The Eumenides" the Furies assert that murdering one's husband is not as bad as murdering one's mother because husband and wife are not "flesh and blood" (240). Why does Apollo disagree with the Furies?

As you can see below, he disagrees because "a marriage sealed by fate is stronger than any oath." As you can see the marriage or contract between two people is considered stronger than the bonds of blood. Oaths are taken through "free will," (well, we always hope they are), whereas ties of blood involve no choice at all.

APOLLO

250

What's that? Proclaim your fine authority.

CHORUS LEADER

We chase out of their homes those criminals [210]

who slaughter their own mothers.

APOLLO

What about a wife who kills her husband?

CHORUS LEADER

That's not blood murder in the family.

APOLLO

What about Zeus and his queen Hera—

your actions bring disgrace on them.

You ignore the strongest bonds between them.

Your claim dishonours Aphrodite, too,

goddess of love, from whom all men derive 260

their greatest joys. With man and woman

a marriage sealed by fate is stronger

than any oath, and justice guards it.

Now, if one partner kills the other one,

and you're not interested in punishment, [220]

if you feel no urge to act, then I say

the way you chase Orestes is unjust.

I don't see why in one case you're so harsh

when you don't really care about the other.

However, goddess Athena will take charge— 270

she'll organize a trial.