Thursday, 19 June 2008: complete The Homecoming (1931)

Text-objective discussion: Victoria Ortiz

Mourning Becomes Electra:

The Homecoming

In Relation to the Tragedies:

Agamemnon

             Characters:

Parallels:

1.      Wife welcomes the war hero into the home.

2.      Wife inflicts murder.

3.      Wife having an affair.

4.      Lover no involved in murder.

5.      Other?

Contrast:

1.      Chorus less involved.

2.      Wife less welcoming.

3.      Not prophesied.

4.      Other?

Can you think of other literature or medium that has retold this story?

Oedipus the King and Hamlet

Parallels:

1.      Male in high status falls from graces.

2.      Oedipal Complex and Electra Complex.

3.      Mystery

4.       Other?

Contrast:

1.      Complex not acted on.

2.      Male does not die.

3.      Other?

Does The Homecoming need Lavina’s Electra complex to be a tragedy?

·        O’Neill

a.       271 Lavinia-“He needs me more!”

b.      278 Brant

                                                                           i.      37 Sophocles Jocasta-“Do not worry you will wed your mother.  
It’s true that in their dreams a lot of men                

have slept with their own mothers, but someone   

who ignores all this bears life more easily.  ”

c.       289 Christine

d.      292 Christine and Brant

e.       305 Lavinia-“You’re the only man I’ll ever love! I am going to stay with you.”

The Homecoming retells the story of Agamemnon; however, does The Homecoming have the same impact as a tragedy as Agamemnon?

·        Welcoming

a.       O’Neill, 302

                                                               i.      Tense, Awkward, and Strained

b.      Aeschylus, 29-31

                                                               i.      Extravagant, Welcoming, and Lukewarm  

·        Ezra / Agamemnon

a.       O’Neill, 307-310

                                                               i.      Love and Devotion

b.      Aeschylus, 29-31

                                                               i.      Humble and Yielding

·        Christine / Clytemnestra

a.       O’Neill, 293-297

                                                               i.      Manipulator and Murderer for Desire

b.      Aeschylus, 49-58

                                                               i.      Sneaky and Murderer to Avenge