Waiting for news Flashcards
Aeschylus’ familiarity with the theme
Aeschylus fought for Greeks against Persians many times and so will be familiar with anxiety of waiting on news and with anxiety/grief when finding out about losses (brother)
-> Greek audience also had to wait and find out about consequence of the war although not as dramatic for them because they live in Greece where battle happened
-> Athenians lost Athens for a while in battle and therefore are familiar with waiting to find out what has happened to your home
What does the theme explore?
explores human nature as everyone worries and gets anxious about things out of their control
-> expresses the overwhelming feeling of dread and anxiety in the play
->universal and shared between contemporary and modern audience
How is waiting for news shown?
play told by those left behind - Atossa and chorus make up majority of story
-> large focus on anguish and anxiety of those who are left behind
“our hearts heave in our breasts”
“runner nor rider brings us word of them”
-> Atossa v worried about X “I too am torn by anxious thoughts”
Characters exploring the theme
many mentions of wives, mothers and women who anxiously await news about their men -> all they can do is worry bc they can’t go off to battle
In parados, concern for Persia undercuts the glory of the great Persian army, empathising the anxiety of those left behind
“I saw this night that past” “I saw an eagle […] then a falcon came […] and with his talons clawed the eagles heart”
- > Queen Atossa dreams and has sleepless nights about Xerxes (vision as well)
- > concern has affected her ability to focus and sleep
- > crippling fear for son and army
- > chorus build on Atossa’s fears by telling her that the Greeks beat Darius
Finding out about news
When the messenger comes to tell that Persia has lost, there is an overwhemling feeling of despair and loss
->chorus laments over and over about the widows left behind etc. (who have been stuck waiting for news the entire time)
