Orestes returns to his father's grave to execute a blood-vengeance against his mother, Clytemnestra, for the murder of Agamemnon. Driven by the command of Apollo, Orestes must navigate the moral weight of matricide while securing the support of his sister, Electra. The narrative unfolds through a series of ritualistic encounters and intense dialogues that test the protagonist's resolve against the backdrop of divine mandate and ancestral curse. The play utilizes the traditional structure of Greek tragedy, emphasizing the tension between familial duty and the horror of the act required to restore justice.

Discussion often centers on the psychological complexity of Orestes as he grapples with the necessity of his violent mission. Readers frequently highlight the stark contrast between the domestic intimacy of the siblings' reunion and the public, ritualized nature of the final confrontation. Critics often focus on the play's role as the pivotal bridge between the initial murder of Agamemnon and the eventual resolution of the curse in the final installment of the trilogy. The effectiveness of the chorus in maintaining the play's somber tone is a frequent point of analysis in academic circles. Scholars continue to debate the extent to which the play serves as a critique of the archaic blood-feud system.