Aeschylus's classic trilogy, The Oresteia, traces the events leading up to the Trojan War and Clytemnestra's revenge on her husband for the murder of their daughter. The other two plays deal with the outcome of Agamemnon's death at the hands of his wife and Clytemnestra's death at the hands of their son, Orestes. A smash hit since 458 B.C.E., The Oresteia has influenced the development of tragic drama ever since.

Medea, Euripides's fourth-century B.C.E. blood tragedy explores the impact of characters caught in a cycle of revenge and murder. Much like Morning Star has Patrick kill Michael and then has Jeremiah punish him, Medea kills her children to punish her unfaithful husband, Jason. Everyone in the play gets caught up in the web of bloodshed and murder and they all pay for their crimes, save Medea who...