Author Date

2024-02-23

Degree Name

Department

English

College

Humanities

Defense Date

2024-02-23

Publication Date

2024-02-23

First Faculty Advisor

Spencer Hyde

First Faculty Reader

Stephen Bay

Honors Coordinator

Aaron Eastley

Keywords

retributive justice, Oresteia, moral ambiguity, Aesculus, YA fantasy, creative writing

Abstract

Rooted in Greek myth and Himalayan culture, The Hornet’s Nest is a high fantasy novel revolving around two women; Lady Nestra, a stepmother set on avenging her family, and Ambrosi, the youngest daughter of the husband Nestra plans to kill. Told through Ambrosi’s eyes, The Hornet’s Nest is based on Aeschylus’ famous Oresteia trilogy and is a study on moral relativism, justice, and the bloody cycle of revenge. This thesis contains 100 pages of the novel and a critical analysis that deconstructs its relationship with the original plays. It focuses on the parallels between Nestra and Ambrosi, and how their inspirations (Clytemnestra, Orestes, and Cassandra) push against the modern interpretation of heroes. The purpose of this project is to challenge audiences to examine the revenge script to determine when retribution is justified and reevaluate how morality is portrayed in Western fiction.