furthermore, Lavinia
is the main focus of this story in which her mother (Christine) falls out of love with Lavinias father (Ezra) and has an affair (with Captain Adam Brant). Christine