Themes of Deception and Justice in "The Orestia" and "Leda and The Swan"

There are several themes in common that are developed in The Oresteia and Leda and the Swan. I have chosen to focus on deception and justice. Deception and justice is central to both works. They show justice in many different forms, such as revenge, vengeance, divine justice and civil justice. Deception takes different forms as well, physical and verbal. The theme of deception is most obvious in Leda and the Swan. Here deception takes on …

…with the rays of dawn" (40). All is revealed in the final play, when night descends and the truth is revealed. In addition, The Oresteia is about the possibilities for realizing justice in the fullest sense of the word. According to Aeschylus, justice needs to progress with the society or justice is not accomplishing what it should. Aeschylus' portrayal of justice as revenge evolves into a society that rebels against autocratic justice and embraces civic justice.