The Chorus in Aeschylus’ Agamemnon: A Famous Quote

Theatre of Dionysus, Athens

Blog 51

“In our sleep, pain, which cannot forget, falls drop by drop upon the heart until, in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom through the awful grace of God.”

Chorus in Aeschylus’ Agamemnon

The word “theatre” finds its origin in the ancient Greek word “théatron” (θέατρον), which means “to behold” or “to view.” “Théatron" is derived from “theasthai" (θεάομαι), meaning “to see, watch, observe.” The meaning of theatre originally indicated that we go to see drama to be in touch with God and to observe the divine in others.

In ancient Greece, where tragedies and comedies were a civic and religious event, plays were created to celebrate Dionysus, the god of wine, revelry, and theatre. They began with an invocation to the gods, or sometimes the muses. Though now many people go to the theatre strictly for recreational pleasure, drama and its rituals used to be quite holy.

Just one line from a great Greek tragedy, like the quote above, can evoke powerful emotions and stimulate profound thought even today. Richard H. Armstrong has written, “The theater is a profoundly psychological medium; but this means more than just exposing psychic truths to light. Theater also tells the truth about our dishonesty; think how many plays are about intrigues, plots, and deceptions. Or how many are about self-deception and illusion. Playwright David Mamet says, ‘Drama ... is about discovering the truth that had previously been obscured by lies, and about our persistence in accepting lies.’ So truth and drama stand in a tense relationship.”

Let’s look at the truth in this quote phrase by phrase to see how penetrating the Greek playwrights were.

“In our sleep…” In Agamemnon, Aeschylus (in the above quote) says that even when we are resting, painful experiences from our past can continue to affect us, slowly wearing away at our spirit until, in our deepest moments of despair, we gain wisdom despite ourselves. This perception is a gift from a higher power, even though the process of learning from that suffering is rarely pleasant, and seldom willingly chosen. 

Dionysus Theatre Athens from above

“Pain which cannot forget…” We all suffer from distressing events in the past. The pain may be caused by natural disasters, abuse, accidents, divorce, illness, death of a loved one, or many other traumas. Difficult experiences remain in our souls, hearts, minds, and even our bodies. We often attempt to overcome the pain, and perhaps think we have — until we wake up in the middle of the night aching with the memory. Aeschylus indicates that it is the pain itself which fails to forget!

“Falls drop by drop upon the heart…” Like water dripping on a rock eventually leading to erosion and the formation of holes or hollows, these former sufferings slowly and relentlessly weigh upon us, even in our subconscious. And perhaps it is “upon the heart” where we are afflicted and affected most by this agony.

“Until…” Ah! Just like in his dramas, Aeschylus uses the word “until” as the pivotal position or turning point, that sudden reversal of fortune, or “peripeteia." This Greek word “peripeteia" — meaning “to fall around” or “to change suddenly” —  signifies a crucial turning point in a drama where the plot takes a significant shift, often leading to the protagonist's downfall or a major change in their circumstances. In this quote, “until” signifies a shift from what our suffering does to us to what it does for us.

“In our own despair…” At the Institute for Conscious Being, we call this point the Critical Mass of Suffering. We finally reach a juncture of such extreme anguish that we are finally open to the Divine. As we open to that Higher Power, discernment and change appear to us — and we find ourselves on a new path. 

“Against our will…” Opening to the Spirit during great suffering can lead to a deeper connection with the Divine, and the ability to find meaning and purpose in our lives, despite the pain. A wisdom grows, guiding us to a more profound understanding of life. This insight may come “against our will,” as we are busy avoiding confronting the pain and the profound lessons it teaches. 

“Through the awful grace of God…” The last phrase of this quote uttered by the Chorus refers to a powerful and transformative force that can come from suffering. The word “awful” originally meant “inspiring awe” or “worthy of respect or fear.” It has evolved to mean “terrible” or “extremely bad.” In this case, it really means both: the grace of God is awe-inspiring and leads us to a new life even though the uninvited suffering we have experienced  feels inhuman and ruthless. 

Aristotle originated the idea that the great tragedies of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides cleansed our hearts through pity and terror. A cathartic like Milk of Magnesia helps our bodies by promoting rapid and thorough evacuation of the bowels. But “kathairein” or “catharsis” is art’s way of releasing strong or pent-up emotions. As we sit in the audience and ponder the unfolding of Greek dramas, we are  cleansed and purged of our own trivial problems as we confront the idea that there can be nobility in suffering.