Work · Jean-Paul Sartre
The Flies
Orestes returns to Argos, where Aegisthus and Jupiter rule through guilt. His act interrupts remorse without securing the people's support.
Understanding the text
This rewriting of the Atreus myth was first staged in occupied Paris in 1943, using ancient drama to examine remorse, authority and freedom.
Key points
- 01
Remorse
Cultivated collective guilt can become an instrument of government.
- 02
Freedom
Orestes assumes his act without divine justification.
- 03
People
Liberating oneself does not immediately make others free on one's command.
How to read it
Compare Orestes and Electra: similar actions carry different relationships to responsibility.
Editions & sources
Summaries and key points are original editorial interpretations. They accompany reading the work and do not replace an edition of the text. Editorial method ↗