love-hate relationships in the libation bearers

Hate-in-love

"Also called philos-aphilos, this central theme is explained by Lattimore in his introduction (9-10). Aristotle writes in the Poetics that violence between those who are close is part of tragedy; the violence in the Oresteia all occurs between family members. Consequently, no murder can occur without guilt, and love is always accompanied by fear. The viper nursing at Clytaemestra's breast is a symbol of this theme. Hate and love have a complicated relationship with each other; at times, they drive each other on rather than alleviate each other. An example is the fierce bitterness and hatred Electra and Orestes have for her mother. Much of her hate comes from the fact that she feels rejected by Clytaemestra; her betrayal of them could not cause so much hatred if she were not their mother."