First of all, reading "The Oresteia" is MUCH more enjoyable than reading anything by Northrop Frye. I think I am actually getting a handle on it for the most part...all of the story seems to be making sense (atleast on a literal level!) One thing that I definately have a question about though is simply, "What is 'The Oresteia'"? It seems to me as though it is telling exactly the same story as the "Illiad" and the "Odyssey" do. Is it just another author's rendition of the same story? If anyone is able to answer this for me I would really appreciate it!

Also, here is one highlight I found from my reading today. (Pg. 18) I had been wondering why these people were so bent on violence and revenge and Fagles answered it beautifully for me. He points out how the Greeks were under the extreme influence of Dionysus. In my mythologies class we have probably studied about 5 different Dionysus type characters. I think that he was such a popular god because people actually enjoyed being under his sphere of influence! I mean, it actually allowed them to act not under any moral code but under the banner of "...but I have to be true to myself...!" In the case of the House of Atreus, the children felt that they had to be true to their family line and in order to do so revenge was more than "an option"; it HAD to be done. In doing so, they would become almost superhuman or something. Anyhow, I just thought that was kind of interesting. Hope you all are enjoying your reading!