Zeus Character Analysis in The Libation Bearers

The Chorus, Electra, and Orestes constantly invoke the king of the gods, Zeus, in their speeches and prayers. All the actions of the play, we as the audienceare to understand, take place only because Zeus allows and wills them to. The characters think of Zeus as incredibly present in their everyday lives, and believe that he is always watching over them and ultimately controlling their actions.

Zeus Character Timeline in The Libation Bearers

The timeline below shows where the character Zeus appears in The Libation Bearers. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...her mother (a betrayer), and her sister (Iphigenia, dead at Agamemnon’s hands). Electra prays to Zeus, the king of the gods, for safety and success. (full context)

The Chorus, too, prays to Zeus, comparing the dead Agamemnon to an eagle killed by a treacherous snake. They once again... (full context)

...and the Chorus gather to pray at the grave. The Chorus invokes the Fates and Zeus, praying that they exact justice. Orestes prays to his father and to his ancestors. The... (full context)

Alone onstage again, the Chorus prays to Zeus, begging him to grant Orestes good fortune, and asserting that they are on the side... (full context)

With Aegisthus gone, the Chorus prays to Zeus once more, begging the god for Orestes’ success. They compare him to a “young god”... (full context)