As the play opens with a soliloquy from the Watchman, he introduces Clytemnestra as one who "wears/ A man's heart in a woman's body,/ A man's dreadful will in the scabbard of her body/ Like a polished blade. Gravity. Agamemnon is the first of three plays included in Aeschylus's trilogy, The Oresteia.First performed during the 5th century B.C., Aeschylus's work set the bar for . But when, on the eve of the Trojan War, Agamemnon betrays Clytemnestra in the most unimaginable way, she must confront the curse that has long ravaged their family. When Menelaus' wife, Helen, was taken to Troy by Paris, Agamemnon commanded the united Greek armed forces in the ensuing Trojan War. Agamemnon was a king of Mycenae in Greek mythology. Clytemnestra's vengefulness saw no bounds. Even though Agamemnon gets a shout-out in the play's title, Clytemnestra may well be its most interesting character. The ancient Greek play Agamemnon is the first of a series of tragedies in the trilogy The Oresteia by Aeschylus.. Agamemnon himself is the King of Argos, who is returning home from the The Trojan War after enslaving Cassandra, the daughter of the Trojan king, Priam. Her most important characteristic is like the . This characteristic is not necessarily typical of women of her time. In Aeschylus" tragedy Agamemnon the character of Clytemnestra is portrayed as strong willed woman. 302. She also murders Cassandra, Agamemnon's concubine. For the most part she is Agamemnon's no good wife. He was the son (or grandson) of Atreus, king of Mycenae, and his wife Aërope and was the brother of Menelaus. . Spell. "…they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices." (Proverbs 1:31-32) Never has this been more true within literature than in the tragic story of the immortal blood curse shadowing the House of Atreus. Richmond Lattimore has drawn a pen picture of the woman of the heroic age; " they are people of character with will and temper of their own; but if . To learn more about the historical background and the characters of Agamemnon, Libation Bearers and Eumenides, and to read a scene-by-scene summary of these plays in addition to play-specific analyses, please consult the articles of the individual plays.. Agamemnon Agamemnon is set in front of the palace of Argos.At the beginning of the play, a Watcher notices a beacon . Clytemnestra. The queen of Argos, and its ruler in her husband Agamemnon 's absence. The captive princess and prophet Cassandra foretells her own death and Agamemnon's at the hands of the vengeful Clytemnestra. : Top Ten Quotes. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. With the fury of a mother betrayed, Clytemnestra waits for his return. Agamemnon, was the first of a trilogy of plays (the Oresteia), performed back to back during the Great Dionysia of 458BC; it focused on two generations of 'The Cursed House of Atreus'. This tragic play of revenge revolves around Clytemnestra, who has been unfaithful to her husband and king, Agamemnon. Adultery, power and revenge drive this new telling of a Greek legend. As a result, the reader must take a deeper look into the understanding of Clytemnestra. Second, of course, his wife and the mother of Iphigenia, is outraged. as you like, it's all the same to me.". In the case of Clytemnestra, Agamemnon had sinned against her by killing their young daughter Iphiginia. It details the homecoming of Agamemnon, King of Mycenae, from the Trojan War.After ten years of warfare, Troy had fallen and all of Greece could lay claim to victory. PLAY. Not even he who in time past was great, bounding in boldness irresistible, he . Created by. Aegisthus helps Clytemnestra in order to rule the kingdom of Mycenae alongside with Clytemnestra. Clytemnestra is one of the most ruthless characters in "The Odyessey". The chorus of elders that oversees the events sees the destructive and frightening power of this female . "Kneel beside Zeus, and clasp his knees, remind him of that, in hope he might now choose to help the Trojans, pin down the Achaeans among their ships, slaughter them on the4 shore, so they may reap their king's reward, and imperious Agamemnon may realize his blindness in . AGAMEMNON CHARACTERS IN THE PLAY. He leaves their kingdom to include himself in a 10 year battle between Greeks and Spartans instead. which now must have its way. Click to copy. Agamemnon is a major figure in Greek mythology. AGAMEMNON, son of Atreus and King of Argos and Mycenae; Commander-in-Chief of the Greek armies in the War against Troy. CASSANDRA: Oh, mistery, misery! OhThatHenry. Achilles anger for Agamemnon is a serious turning point in the story. When Agamemnon came back from the Trojan War, Clytemnestra and Aegistus teamed up and . ― Aeschylus, The Oresteia. The Chorus laments the murder, blaming Agamemnon's death on Helen of Troy. A hidden blade" (5). Ten years passed and Clytemnestra and her lover, Aegisthus, Agamemnon's cousin, were well prepped to avenge the murder. The play opens with a sole watchman on the roof of King Agamemnon's palace in Argos, begging the gods for a chance to rest. Amreeta Das, UG-3, Roll no.- 31 The character of Clytemnestra has generated enduring fascination in the history of literary reworkings of Greek myths. Plays: Clytemnestra. The Murder of Agamemnon. His wife, Clytemnestra, cheated on him with Aegisthus. Agamemnon, in Greek legend, king of Mycenae or Argos. Plays: Clytemnestra. Agamemnon is the first in the trilogy of plays known as the Oresteia, written by Greek playwright Aeschylus in the fifth century B.C. CASSANDRA, daughter of Priam, King of Troy, a prophetess; now slave to Agamemnon. Clytemnestra (Κλυταιμήστρην) was the daughter of King Tyndareus of Sparta and his wife Leda. Unlock with LitCharts A +. What's destined to come will be fulfilled, and no libation, sacrifice, or human tears will mitigate the gods' unbending wrath of sacrifice not blessed by fire. I see and hear souls flying towards the Underworld, thousands at a time. ― Aeschylus, Agamemnon. Therefore, he plays a significant role in Homer's Iliad.As a matter of fact, Homer begins his epic with Achilles' refusal to participate any further in the war, which was caused by a conflict between him and Agamemnon. The girl is a much younger mate, But looks and youth can't replicate. She has been featured by NPR and National Geographic for her ancient history expertise. It was first presented in 458 BCE, just a couple of years before his death in roughly 456 BCE. He concluded that the Oresteia is based on conflict between the sexes; that Clytemnestra hates Agamemnon for being a man and wants his power; and that in his strong portrait of Clytemnestra and purposely inconclusive trial scene of Eumenides, Aeschylus protests the 'personal tragedy' of . Lines 355-782 Quotes. Authored by Frank Redmond, 2006. During his 10 year absence, Clytemnestra had an affair with Agamemnon's cousin Aegisthus. Cassandra is forced into being his concubine.Much to the distress of his wife, Clytemnestra, he finally returns home and she . Agamemnon: summary. Agamemnon. Top Clytemnestra Quotes . A major new production from Sherman . Terms in this set (46) . Adultery, power and revenge drive this new telling of a Greek legend. 18,107 ratings, 3.82 average rating, 414 reviews. In Greek mythology King Agamemnon of Mycenae, leader of the Greeks in the Trojan War, returns home victorious after the War, having captured the Trojan princess Cassandra to be his slave. Test. However, Agamemnon is no sooner home than his wife, Queen Clytemnestra, murders both Agamemnon and Cassandra. - Lyrical foreshadowing . "You patronize me like some little woman. Chorus, Parodos. See Also: Agamemnon, Tyndareus, Leda, Castor, Polydeuces, Helen, Menelaus, Trojan War, Iphigenia, Aegisthus, Orestes, Cassandra. After Atreus was murdered by his nephew Aegisthus (son of Thyestes), Agamemnon and Menelaus took refuge with Tyndareus, king of Sparta, whose daughters, Clytemnestra and Helen, they respectively married. The curse began with Agamemnon's great-grandfather . Clytemnestra has several reasons to kill her . The Greek hero Agamemnon has been heavily involved in the fighting against Troy, and back home his wife Clytemnestra eagerly awaits his return. . This is an example of augury. See Also: Agamemnon, Tyndareus, Leda, Castor, Polydeuces, Helen, Menelaus, Trojan War, Iphigenia, Aegisthus, Orestes, Cassandra. The Chorus fears still more curses because Agamemnon did not die a warrior's death and Clytemnestra does not give Agamemnon a proper burial or even do the . Contrast in Characterization of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra. The best quotes from Agamemnon by Aeschylus - organized by theme, including book location and character - with an explanation to help you understand! In Agamemnon she dominates the action. Atreus forced Thyestes to eat his own children, and Aegisthus conspired in the murder of Agamemnon in vengeance. Various stories tell different versions of the exact way Agamemnon died, but the essence is that Clytemnestra and Aegisthus murdered him in cold blood, out of vengeance for Iphigenia's death and other slights he had perpetrated against them. Aeschylus won 1st prize for his tetralogy (the trilogy and a satyr play). Pay special attention to the quotes and the footnotes at the bottom of page 347 and at the top of page 348. Agamemnon died at the hands of his wife Clytemnestra and her lover Aegisthus. By interesting, we don't mean likable - after all, technically speaking, she is a liar, a two-timer, and a murderer. Clytemnestra in the first in the series of plays by Aeschylus, which is Agamemnon, is one of the most fascinating female characters in ancient literature as she walks a fine line between male and female, subject and ruler, and lover and fighter. He greets the Chorus and hails all the gods and monuments of his native city, announcing that Agamemnon is returning in triumph, after defeating Troy and avenging Paris' crime. Flashcards. The Chorus tells him to rejoice, and adds that the city has grown fearful in the absence of its young warriors. with no mind to call her own. like Iphigenia had Clytemnestra and Agamemnon, and Helen had Leda and Zeus. 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