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One testament to the impact of Ancient Greek tragedy is its enduring relevance. In this course, we’ll examine one story told over and over again over the millennia: The murder of the Greek warlord by the Agamemnon by his wife Clytemnestra and his cousin Aegisthus. This act prompts still more familial violence: But will the cycle of violence continue forever or can the curse finally be broken?
Together we’ll carefully examine 3 versions of this story told by the greatest Greek Tragedians. Then we’ll jump forward to Eugene O’Neill’s shocking Freudian re-telling of the story, Mourning Becomes Electra (1931), and two works by 21st century playwrights that use the tragedy to confront modern problems. Luis Alfaro’s Electricidad (2003) locates the cycle of violence in the Latinx communities of Los Angeles, while Yael Farber’s 2008 South African treatment, Molora, uses the saga to address post-apartheid reconciliation. Through these plays, ancient and modern, we will confront fundamental truths about humanity, our place in the world, what we can and cannot change about our fates, and about the benefits and challenges of family and civilization.
