In the greek tragedies read in this class, there are many characters who suffer the consequences of their knowledge of their ignorance, because when they receive knowledge, it is too late. This is a recurring theme in greek tragedies, and is very evident when further investigated. According to Merriam Webster Dictionary, ignorance is “a lack of knowledge, understanding, or education,” (“Ignorance”) and knowledge is “information, understanding, or skill that you get from experience or education,” or the “awareness of something” (“Knowledge”). In Aeschylus’ Oresteia, there are many cases where ignorance is present and is a hindrance. In Agamemnon, Clytemnestra kills Agamemnon, and he never sees it coming. This is ignorance on Agamemnon’s part because he brings Cassandra back with him which is proof of his unloyalty to…show more content… This family curse ends with the death of many family members. In the first play, Oedipus Tyrannus, Oedipus and Jocasta finally realize that they are son and mother and Oedipus realized that he killed his father just as predicted by the oracle. When they realize this, Oedipus says “I am exposed-born to forbidden parents, joined in forbidden marriage, I brought forth forbidden death” (OT 1184-1185). Although Oedipus already killed his father and brought death, he would go on to, in a sense, be responsible for the death of his mother/wife, himself, and his daughter/sister. When they lived in ignorance, they lived blissfully, and knowledge brought death. In the next play, Oedipus at Colonus, Oedipus’ knowledge brings him nothing more to live for and death. He was known and mocked for his ignorance. At Colonus, Oedipus says “Here I’ve come to rest, forever...my destiny” (OC 45, 47). Here Oedipus has accepted his past ignorance and his current knowledge. In these plays, knowledge of ignorance led to
