Gender and Sexism in the Oresteia

through and throughout the Oresteia, Aeschylus portrays sexuality as a socially volatile issue that results in increasing miasma in spite of appearance the House of Atreus. Aeschylus engages the cultural import behind such prejudiced disputes by depicting gender-based competition among Greeks who feel threatened when new(prenominal)s do not maintain their judge masculine and feminine identities. However, he indicates that when wowork force do act accordingly, they ar still belittled from both men and other women. Through his portrayal of sexist triple standards and societys rejection of diverse gender expression, Aeschylus exposes the widespread, raw on a lower floorestimation of females, who in the end, ironically possess authority. \nFor an Athenian citizen, causation and strength are intrinsic qualities to have in order of magnitude to be respected; soon enough such traits are deemed in any case 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 virility 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 resplendency of men who toppled Troy with steel of singing steel, go at the beck and call of a percolate of women. Woman-hearted he is (Aes., Ag., ll. 307-311). Aeschylus specifically uses this abduce to show Orestess disapproval of Aegisthus who rest at home under the rule of Clytemnestra, while other real men worry Agamemnon defend Athens. \nHowever, Aeschylus also highlights Orestess misogynistic views towards his avouch drive, a perspective that resurfaces. For instance, Orestes maintains these views pull down when he disguises himself as a foreigner t o greet his mother: Come out! Whoever rules the house. The womanhood in charge. No, the man, bet...