How we cite our quotes: (Line)
Quote #1
(Prophetess): "Terrifying! Terrifying to describe, and to see with one's eyes—things to send me back out of Loxias' house, so that I have no strength and cannot stand upright. I am running on my hands, without the quickness of feet and legs. An old woman in terror is nothing—no more than a child." (34-38)
These words from the Prophetess of Apollo show the incredible power of Fear: it can even make us act physically in ways that we never would ordinarily. This comes in the woman's description of herself as "running on [her] hands without the quickness of feet and legs." Remember that this is a play, so the actor would acting out this movement at the same time that he (all actors in ancient Greece were male) was describing it. This means that we've got a double-whammy of emphasis here just to make sure you don't miss the point. When the Prophetess is in terror, it's almost as if she loses what is human about her, and becomes almost an animal, running on all fours. Why do you think Aeschylus emphasized this gesture in this way?
Quote #2
(Chorus of Furies): "A man does not know he falls, the maiming takes his wits away;
such a darkness of pollution hovers over him.Rumour and much groaning speak of a murk misting over his house." (377-380)
If you've ever seen the movie Dr. Strangelove, you'll know that "The whole point of a Doomsday Machine is lost if you keep it a secret." Basically, the idea is that the point of punishing people is lost if they don't know it's going to happen. On the other hand, when people do know that they are going to be punished for doing bad things, they become afraid, and this can prevent them from doing bad things. What do you think about the fact that the Furies boast about how "A man does not know he falls" when they swoop down and attack him (377). Doesn't that just show that they haven't really thought their job through?
Quote #3
(Chorus of Furies): "Who can there be of mortals
not in holy awe and fear of this,in hearing from me
fate's decreed ordinance, a power bestowed
by god to the full? An ancient privilege
is resting with me, and I meet with no dishonour
although I have my station
below earth, in dark without sunlight." (389-396)
It looks like the Furies are your typical bullies. If they can't get respect any other way, they're only too happy to make you respect them using fear.