Why does Orestes refuse to call Clytemnestra "mother"?

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Centering on the prompt: Why does Orestes refuse to call Clytemnestra 'mother'?
Option 1: 'He is not really her son' suggests a biological or adoptive exclusion. In the traditional myths, Orestes is clearly described as the son of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra; there is no canonical basis to claim he is not her son. This option hinges on a factual detail that the narrative does not support, making it a misrepresentation of his lineage.
Option 2: 'He has been adopted by Artemis' proposes a later supernatural intervention as the reason for his speech act. While Artemis does feature in the myth and helps Orestes against the Furies, adoption by Artemis is not the reason given for his refusal to call his mother 'mother'. The option combines a factual claim about adoption with a deity’s involvement in the plot, which is inaccurate as a direct explanation for the linguistic gesture.
Option 3: 'He is ashamed of her behavior' presents a morally grounded motivation. Orestes’ actions spring from revulsion at his mother’s role in the murder of his father and in the broader moral reckoning invoked by the saga; feeling ashamed or repulsed by her betrayal can be read as the reason for withholding the familial term, since calling someone 'mother' would acknowledge a bond that he perceives as compromised by her actions.
Option 4: 'A and B' combines the incorrect assertion about his not being her son with the adoption-by-Artemis idea. Since both A and B are not fitting explanations—and especially since A is factually unsupported—the combination compounds those errors and does not coherently explain Orestes’ refusal.
Option 5: 'A and C' pairs the incorrect claim that he is not really her son with the morally plausible reason that he is ashamed of her behavior. While the second component has some interpretive validity, the first component is false, so the overall pairing misleads by including an unwarranted premise.
Overall, the most coherent explanation among the options is the moral reaction to Clytemnestra’s deeds, rather than a claim about lineage or divine adoption. The other choices either misstate his lineage, misattribute a dramatic plot device, or improperly mix incorrect with correct ideas.

CLA 010Y 001 SQ 2025 Orestes Quiz

Why does Orestes refuse to call Clytemnestra "mother"?

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