How The Eumenides is Symbolic of Political Changes.
             Throughout history, literature has been used to represent the politics of the times. Thus is true in Aeschylus' The Eumenides. The struggle of old and new, dark and light, woman and man, is part of how Aeschylus represents the changing politics of Athens at the time.
             The struggle between old and new is represented by the conflict between the Erinyes and Apollo. The Erinyes are used to the old ways of doing things. They are of an older generation than Apollo, Athena, and even Zeus. The Erinyes are used to being able to complete their tasks of pursuing those guilty of bloodletting. However, Apollo takes away their powers in The Eumenides by stating that Orestes is not guilty of bloodletting. This action by Apollo does not allow them to complete their task. By Apollo being involved, Athena uses the courts to decide on this homicide case. This represents the Aeropagus' duty of dealing with homicide cases.
             The Erinyes represent a chthonian goddess. They are of the earth and dark. They are born of Mother Night, so they are born for vengeance. Being female, they represent vengeance, violence, the old, and the primal. The Erinyes are given their powers to pursue those who commit the crime of bloodletting because the gods didn't want to deal with. Aeschylus uses the Erinyes to represent the old form of politics, the way the Aeropagus was before Ephialtes reformed it in 461 BCE. The Erinyes losing their powers is symbolic of the Aeropagus losing its powers.
             Apollo represents the younger generation of the gods. He is a god of the sky and light. He is the God of healing, music, and prophecy. Apollo, being male, represents the rational, the young, and the civilized. Athena is the virginal Goddess of wisdom and craft (cunningness and war). She is born with the wisdom of Zeus and also represents the younger generation of the gods. And although she is a woman she has the wis...