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Agamemnon
The god of the sun, prophecy, and reason, Apollo is not a character within The Libation Bearers (although he does make an appearance in The Eumenides), but Orestes and Pylades often make reference to him. He is Orestes’ patron, and has sent Orestes back to Argos expressly to avenge Agamemnon by killing Clytemnestra. Apollo's blessing makes Orestes believe that his matricide (killing of his mother) is not just divinely sanctioned, but inevitable.
Apollo Quotes in The Libation Bearers
The The Libation Bearers quotes below are all either spoken by Apollo or refer to Apollo. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Lines 1-585
Quotes
Apollo will never fail me, no,
his tremendous power, his oracle charges me
to see this trial through.
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Explanation and Analysis:
Lines 719-1065
Quotes
Clytemnestra: Wait, my son—no respect for this, my child?
The breast you held, drowsing away the hours,
soft gums tugging the milk that made you grow?
Orestes: What will I do, Pylades?—I dread to kill my mother!
Pylades: What of the future? What of the Prophet God Apollo,
the Delphic voice, the faith and oaths we swear?
Make all mankind your enemy, not the gods.
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Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
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Apollo Quotes in The Libation Bearers
The The Libation Bearers quotes below are all either spoken by Apollo or refer to Apollo. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Lines 1-585
Quotes
Apollo will never fail me, no,
his tremendous power, his oracle charges me
to see this trial through.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Lines 719-1065
Quotes
Clytemnestra: Wait, my son—no respect for this, my child?
The breast you held, drowsing away the hours,
soft gums tugging the milk that made you grow?
Orestes: What will I do, Pylades?—I dread to kill my mother!
Pylades: What of the future? What of the Prophet God Apollo,
the Delphic voice, the faith and oaths we swear?
Make all mankind your enemy, not the gods.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
