Fighting Injustice in Ancient Greece

The use of violence as the answer to injustice is addressed in both the Odyssey and the Agamemnon. Violent revenge as a form of punishment was commonplace in Greek culture, but its effectiveness varies between these works. Odysseus' violent retribution against the suitors in his house proved to be successful in ending the injustice that was created by the suitors. On the other hand, the violence used by Clytaemnestra against Agamemnon and Cassandra in retaliation for Agamemnon's killing of their daughter just caused more violence, as Orestes avenged Agamemnon's death by killing Clytaemnestra and Aegisthus. The two different views of violence as the answer to injustice given by Homer and Aeschylus reveal a contradiction in how appropriate violence is in resolving injustice. While Homer's story depicts a situation in which all is well after Odysseus uses violence to combat the injustice taking place in his house, Aeschylus shows that acts of violence simply inspire more acts of violence in the form of revenge. The contradiction in the effectiveness of the violence reflects a problem still seen in today's society - whether vengeful violence cures injustice or just incites more violence. Though Homer and Aeschylus each use their literary works to offer their ideas about justice, the use of violence as a solution to injustice used by Homer is old-fashioned and inhumane compared to Aeschylus method of reasoning and consideration.

Both Odysseus and Clytaemnestra attempt to bring a final peace to their houses by exacting revenge on those who have brought trouble to their respective houses. In the Odyssey, Odysseus' revenge is repeatedly referred to as the "purge of his house." He is essentially wiping out an infection that is the sui...

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... a clear attempt to show that this form of justice not only does not work, but it causes more injustices and suffering. As the story of Agamemnon and Clytaemnestra progresses into The Libation Bearers, and The Eumenides Aeschylus offers a different form of justice for the time, one quite similar to a modern day trial. After Orestes exacts revenge on his mother and his mother sends the Furies to haunt him in revenge, the audience realizes that this cannot go on. Eventually a trial is created for Orestes by Athene, the goddess of wisdom. Aeschylus provides an alternative method of justice that is both more humane and reasonable. The innovative method Aeschylus describes outshines Homer's more ancient method of justice by a considerable margin. The audience sees that the best way to combat injustice is not with hateful instincts, rather with reason and consideration.