Their role in The Goat:
- Albee uses the idea of the Eumenides to highlight the moral and social consequences of shocking taboo behavior—in this case, Martin’s sexual relationship with a goat.
- They are evoked metaphorically, as forces of judgment, guilt, and retribution that descend upon Martin and disrupt the seemingly normal life of his family.
- Just as the Furies punish transgressions in Greek tragedy, the characters in Albee’s play experience social, psychological, and marital punishment.

Function in the play:
- The reference creates a classical parallel, giving the story a tragic dimension.
- It emphasizes the inevitability of moral reckoning, even in a modern and absurdist context.
- It adds to the play’s exploration of taboo, societal norms, and human frailty, linking personal transgression with universal consequences.