Q. Focusing on Aeschylus's Eumenides and one (only) additional text that we have read ( St.

paul, Hesiod, or Aristotle), answer the following Question: : How do these text illustrate the relationship between kinship and politics? Ok, maybe start off by saying something like in the Intro This essay will compare the way Aeschylus's Eumenides and Hesiods Children of Cronus illustrate the relationship between kinship and politics. The notion of kinship refers to...........where as the notion of politics refers to........... Specifically, the essay will examine....Sometimes the concept of kinship comes into conflict with politics and politics can also come between kinship. It is often thought that both these concepts are intertwined with one another and are reoccurring themes evident in such texts. This essay will therefore examine in great depth the concepts of kinship and politics in order to give greater insight into such notions explored in different texts throughout time.

Central argumentBoth texts suggest that the concept of kinship and politics are interlinked. E.g.Hesiods The idea that they are interlinked is apparent as wen Zeus is older he goes back and challenges his father to release his siblings-idea of kinship (family relations and also idea of looking out for each other etc-ideals of kinship within a society). Also, in regards to the issue of politics the fact that Zeus challenged the authority of his father and stood up to him in order to free his siblings-idea of politics (challenging authority). e.g.- And Zeus set it fast in the wide-pathed earth at goodly Pytho under the glens of Parnassus, to be a sign thenceforth and a marvel to mortal men.20 And he set free from their deadly bonds the brothers of his father, sons of Heaven whom his father in his foolishness had bound.

Also, the idea of kinship and politics is seen when Zeus, after freeing his brothers and sisters, gives them certain powers and gifts and the fact that they respect him after that e.g. And they remembered to be grateful to him for his kindness, and gave him thunder and the glowing thunderbolt and lightening: for before that, huge Earth had hidden these. In them he trusts and rules over mortals and immortals. This suggests kinship (in that trust is given amongst his brothers and sisters (family) and also politics (in that the use of power through Zeus-methods influencing the behaviour of his brother and sisters). Aeschylus's Eumenides Furies Eumenides Two Laws Kinship vs Politics Natural vs Artificial Unwritten vs Written Hereditary vs Election Family vs Citizenship Ancestral vs Present Predetermined vs Participation Notions that are apparent related to Kinship and PoliticsAncestral vs Present and also Family vs Citizenship (Mother vs Son) e.g. (lecture notes week 4) FURIES: You child of Zeus you, a common thief! Young god, you have ridden down the old gods You worship the suppliant, the godless man who tears his mothers heart The matricide, you steal him away, and you a god! Who can possibly say that such acts are just? (150-5, trans. modified) This suggests that Orestes is trying to disrupt the way of kinship (old gods vs new gods) as he murdered his mother (a blood relative) and the idea of politics comes into play here as the furies are questioning his behaviour (casting judgment upon him).

Also, Trial of Justice (lecture notes week 4) e.g. Athena: Now have we heard enough? May I have them cast their honest lots according to their just judgment? (685-6, trans. modified) This also suggests the idea of politics (casting judgment upon him-system of law-concepts of justice and fairness). And in the lecture notes, where the slides talk about against the laws of kinship and then against the laws of politics use these examples (quotes and others you can maybe find) to discuss the idea that kinship and politics can co-exist within society however the ideals can be in conflict. e.g. In theory, they co-exist in society e.g. care about your family etc and politics should be upheld but like society today not everyone thinks this way and agrees and so they sometimes rebel against it e.g. Apollo doesnt think that Orestes is guilty as he believes that a mother is not really a true blood relative and so the fact that he killed her to avenge his father should mean that he should go unpunished. e.g. APOLLO: Here is the truth, I tell you - see how right I am. 665 The woman you call the mother of the child is not the parent, just a nurse to the seed, the new-sown seed that grows and swells inside her. The man is the source of life - the one who mounts. She, like a stranger for a stranger, keeps 670 the shoot alive unless god hurts the roots. I give you proof that all I say is true. The father can father forth without a mother. Here she stands, our living witness. Look Exhibiting ATHENA. Child sprung full-blown from Olympian Zeus, 675 never bred in the darkness of the womb but such a stock no goddess could conceive! And I, Pallas, with all my strong techniques will rear your host and battlements to glory. 15 Refer to explanation in link below **** e.g. Against the laws of kinship LEADER: Matricides: we drive them from their houses. APOLLO: And what of the wife who strikes her husband down? LEADER: That murder would not destroy ones flesh and blood. APOLLO: [...] Marriage of man and wife is Fate itself, stronger than oaths, and Justice guards its life. But if one destroys the other and you relent no revenge, not a glance in anger then I say your manhunt of Orestes is unjust. Some things stir your rage, I see.

Others, atrocious crimes, lull your will to act. Pallas will oversee this trial. She is one of us. (209-22) This suggests that Orestes is going against the laws of kinship (killing his mother) as he doesn't think that he deserves any punishment for his actions, since he was merely avenging the death of his father Agamemnon, whom his mother killed. e.g. Against the laws of politics CHORUS: Here, now, is the overthrow of every instituted law once his appeal, his outrage wins the day, his matricide! One act links all mankind, hand to desperate hand in bloody license. Over and over death strokes dealt by children wait their parents, mortal generations still unborn. (518-12, trans. mod.) This suggests that the Furies believe that Altheas decision is going against kinship as they believe (go against the laws of politics) that it is not right that the killing of Orestess mother is accepted because of the politics of the situation (he is trying to avenge his fathers death). This is also a good website you might want to check out which explains what the text is about (might help you get around it and understand it better when you re-read over it. I think it helps put the plot into context) **** http://www.bookrags.com/notes/eum/SUM.html

Same with this link (even the discussion topics on it, I think are worth a quick read. They help you think about the events in the text and make you reflect upon them) http://www.gradesaver.com/the-eumenides/