“The family I have now protected for year… He left behind a son, the one who lives here now, And he’s as bad as dad and granddad were before, And yet his only daughter daily worships me.”

The given lines are spoken by Apollo in Aeschylus’ The Eumenides, the final play of The Oresteia trilogy. In this passage, Apollo defends his long-standing protection of the House of Atreus, particularly his role in guiding and justifying the actions of Orestes, who has killed his mother Clytemnestra to avenge his father Agamemnon. These lines reflect Apollo’s divine authority, his moral reasoning, and the inherited curse that haunts the family across generations.

When Apollo says, “The family I have now protected for years”, he refers to his guardianship over the Atreid lineage, a house marked by bloodshed, revenge, and moral corruption. The House of Atreus is infamous in Greek mythology for its cycle of violence—beginning with Tantalus, continuing through Atreus and Thyestes, and later manifesting in Agamemnon’s sacrifice of his daughter Iphigenia and Clytemnestra’s murder of Agamemnon. Apollo positions himself as a stabilizing divine force attempting to bring order and justice to a family otherwise ruled by vengeance and inherited guilt.

The line “He left behind a son, the one who lives here now” clearly refers to Agamemnon’s son, Orestes, who has taken refuge at Apollo’s temple in Delphi after committing matricide. Orestes’ presence there emphasizes Apollo’s direct involvement in human affairs, especially in matters of justice and moral obligation. Importantly, Orestes did not act on impulse; he killed Clytemnestra on Apollo’s command. Thus, Apollo assumes responsibility for Orestes’ actions and openly challenges the authority of the Furies, who demand punishment for the crime of killing one’s mother.

Apollo’s admission that Orestes is “as bad as dad and granddad were before” acknowledges the deeply ingrained moral corruption of the Atreid family. This statement is significant because it shows Apollo’s realism and honesty—he does not idealize Orestes as a flawless hero. Instead, he recognizes that violence has been normalized within this lineage. However, unlike the Furies, who see only crime and blood-guilt, Apollo believes that this cycle can be broken through rational justice rather than endless revenge.

The most striking part of the passage is the contrast Apollo draws between Orestes and his sister: “And yet his only daughter daily worships me.” This refers to Electra, Agamemnon’s daughter, who remains devoted to Apollo and supports Orestes’ act of vengeance. Electra represents loyalty to the father and faith in divine justice. Her devotion highlights an important theme in The Oresteia: the shift from primitive, blood-based justice to a more reasoned and institutional form of law supported by the Olympian gods.

Electra’s worship also strengthens Apollo’s argument that Orestes’ act was not morally isolated or purely criminal. It had social and religious approval within the family. While the Furies represent ancient, chthonic laws centered on maternal bonds and blood vengeance, Apollo represents a newer moral order that prioritizes paternal authority, social stability, and divine command. This ideological conflict lies at the heart of The Eumenides.

Apollo’s defense of Orestes must also be understood within the larger purpose of the play—to dramatize the evolution of justice. Apollo’s position is not that Orestes is innocent in a simplistic sense, but that his crime must be judged within a broader ethical and legal framework. This ultimately leads to the establishment of the Athenian court of the Areopagus, presided over by Athena, where reasoned debate replaces endless cycles of revenge.

Thus, the passage underscores Apollo’s role as both protector and reformer. He recognizes human weakness and inherited guilt but insists that divine guidance and rational judgment can bring resolution. By invoking his long protection of the Atreid family and the contrasting devotion of Electra, Apollo argues that justice must evolve beyond primitive retaliation.

In conclusion, this passage highlights the central concerns of The Eumenides: inherited sin, divine authority, and the transformation of justice. Apollo’s words reveal his commitment to ending the curse of the House of Atreus and establishing a new moral order. Through his defense of Orestes, Aeschylus presents a powerful vision of justice grounded in reason, law, and divine balance rather than endless bloodshed.

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