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Examples Of Clytemnestra In The Odyssey
Clytemnestra's Odyssey
In Robert Fagles' introduction to Aeschylus's tragedy Agamemnon, he calls Clytemnestra a "female
Odysseus" who "has the right of retaliation on her side." Fagles' comments on Clytemnestra's
actions and comparison of her to Odysseus can be justified. In The Odyssey, Odysseus is seen as a
very masculine authority figure whose character is defined by his strength, courage, and confidence.
His most distinguishing trait, however, is his sharp intellect, which helps him out of some very
tough situations he finds himself in throughout the epic. Similarly in Agamemnon, Clytemnestra is
portrayed as a strong, independent, and quick–witted character who defies every convention of the
female gender role. Within the beginning of the tragedy, the watchman and the chorus describe
Clytemnestra as, although being just a woman, a man in strength of purpose. This provides a clear
distinction between gender roles but also presents Clytemnestra as having 'manly' qualities. One
such being her dominant leadership, a trait shared by Odysseus too, during her husband's absence.
Fagles' notion of Clytemnestra having "the right ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
It is the rejection of this role that leads to many thinking of her as devilish and abnormal. Another
factor that leads to her portrayal as a diabolic character is her cunningness, portrayed in her skillful
manipulation of the language she uses. Clytemnestra's double–meaning in her words which not only
deceives Agamemnon's men but also sends a justification to the gods for what is to come can be
seen as frightening as it is ingenious. Aeschylus' portrayal of Clytemnestra can also be seen as
negative as it is positive. She seeks justice for her daughter which many people can relate too. But at
the same time is totally unrepentant for the act of
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Agamemnon's Pride: A Greek Tragedy
In "Agamemnon", a Greek tragedy, it focuses on Clytemnestra's plot to murder her husband,
Agamemnon. This greek tragedy portrays Agamemnon as a pious leader. However,
Agamemnon's pride ultimately led to his downfall.
When Agamemnon returned home triumphant after ten long years at war, he is blinded by pride,
because Clytemnestra his wife was suspiciously happy to see him.
This sense of pride causes him not to remember that he had their daughter sacrificed to the gods.
Everyone knew that she had been angry and unfaithful to him, because of the sacrifice, but nobody
wanted to tell him because they feared the wrath of his pride. Agamemnon's pride ultimately led to
his downfall, because it blinded him to the fact that his wife was planning
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Essay The Cycle of Vengeance in Aeschylus’s Oresteia
The Cycle of Vengeance in Aeschylus's Oresteia
The cyclic thread of vengeance runs like wild fire through the three plays in Aeschylus's Oresteia.
This thread, with its complexity of contemporary and universal implications lends itself quite well to
– in fact, almost necessitates – deeply interested study. While a brief summary of the Oresteia will
inevitably disregard some if not much of the trilogy's essence and intent, on the positive side it will
establish a platform of characters, events, and motives with which this paper is primarily concerned.
As such, I begin with a short overview of the Oresteia and the relevant history that immediately
precedes it.
The house of Atreus is cursed, it would seem, with the perpetual cycle ... Show more content on
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Now joined together (amorously) by a common hatred for Agamemnon, Clytemnestra
(Agamemnon's wife) and Aegisthus plot and execute the death of Agamemnon. As John H. Finley,
Jr. has rightly put it, "Both Agamemnon and Aegisthus perpetuate their father's infections" –
Agamemnon by the slaughter of innocents and Aegisthus by the adultery with Clytemnestra (Pindar
258). The Libation Bearers speaks of the remaining children of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra,
Orestes and Electra, who (with some urging from Apollo) avenge the death of their father by killing
both Aegisthus and their own mother. The Furies, enraged by Orestes' violation of the filial bond,
pursue his punishment. The Eumenides covers the taming of the Furies, the reconciliation of the
dominant opposing forces in the trilogy, the establishment of Athena's court of law, and, as J. J.
Pollitt argues, "brings us out of the earlier dark irrationality into what seems an enlightened world of
order and reason" (30). Each of these acts, excepting the first and the last, is both a consequence and
a cause: every individual involved sought to avenge the horrid act of an offender – each seemingly
sought justice by way of retribution. By identifying only a single reason or cause each for the
vengeful acts outlined above, it is easy to generalize this chain of events into cyclic manifestation of
the age–old law "an eye for an eye." Much is lost in this simplification of the story; the
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Oresteia Revenge Quotes
Throughout The Oresteia, the themes of justice and revenge are often used as reasoning for certain
events that take place. In many instances, the characters refer to certain events as revenge, while
others see them as justice. For example, Clytemnestra kills her wife in pursuit of justice, and can be
displayed as just due to her motives and reasoning. Orestes' killing of Clytemnestra may be viewed
as just in his eyes, but in reality, is revenge. In The Oresteia, revenge, often portrayed as a selfish
act, regards experiencing a spiteful joy caused by retaliation, while justice is displayed primarily as
a rational decision, rather than an emotional one. Orestes, Agamemnon's father, kills his mother
Clytemnestra to avenge his deceased father, ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
She believes justice and revenge are two separate ideas. Electra's view is correct. Revenge is a
selfish act, and selfishness cannot be justified. However, justice is rational and complete in fairness.
For example, ending one's life should result in the end of the killer's life. In the killing of
Agamemnon, Clytemnestra avenges her daughter Iphigenia by killing Agamemnon. Her decision
isn't based on her emotional state, but rather she is in pursuit of justice. However, she states that
justice and revenge are separate ideas. This true because justice is moral fairness and revenge is
experiencing happiness in
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The Aeschylus Trilogy And Sweat By Lynn Nottage
The Aeschylus Trilogy and Sweat by Lynn Nottage, though written thousands of years apart,
actually share the same underlying problems especially when it comes the the characters that drive
the plot. In both plays, there is this very prominent character trait found in most, if not all, the
characters, selfishness. These self centered characters actually create conflict simply by only
thinking of themselves. The self–centered and selfish air in both time periods, whether brought up
by individual characters or even character groups, drives the plot in both the Aeschylus Trilogy and
Sweat. The mythical story of "Agamemnon" opens with an air of hope and fear as the very weary
watchmen and city of Argos wait for the fall of Troy, a war that has been going on for ten years.
After the signal is seen, Agamemnon's wife Clytemnestra, who has been ruling in his absence,
appears from her home and tells the city the great news, they have won the war. Agamemnon arrives
home and has brought the captured Trojan princess Cassandra, his concubine. Clytemnestra falsely
welcomes him with gifts that will lead him to his death. After also being welcomed, Cassandra,
moves into a state of frenzy, foreshadowing to Agamemnon's murder and her own. She enters the
house, knowing it will lead to her death. Thc cries of the dying Agamemnon are heard by many,
when the palace is revealed, Clytemnestra is joyfully standing over the bodies of her victims. She
answers the elders' charges by claiming justice
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Chorus Intervention in Aeschylus' the Eumenides and Agamemnon
In The Eumenides and Agamemnon of The Oresteia trilogy, Aeschylus constructs an over–arching
metaphor for elements of the new Athenian democracy. The chorus in each play represents the
people who feel under–represented and disrespected, by the society's changing values. In The
Eumenides, the chorus of Furies is frustrated with the younger gods and infringements on their
power; in Agamemnon the chorus fears more the control of an effective woman in Clytemnestra
rather than the leadership of fruitless Agamemnon. Both choruses take direct actions thought to
ensure their prominence.
Agamemnon picks of the story eponymous Greek king following the conclusion of the Trojan War.
In his absence, his wife Clytemnestra has assumed the throne, and ... Show more content on
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1561) Clytemnestra is to them a force which will "hold [them] down" (Agamemnon, Ln. 146), and a
"woman [who] made him (Agamemnon) suffer." (Agamemnon, Ln. 1481) They call for the return of
Orestes to both avenge his father's death and release them from her rule.
Their view of the future with Clytemnestra as ruler pays no heed to the success of her reign. Even
Agamemnon acknowledges that her rule surpassed his: "The storms of ruin live! Her last dying
breath, rising up from the ashes sends us gales of incense rich in gold." (Agamemnon, Ln. 804) The
chorus' overriding concern is not with success or competency, but only with the preservation of the
tradition rule. By first backing Agamemnon and then calling for Orestes murder of Clytemnestra
they are seeking to reassert and realign the old order.
While the chorus in Agamemnon is focused on restoring power to Agamemnon as king, the play's
sequel, The Eumenides traces the progression of the struggle for power as the chorus of the Furies
strives to retain authority.
The metaphorical focus of The Eumenides is the changing values in contemporary Athens. In
Athenian democracy's first recorded trial, Orestes is charged with the murder of his mother
Clytemnestra. At the prompting of Clytemnestra, the chorus of Furies begins the play by taunting
Orestes. This propels Orestes into a public trial. The Furies then work to ensure that matricide,
which they
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S. H. Landes Agamemnon
Agamemnon is an interesting tale about a king in the city of Argos. It was created by aeschylus
around 458 B.C. It was translated by S. H. Landes in 1995. The book it part of a trilogy, and while
the protagonist, and name of the story, is Agamemnon he does not actually show up until the middle
of the story. The story focus pretty heavily on themes of revenge for the sake of justice. It also
focuses on the effects of war. The story's exposition starts with the Watchman waiting for a beacon
to signal Troy's fall. When it finally lights up the Watchman is overjoyed. He tells the queen. The
signal of the fall of Troy is the inciting incident. A chorus then comes out and recounts the details of
the battle between Troy and Greeks. They tell
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The Medea And AeschylusThe Oresteia
In both Euripidide's The Medea and Aeschylus' The Oresteia, the chorus acts as a point of
relatability for the audience. The chorus is meant to be made up of everyday folk watching the story
unfold just as the audience is, and providing feedback or advice to the more prominent characters.
The chorus acts as a gauge for Greek opinion, a capsule of how the audience most likely would have
reacted while watching these plays. In the case of Euripidide's The Medea and Aeschylus' The
Oresteia, the chorus is a litmus test especially for the misogyny present in Greek culture. Both
choruses condemn the women of their respective plays. It is on the basis of Medea and
Clytemnestra's gender and background that they are condemned by the chorus. It is only looking at
them through a modern lens that we can really recognize the great injustices of their respective
circumstances and sympathize with them. The way the two plays are written aims to get us, the
audience, to dislike Medea and Clytemnestra.
Though sharing some distinct similarities like their class position within society, Medea and
Clytemnestra are introduced to their audiences in very different ways. Medea appears first in her
nurse's monologue. Her nurse describes her as a "poor creature" (60), showing clear sympathy for
the position that Medea finds herself in. Though a foreigner who killed her own brother and father,
the nurse views Medea in a sympathetic light, clearly wanting the situation at hand to be different.
However,
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Revenge In Oresteia Research Paper
2017 In the Greek play Oresteia, the theme of the intersection between past, present, and future can
be seen in the instances of revenge and justice that occur between various characters. Also, the play
can teach us many aspects about how to improve our life in the future in order to become better
people, by learning and deviating from our actions and forgiving others for what they have done
instead of retaliating. In Oresteia, the reoccurring theme of revenge can be seen in all three acts in
the play, producing much of the tragedy in it. Revenge can first be seen when Clytemnestra kills
Agamemnon and Cassandra at the plaice, however, there are many layers to this revenge that is
committed. Iphigenia, Agamemnon's daughter, was sacrificed by her father so that the god Artemis
would be appeased and the Greek ships could reach troy. By killing Agamemnon, Iphegenia's death
would be avenged and the blood crime of familial murder be resolved. Clytemnestra could be seen
as ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
For example, the revenge from death and infidelity are repeated by both Clytemnestra and Orestes
showing how the motives intersect from one life to another. Both Clytemnestra, Orestes also use the
form of vengeful justice created by The Furies to rationalize their murders. The Furies believe in the
blood for blood justice used that was handed to them at their time of creation, that "The mother
killer must not escape, he must be punished... blood must pay for blood!" (Furies 256,264).
Clytemnestra states "Here is Agamemnon, my husband made a corpse by this right hand–a
masterpiece of justice. Done is done," (Agamemnon 1429–1431). Thus stating, Clytemnestra
believes that since she killed Agamemnon, she brought justice to herself, her daughter, and her city.
Orestes believes that to obtain justice for his father and himself, he needs to reenact the vengeful
justice that his mother took on his
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Masculinity Of Clytemnestra
In this paper, I will discuss the different ways Clytemnestra isn't your typical female character. In
most of Greek mythology women were mostly seen as passive, weak, and constantly taking orders
from men. She was the complete opposite, she was really a one of a kind. More masculine than
some of the men in the stories, and definitely more masculine than feminine she was a very strong,
solid, independent, powerful character throughout Agamemnon. The story definitely wouldn't be as
controversial as it was if it weren't for the boldness, extremely deceptive tactics, manipulative ways,
and ruthless acts of Clytemnestra. She constantly defied the role that was given to women in the art
of ancient Greece, she paved the way for powerful women characters for the future.
The story of Agamemnon was really a prime example of the masculinity of Clytemnestra. From the
point in the story where Agamemnon has to sacrifice his beloved daughter in order to save the
people of his empire and go to war, you could tell that did not sit well with her. I mean it must be the
worst thing in the world to have to sacrifice a child of your own, something that a king had to do. It
makes you think of how great of a king he was to have the balls to do so, but that decision that he
made it stuck with Clytemnestra. It drove her into madness, and ruthless behavior. She wanted her
revenge and she was going to have her revenge no matter what, she was going to stop at nothing in
order to get it. She ruled the
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Oresteia And Clytemnestra
The Oresteia and the character of Clytemnestra
The Oresteia is a trilogy of Greek tragedies written by Aeschylus. It was originally performed at the
Dionysia Festival in Athens where it won the first prize in 458 B.C. The play wants to reveal the
idea of justice. Men and women are in conflict. This situation leads Clytemnestra to become not a
wife and mother (which were the only appropriate roles for respectable women in ancient Greece),
but a tyrant. Clytemnestra in ancient Greek, was the wife of Agamemnon. She is one of the main
characters in the play and I can say that it is the most interesting one. By "interesting" I don't mean
that is a likable character because she is considered a murderer but it is important to analyze the
reasons ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The bad actions of Clytemnestra are immediately seen in a negative way but she, at first, has
avenged her daughter's murder. What the chorus thinks of her is that she is an imposing figure, she is
not noble and her information is unreliable. She is kind of underestimated and misjudged. She is
presented as the bad woman but it is clear that the aim of Clytemnestra is taking her revenge.
Aeschylus' portrait of Clytemnestra can be seen as negative and positive; on one hand she seeks
justice for her daughter, on the other she is completely incurable for the act of murder. She does not
hide from her actions, instead she freely admits her murder and embraces the power and authority. It
is through the inversion of traditional gender roles, adopting masculine speech, behaviors and
activities, that she achieves her revenge for the sacrifice of Iphigenia. On one hand Clytemnestra's
revenge may have been seen as an upsetting act but on the other hand it let people (the audience)
reflect on the traditional gender role of women in society. The power of Clytemnestra can be also
seen through the chorus speech. It highlights her authority even if the chorus
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Medea And Agamemnon
Ancient expectations for women include always putting the responsibilities of being a mother above
all else, as shown in Euripides' Medea and Aeschylus' Agamemnon, as well as Euripides' Iphigenia
at Aulis. Both Clytemnestra and Medea exhibit motherly love and tend to those responsibilities, but
commit atrocious, unladylike acts, which jeopardize the sympathy felt for them by an audience. The
respective playwrights of each story use their character's motivations and how they align with their
roles as mothers first and women second to ultimately characterize each in either a negative or
positive light. The motherly motivation that Clytemnestra and Medea exhibit excuses their vengeful
and deceitful actions, however Medea's final action, ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Euripides' Iphigenia at Aulis provides important context regarding the sacrifice of Iphigenia and
Clytemnestra's past with Agamemnon. Clytemnestra is ashamed after talking to Achilles about the
wedding between him and Iphigenia that he is unaware of. After discovering Agamemnon 's true
intentions, she decides that she will no longer "let shame prevent" her from seeking Achilles' help to
stop Agamemnon because "whose interests should [she] consult before [her] child's?" (Iphigenia at
Aulis 24). Her concern for Iphigenia overpowers the indignity she feels because her child's well
being is greater than her own. Both women's anger and desire for vengeance grow as their children
are endangered or harmed as "vengeance makes grief bearable" (Medea 2.55). The playwrights
show each as either a good or bad woman based on if their vengeful actions are ultimately in favor
of their children or not. The mistreatment that both receive from Jason and Agamemnon despite all
that they do for them contributes heavily to their vengeful actions as well. Medea used her magical
powers, defied her father, and killed her brother to devote herself to Jason, is still treated coldly and
is neglected by Jason, who abandons her and their two sons and leaves her for Creon's daughter. She
realizes that "to annihilate the past is not possible: but its fruit in the present" can be used at her
disposal to fulfill vengeance (Medea 1.364–5). She decides to channel the woe she
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Revenge In Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers, And The Furies
The Oresteia trilogy, including the tragedies Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers, and The Furies,
explores the theme of revenge on most of the characters. These plays contain a strong sense of
brutality against civilians because there were lots of slaughtering within the house of Atreus. The
decision of Agamemnon sacrificing his youngest daughter, Iphigenia as a stepping stone to travel
and conquer Troy provoked the death of several others throughout the play. Agamemnon clearly
faces a dilemma between war accomplishments and his daughter, but in the end he chose to have
what was best for his people. Because of this decision, justice was viewed as an act of retaliation
because the characters in Oresteia takes the role of providing punishments to another individual for
their past wrongs. Aeschylus presents the first play, Agamemnon as Clytemnestra sets a plan to kill
Agamemnon, the second play, The Libation Bearers as Orestes avenging against Clytemnestra for
murdering his father, and the third play, The Furies as Orestes getting tormented by matricide. This
must be understood that acts of vengeance fails to achieve true justice because it only creates
disharmony in society. Although the characters of Aegisthus, Clytemnestra, Orestes, and the Furies
were driven by revenge on someone else, Aeschylus reveals a final verdict in court is the best way to
achieve justice for societies.
In Agamemnon, Clytemnestra finally murders Agamemnon for killing her beloved daughter,
Iphigenia due
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The Oresteia
Instead of saying The Oresteia is a tragic trilogy that many people are killed, it would be more
appropriate to generalize it as the extension and the termination of vendetta. Even though Oresteia
doesn't cover the origin of the whole feud of the twins, Atreus and Thyestes, the whole trilogy never
digresses from the main theme: revenge. As the first observable vendetta in the trilogy,
Clytemnestra's revenge to Agamemnon is dramatic and thought–provoking with the specialty of her
role in her family and her reasons to kill Agamemnon in the story.
For the mariticide in Agamemnon, reflecting Clytemnestra's attitude to Agamemnon is way more
significant than marking as the first murdering in the trilogy. From line 1521 to 1564, we may
understand ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
In today's ethic, we may condemn everyone who murders his family members no matter who they
are. But in pre–modern society, people normally rebuke and disdain those who murders his/her
bloodlines because it is a betrayal to their parents' or their own blood. In line 1529, Clytemnestra
describes Agamemnon's bloodline killing and his death that "with the sword he struck; with the
sword he paid for his own act." This indicates another reason that Clytemnestra murders
Agamemnon: to punish those who betrayed their bloodlines. Since Iphigeneia is the daughter of
both Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, killing Agamemnon is definitely reasonable to Clytemnestra.
Nevertheless, Clytemnestra is also the member of Agamemnon family, what will people think if she
murders her husband? People might not judge the murderer in the mariticide or uxoricide as heavy
as those murder the bloodlines because sexual partners don't share the blood from the same parents
during pre–modern period. In a way, mariticide and uxoricide are totally same as the normal
murdering. Thus, we may see the Chorus is unable to condemn Clytemnestra for betraying her
husband and "Make lamentation, render the graceless grace to his soul for huge things done in
wickedness?" (1544) is the most they may
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Clytemnestra In The Oresteia
In the Oresteia, Clytemnestra is portrayed as an intelligent, powerful woman who acts decisively in
her own interests and to protect the throne. Clytemnestra should be considered a heroine for
demonstrating her excellence by defending her own honour according to traditions, and also for
transgressing the boundaries that limited women in ancient times. Two of the most heroic acts that
she performed were ruling Argos while Agamemnon her husband was away waging the Trojan War
and ultimately taking revenge on him for the sacrifice of her daughter. Like many heroines,
Clytemnestra is flawed and dies tragically in the end.
The daughter of Tyndareus and Leda, Clytemnestra is also the half twin sister of Helen. In the
Oresteia, Clytemnestra is a problematic character; in the beginning of the Oresteia the Watchman
says that "Oh she's a woman all right, a woman with a man's heart." (Oresteia, p.3) proving that he's
not her biggest admirer. Clytemnestra is an example for double role of man and woman, she is a
woman but the culture of the ancient time considers her ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
When he found out about the affair, Atreus banished Thyestes and later invited him to a banquet and
gave him food made from the flesh of his own children. Thyestes then cursed Atreus and his family.
Further deepening the confrontation is that Aegisthus was conceived by incest specifically to take
revenge on Atreus' family including Agamemnon. Thyestes asked an oracle for advice and was told
to have a son by his own daughter who would carry out the revenge on Atreus. When Aegisthus was
born his mother Pelopia rejected the boy because she was ashamed about the incestuous relationship
with her father and banished him away from the palace. A shepherd found the boy and delivered him
to Atreus. When he grew up Thyestes told him the truth that he was his father and grandfather. So
Aegisthus killed
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Justice In 'Vengeance In The Play Oresteia'
In today's world, justice is served periodically in order to keep conformity in society and it's usually
served because of acts of vengeance. The line that separates justice from vengeance is very thin.
Justice benefits society and vengeance benefits the individual, or retaliation. In the play "The
Oresteia" there are numerous acts of vengeance committed by the characters Agamemnon,
Clytemnestra, and Orestes and justice is considered "served" for their actions. Each character feels
as if their actions are justified and morally right.
Vengeance is derived from one's desire to retaliate on another. The one yearning for vengeance
believes that their actions are righteous, however; they are considered selfish and harmful. In
relation to "The ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Justice is a complicated word to define, in comparison to vengeance, since every individual has their
own beliefs on what is morally right. Some individuals who perform acts of vengeance will often
see their actions as justified: Vengeance is a part of justice.For example, Agamemnon claimed on
line 443 "We were right, and therefore ruthless,"; he believes that the sacrifice of his daughter,
Iphigenia, and his callous actions in Troy are pardoned because he considers what he did as just. He
believes that justice has been served even though him and his army destroyed the entire city of Troy
and he sacrificed his daughter to allow his ships to sail. Another example of vengeance for justice is
when Clytemnestra butchered Agamemnon in revenge for killing her daughter. Clytemnestra claims
in lines 792–792 that it is "never the hand of queen or wife, but the hand of Justice, drove the knife,"
because she personally believes that her retaliation brought justice: her desire for revenge on
Agamemnon is what fuels her belief in what she considers justice. Lastly, when Orestes murdered
his mother for killing his father, Agamemnon, he also did it as an act of vengeance, but for the sole
purpose of gaining
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Essay on Agamemnon
Agamemnon was the son of Atreus, the brother of Menelaus and the brother–in–law of Helen; he
was told to sacrifice his daughte
Agamemnon was the son of Atreus, the brother of Menelaus and the brother–in–law of Helen; he
was told to sacrifice his daughter
Iphigenia to atone for the killing of a deer sacred to Artemis so that the Greek fleet could have wind
to sail to Troy. However, Artemis snatched Iphigenia away at the last second and transported her to
Tauris (now known as the Crimea) to serve as her priestess. In his absence, his wife, Klytemnestra,
openly took a lover, Aegisthus, and plotted Agamemnon's murder in revenge for his "murder" of
Iphigenia.
After the defeat of Troy, Agamemnon received the Trojan princess ... Show more content on
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But Greek society did value success in war and the increase of honor.
Hence when Ag returns home, even though the chorus has been cursing him earlier, all is forgiven
because he returns victorious. (See the
Chorus' speech at 351–474)
On the other hand, society puts a check on outrageous excess with the concept of divine punishment
for being too hubristic. This leads to a somewhat schizophrenic mentality. The imperative is to
achieve, but not too much. Difficult line to walk.
2. Agamemnon's Return and Walking on the Carpet:
Clytemnestra invites Ag to step on the carpets she strews in his path.
At first he outright refuses. He says all the right things, but he does give in. Why?
Clyt. tempts his pride and he can't resist. By mentioning Priam she is in effect saying "you are the
conqueror, so don't you have the right to this?" And her answer to his fear of being envied is "He
who goes unenvied is not admired." (See lines 905–949 for the whole scene.)
Ag's walking on the carpet is a symbol of his sacrilege. Ag has trampled on the carpets as he has
trampled on his daughter. (See ll.
369–372)
The Threat of Clever Women
The problem of relations between men and women, and more specifically the problem of Greek
society with strong women, is brought up by the character of Clytemnestra.
Clytemnestra is characterized as a masculine woman. She is shown to govern the household (l. 10:
"a lady's male
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Monster Clytemnestra In Aeschylus Oresteia
The Monster Clytemnestra in Aeschylus' Oresteia
In the three–part play Oresteia, Clytemnestra is a character that manipulates, lies, cheats, and
murders. From the very first moment we hear of her existence, we know she is unlike the women of
her time. "Oh she's a woman all right, a woman with a man's heart." (11) the watchman in the first
scene of Agamemnon tells the audience. This tells us that she does not act in a way that the
watchman associates with the women around him. Already, in the first few lines of the first
installment of the play, we know that Clytemnestra is different. Throughout the play, Clytemnestra
tries as hard as she can to keep herself on top, stopping at nothing to get what she wants. She wants
to rule the city and she wants to have power over the people in her life. She is power hungry,
manipulative, and determined. This determination is not a good thing for the people around
Clytemnestra. Because of her need for power, she ends up turning on almost everyone she is
supposed to love. This is what leads to her eventual death. Clytemnestra is a dynamic character, who
does everything she can to be on top – killing, lying, cheating, and murdering are just a few of these
things. She does not care who she hurts, or what she does to get where she wants to be. It is ... Show
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In all this time/ I've kept our promises, never broken our seal./ There has been no scandal, I know as
much about/ the pleasures of another man as I do of steeping metal./ This is my boast, and it is true,/
it would not disgrace the noblest of women"
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Theme Of Vengeance In The Oresteia
Orestes has to kill her (Zeitlin, 476). The view of vengeance in Aeschylus's The Oresteia also
depends on the situation the person enacting the vengeance is in beforehand.
Another component that changes the view of vengeance is what situation the character is in;
meaning how the murderer is related to the victim and the position they are in at the time or before.
Clytemnestra is in a situation where her husband kills their daughter and she can either retaliate or
live with the fact that Iphigenia is dead. She chooses to kill her husband and she does not have any
support other than that of Aegisthus. Orestes is basically forced into killing his mother and
Aegisthus by Apollo and people around him like his sister Electra and the Chorus as well as his
friend Pylades. In the beginning of Liberation Bearers, Orestes comes back and encounters his sister
Electra at their father's grave. During their reacquaintance, Orestes tells Electra that he has been
ordered to kill Clytemnestra and Aegisthus by Apollo, "...if I failed to kill my father's killers.......to
kill the two of them as they killed him, in the same way. He said that otherwise I'd pay the debt with
my own life, and it would be a life of torment that would never end" (Aeschylus, Liberation Bearers
lines 307–313). He has this threat hanging over his head and any time he starts to waver, his friend
Pylades, his sister, and the chorus encouraged him. "the third and last storm battering their house. In
the end, Orestes does in fact come third and as a saviour. Before entering the palace he rehearses the
piece of deceit by which he wraps his mother and Aegisthus in their own toils. As he puts it before
his sister and the confederate chorus of Trojan captives, he will not give Aegisthus time to ask from
where he has come", this shows that he has a lot of support behind him in this endeavor in addition
to the support of Apollo (Clay, 4). After he kills his mother and her lover, he has to wash his hands
of the blood and, "to be cured, he must journey to the oracle of Delphi" (Burke, 382). Orestes kills
his mother, subsequently he begins to see the furies that are coming after him (Burke, 382).
The Furies that are now pursuing him punish "blood–guilt" (Burke, 382)
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Deceitful Clytemnestra of Euripides' Electra Essay
Deceitful Clytemnestra of Euripides' Electra
Agamemnon returns from Troy, a victorious general, bringing home spoils, riches and fame. He is
murdered on the same day as he returns. Clytemnestra, his adulterous wife, has laid in wait for her
husband's homecoming and kills him whilst he is being bathed after his long journey. During the
Agamemnon, large proportions of the Queen's words are justifications for her action, which is very
much concerned with the sacrifice of Iphigenia to the gods, in order for the fleet to set sail for Troy.
Aegisthus, the new husband of the Queen Clytemnestra, and partner in the conspiracy to murder the
war hero, had reasons, which stemmed from the dispute between the Houses of Atreus and Thyestes.
Was the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
No blame is placed upon him by the people and they believe he "slipped his neck in the strap of
fate" 217, only after which did his spirit become "black, impure, unholy" 218. The people of
Mycenae, typically represented by the elders, and thus the Chorus have absolved him of blame in
their minds. All their words about the leader are nothing but in praise of their king. They are nearly
"faint with longing" for the return of their king, though we can also partly attribute this to a desire to
be rid of Clytemnestra more than their wish to return to the rule of Agamemnon. They indeed
emphasise the tyranny of the Queen ("she commands, full of her high hopes...manoeuvres like a
man" 13). The sentry echoes the love for the King though ("My king, I'll take your loving hand in
mine" 37), and the herald is similarly well disposed toward him, and he hasn't been under the yoke
of Clytemnestra ("he brings us light in the darkness...Agamemnon lord of men"). The people
absolve the King of blame over Iphigenia, and give him unconditional loyalty, but Clytemnestra
rests it all upon his shoulders ("girl of tears...here you are repaid" 1554). She understands the
grandeur of her action and the scale of it but believes that "what we did was destiny" 1692. Though,
it is my belief that the honourable King of Mycenae was commanded by the fates to kill his
daughter, and it was by no means his will to carry
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Theme Of Vengeance In The Oresteia
Orestes has to kill her (Zeitlin, 476). The view of vengeance in Aeschylus's The Oresteia also
depends on the situation the person enacting the vengeance is in beforehand.
Another component that changes the view of vengeance is what situation the character is in;
meaning how the murderer is related to the victim and the position they are in at the time or before.
Clytemnestra is in a situation where her husband kills their daughter and she can either retaliate or
live with the fact that Iphigenia is dead. She chooses to kill her husband and she does not have any
support other than that of Aegisthus. Orestes is basically forced into killing his mother and
Aegisthus by Apollo and people around him like his sister Electra and the Chorus as well as his
friend Pylades. In the beginning of Liberation Bearers, Orestes comes back and encounters his sister
Electra at their father's grave. During their reacquaintance, Orestes tells Electra that he has been
ordered to kill Clytemnestra and Aegisthus by Apollo, "...if I failed to kill my father's killers.......to
kill the two of them as they killed him, in the same way. He said that otherwise I'd pay the debt with
my own life, and it would be a life of torment that would never end" (Aeschylus, Liberation Bearers
lines 307–313). He has this threat hanging over his head and any time he starts to waver, his friend
Pylades, his sister, and the chorus encouraged him. "the third and last storm battering their house. In
the end, Orestes does in fact come third and as a saviour. Before entering the palace he rehearses the
piece of deceit by which he wraps his mother and Aegisthus in their own toils. As he puts it before
his sister and the confederate chorus of Trojan captives, he will not give Aegisthus time to ask from
where he has come", this shows that he has a lot of support behind him in this endeavor in addition
to the support of Apollo (Clay, 4). After he kills his mother and her lover, he has to wash his hands
of the blood and, "to be cured, he must journey to the oracle of Delphi" (Burke, 382). Orestes kills
his mother, subsequently he begins to see the furies that are coming after him (Burke, 382).
The Furies that are now pursuing him punish "blood–guilt" (Burke, 382)
... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...
Justice In The Odyssey
As Mahatma Gandhi once noted astutely, "An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind."
Gandhi's assertion challenges this moral code established in both the Odyssey and the Old
Testament, just as Aeschylus challenges the validity of vendetta as a successful technique for
maintaining societal order in his Oresteia trilogy. The revenge ethic plays a key role in the story
because it makes justice the personal responsibility of the person insulted; the killer must be killed,
and the act of retribution must be carried out by the most appropriate person––preferably a close
blood relative. It is a radically straightforward basis for justice, linking retribution to the family and
its collective honor. Like the storied blood feud between the Hatfields ... Show more content on
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The chorus notes that for those who exact vengeance, "no cure whatever exists; and all ways which
converge / in one road, to purify / blood on polluted hands, go straight onward in vain" (lines 71–
74). They appeal to the gods for some kind of remedy to the madness: "You great powers of Fate,
may Zeus grant an ending here / in which justice changes to the other side" (lines 307–309).
Nevertheless, the chorus seems to change its mind later on in the dialogue with Electra and
recognizes that justice by retribution has been a valid way to keep the peace in the past. They note
that "certainly there is a law that bloodshed / dripping to the ground demands another's blood. / The
havoc from those slain before / shouts the Fury on / who brings fresh ruin upon ruin" (lines 400–
405). Orestes tells Clytemnestra that she "killed the man you ought not; so you must / suffer the
thing you should not" (lines 929–230) and proceeds to commit matricide. At this point, the chorus
laments that Orestes took his own mother's life, but they admit that their "choice is nevertheless for /
this eye of the house not to fall utterly in destruction" (lines 933–934). Later on in Eumenides when
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S. H. Landes Agamemnon
Agamemnon is an interesting tale about a king in the city of Argos. It was created by aeschylus
around 458 B.C. It was translated by S. H. Landes in 1995. The book it part of a trilogy, and while
the protagonist, and name of the story, is Agamemnon he does not actually show up until the middle
of the story. The story focus pretty heavily on themes of revenge for the sake of justice. It also
focuses on the effects of war. The story's exposition starts with the Watchman waiting for a beacon
to signal Troy's fall. When it finally lights up the Watchman is overjoyed. He tells the queen. The
signal of the fall of Troy is the inciting incident. A chorus then comes out and recounts the details of
the battle between Troy and Greeks. They tell
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The Oresteia
Instead of saying The Oresteia is a tragic trilogy that many people are killed, it would be more
appropriate to generalize it as the extension and the termination of vendetta. Even though Oresteia
doesn't cover the origin of the whole feud of the twins, Atreus and Thyestes, the whole trilogy never
digresses from the main theme: revenge. As the first observable vendetta in the trilogy,
Clytemnestra's revenge to Agamemnon is dramatic and thought–provoking with the specialty of her
role in her family and her reasons to kill Agamemnon in the story.
For the mariticide in Agamemnon, reflecting Clytemnestra's attitude to Agamemnon is way more
significant than marking as the first murdering in the trilogy. From line 1521 to 1564, we may
understand ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
In today's ethic, we may condemn everyone who murders his family members no matter who they
are. But in pre–modern society, people normally rebuke and disdain those who murders his/her
bloodlines because it is a betrayal to their parents' or their own blood. In line 1529, Clytemnestra
describes Agamemnon's bloodline killing and his death that "with the sword he struck; with the
sword he paid for his own act." This indicates another reason that Clytemnestra murders
Agamemnon: to punish those who betrayed their bloodlines. Since Iphigeneia is the daughter of
both Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, killing Agamemnon is definitely reasonable to Clytemnestra.
Nevertheless, Clytemnestra is also the member of Agamemnon family, what will people think if she
murders her husband? People might not judge the murderer in the mariticide or uxoricide as heavy
as those murder the bloodlines because sexual partners don't share the blood from the same parents
during pre–modern period. In a way, mariticide and uxoricide are totally same as the normal
murdering. Thus, we may see the Chorus is unable to condemn Clytemnestra for betraying her
husband and "Make lamentation, render the graceless grace to his soul for huge things done in
wickedness?" (1544) is the most they may
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Betrayal In Aeschylus Oresteia
Aeschylus' Oresteia is a trilogy of books about the aftermath of the Trojan War in Agamemnon's
family. The trilogy contains many themes including tragedy, deception, justice, vengeance, and most
importantly betrayal. Many of Agamemnon's family members turn against each other, including
Agamemnon himself. However, the betrayals in Oresteia are not betrayals committed purely out of
hatred. Vengeance plays an important role in Clytemnestra's murder of her husband, and Orestes
murders his mother out of vengeance, not simply because he wants to. Since the different family
members betray each other out of spite, Orestes cannot be considered the hero of the story. Orestes
does avenge his father, but Agamemnon was not innocent, and Clytemnestra's actions ... Show more
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Clytemnestra thought she was proclaiming justice by killing Agamemnon in retribution for his
immoral actions. However, the murder of Agamemnon could be seen in other ways. The murder of
Iphigenia is recognized as a terrible crime, and Clytemnestra acts to avenge her daughter's
undeserved death. She believes her act is righteous, and she confesses to what she did with no guilt
or remorse. Since Agamemnon is foolish and arrogant, he is not a sympathetic victim. However,
when the trilogy is viewed as a whole, Clytemnestra's crime is indeed wrong and entails vengeance
by Orestes. The motivation for her actions becomes apparent when Aegisthus appears. It is not
simply that she wants vengeance for her daughter, but she also wants to be able to continue her life
with Aegisthus without Agamemnon in the way. Aegisthus does not appear in the story until the end
of the first book when the transition to The Libation–Bearers begins, and Clytemnestra loses
sympathy. With Aegisthus in place, it is difficult to define Clytemnestra as a hero, but in comparison
to the other family members, she is the closest to being a hero. Oresteia is a story full of flawed
characters, and the hero of the story is deeply flawed herself. It is a good reminder that even the best
of people have horrible
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Summary Of The Play 'The Furies'
Throughout the play the Furies where trying to gain revenge by killing Orestes for killing his own
mother. The Furies believed that blood must be paid with blood for and gruesome act as killing your
own mother. The Furies cross–examine Orestes on the charges that he committed. Orestes admits
that he killed his mother, and says that he did so following the commands of Apollo, which got his
commands from the God Zeus. He also says that his mother had it coming to her (because she killed
Agamemnon, Orestes's father). Now the Furies question Apollo. Apollo backs up everything that
Orestes says, and elaborates on Orestes's point that his mother wasn't related to him. Apollo says
that mothers are only incubators of embryos, and that only fathers are truly parents are uses Athena
as an example of how mothers aren't needed to birth a child. Apollo expressed the importance of
relying on the law instead of revenge and the important things that are on the line. According to the
book, " The Ballots are out, make a careful count, be fair, have respect for justice as you divide the
votes. An ill judged verdict could cause great harm, and a single vote can restore a mighty house"
(Line 748).
The play "The Furies" shows that law is better than revenge because all facts of a case must be
examined before a decision can be made on punishment for crimes committed. The furies wanted to
kill Orestes mainly because he killed his own mother and that kind of crime could only be paid with
blood, but
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Sophocles Electra Compare And Contrast Essay
In Electra Sophocles focuses most attention on Electra's desire to avenge her father. Electra's
obsession with revenge is so excessive that it dominates all her thoughts and actions, turning her
into a bloodthirsty madwoman. Unlike Electra, Chrysthemis has no burning desire for vengeance
against Clytemnestra. She would rather forget the past and adapt herself to new environment. There
are different approaches of accepting Agamemnon's death that leads to the dispute between two
sisters (El. 380–460). Chrysthemis' reaction is being rational and seeking for the biggest benefit as
living free life full in comfort by obeying Clytemnestra and Aegisthus (El. 990–1020). Though
Chrysthemis understands Electra's intention to "eye to eye" from the moral side, Chrysthemis does
not see that she can be better off from doing this as well. Chrysthemis behaves the way that can lead
to the greatest expedience for her.
In Sophocles' Electra Chrysthemis is an example to show the contradiction between words and ...
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She explains that she does not have enough power to rebuff, and chooses the path of least resistance.
She finds it more rational to live the life the way it is by staying silence. Thus Chrysthemis obeys
Clytemnestra's request to do funeral libation to Agamemnon. However, when Chrysthemis meets
Electra on her way to Agememnon's grave she gets convinced that slayer cannot give gifts to the
victim with good intentions. Electra says that such libation is not respectful and morally
inacceptable which Chrysthemis agrees with. Despite this fact, Chrysthemis' decision of following
Electra's advise does not reflect her immediate intention of supporting Electra's plan of killing
Clytemnestra. Chrysthemis believes that her murdered father pardons her for being silent rather than
continue the blood war with Clytemnestra and Aegisthus against Clytemnestra and
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Summary Of The Net Imagery In Oresteia
In the Oresteia, revenge drives the characters to act. Although they call it justice, it is not. Aeschylus
uses net imagery to symbolize faith and destiny. When Clytemnestra murders Agamemnon and
Cassandra, the net imagery acts as a symbol of terrible fate. However, then fate reverse. Now,
Orestes is caught in Apollo's net and kills his own mother. Lastly, Athene changes the meaning of
the net from one of chaos to that of order and justice. These uses of the net imagery help the reader
focus on a crucial theme in the play: the superiority of a formal justice system to one based on the
individual quest for revenge by progressively altering the nets meaning and its affect on those
around it.
Clytemnestra's use of the net imagery focuses the reader on the drawback, that is, collateral damage,
of a justice system that is based on the individual quest for revenge by emphasizing the collateral
damage associated with revenge. As she stands over the bodies of Agamemnon and Cassandra she
says: "I wrapped in a great net– not a fish could have slipped from the shoal" (69). Involving the
shoal in Clytemnestra's speech explains that with every revenge quest there are innocent people who
suffer the repercussions. An avenger does not consider the bystanders surrounding the guilty person.
Clytemnestra states that the net was so large that the fish could not escape the shoal. If the fish's fate
is to be caught in the net yet it cannot escape the shoal, that means the shoal suffers the same
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Essay The Powerful Clytemnestra in Aeschylus' Oresteia
The Powerful Clytemnestra in Aeschylus' Oresteia
What Price Glory? was the title of a Maxwell Anderson play about World War I. Although the
Oresteia deals with the period following a much different war, the same question can be asked of it.
In the trilogy Aeschylus presents the reader with a stunning example of ancient Greek society, in
which warrior ideals were firmly held, and glory in battle was considered the supreme good. The
question of moral justification in the trilogy brings in many complex issues, but all of them revolve
around the construction of Greek society and the role of different individuals in this system. Two of
the most extraordinary characters are the personages of Agamemnon and his wife Clytemnestra.
This couple ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The society in which this play takes place is so foreign from our own that it is difficult to understand
the actions of many characters. However, in Greek society many of these actions were much more
understandable. The first of these situations was the sacrifice of Iphigeneia by Agamemnon. The
king speaks of his grief when he says,
Heavy indeed my fate if I disobey, but heavy, too, if I must butcher my child, the glory of my house,
polluting a father's hands with streams of virgin's blood beside the altar.
Which of these two things is without evil? (Agamemnon, 41) 1
Yet Agamemnon does go on to murder his daughter. In his society was he free to make any other
decision? He says, "How shall I become the deserter of my fleet and fail my allies?" (Agam., 41)
The question of whether he should inflict so much suffering on his family is not even mentioned.
Agamemnon is obviously feeling societal pressure to sacrifice Iphigeneia, yet one must question if
he had any possible alternatives. If he had said "no," he could have faced revolt, and he would have
been considered weak by other men. Yet to whom did he owe his first allegiance? Was war really so
much of a social ideal, or was it possible for Agamemnon to have made a different choice and saved
his daughter? At this point it is very conceivable that Iphigeneia had to be sacrificed, but why
exactly did the whole situation get this far?
When the soldiers embarked for Troy they set out upon a dangerous
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Essay Justice in the Oresteia
Justice in the Oresteia
Justice is often taken for granted in the world we live in today with a judicial system that gives fair
punishment for most crimes. In the Oresteia justice works much differently, where there are no
judges or a court system to resolve disputes, instead there is revenge. Revenge is very messy
because somebody will and has to get hurt first to desire revenge, and it leads to a cycle that cannot
and will not end until everybody is dead. Justice does not and cannot only be revenge because in the
end nobody would be left in that system. Aeschylus' Oresteia focuses on revenge as justice, with the
old system that no longer works and that someone must fix, and a new system that has ... Show
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Clytemnestra also gives her justification for murdering her husband, and for ten long years she
thought about how sweet revenge would be when Agamemnon arrived. She also tells her lover,
Aegisthus, "Our lives are based on pain" (1690). Clytemnestra does not realize how ironic her
statement will be later on when pain controls her. Aegisthus sums–up their code of justice when he
says, "There are gods in heaven avenging men, / blazing down on all the crimes of earth" (1607–
1608). He also is foreshadowing that his crime must also be paid for and he will suffer the
consequences of killing Agamemnon and revenge. Aegisthus does not realize it, but Orestes is
seeking revenge upon him and his for the death of Agamemnon. After Orestes kills them, there is
nobody left alive to kill him to avenge their deaths. Clytemnestra invokes the Furies who seek
revenge for anybody who has nobody to seek it for them. The Furies chase Orestes to Apollo's
temple where Orestes asks him for forgiveness, "Lord Apollo, you know the rules of justice, / know
them well. Now learn compassion" (88–89). Orestes is the first person who is trying to change the
system and realizes it must be changed for the gods and the Furies to spare his life. Revenge as
justice has one major problem,
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Essay on Agamemnon
Agamemnon was the son of Atreus, the brother of Menelaus and the brother–in–law of Helen; he
was told to sacrifice his daughte
Agamemnon was the son of Atreus, the brother of Menelaus and the brother–in–law of Helen; he
was told to sacrifice his daughter
Iphigenia to atone for the killing of a deer sacred to Artemis so that the Greek fleet could have wind
to sail to Troy. However, Artemis snatched Iphigenia away at the last second and transported her to
Tauris (now known as the Crimea) to serve as her priestess. In his absence, his wife, Klytemnestra,
openly took a lover, Aegisthus, and plotted Agamemnon's murder in revenge for his "murder" of
Iphigenia.
After the defeat of Troy, Agamemnon received the Trojan princess ... Show more content on
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But Greek society did value success in war and the increase of honor.
Hence when Ag returns home, even though the chorus has been cursing him earlier, all is forgiven
because he returns victorious. (See the
Chorus' speech at 351–474)
On the other hand, society puts a check on outrageous excess with the concept of divine punishment
for being too hubristic. This leads to a somewhat schizophrenic mentality. The imperative is to
achieve, but not too much. Difficult line to walk.
2. Agamemnon's Return and Walking on the Carpet:
Clytemnestra invites Ag to step on the carpets she strews in his path.
At first he outright refuses. He says all the right things, but he does give in. Why?
Clyt. tempts his pride and he can't resist. By mentioning Priam she is in effect saying "you are the
conqueror, so don't you have the right to this?" And her answer to his fear of being envied is "He
who goes unenvied is not admired." (See lines 905–949 for the whole scene.)
Ag's walking on the carpet is a symbol of his sacrilege. Ag has trampled on the carpets as he has
trampled on his daughter. (See ll.
369–372)
The Threat of Clever Women
The problem of relations between men and women, and more specifically the problem of Greek
society with strong women, is brought up by the character of Clytemnestra.
Clytemnestra is characterized as a masculine woman. She is shown to govern the household (l. 10:
"a lady's male
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The 's The Odyssey, Lysistrata, And Clytemnestra
In the time of Ancient Greece, Greek women were restricted to living within the society 's norms
fulfilling mostly guided roles like housework. While some works of the time presented women as
mere housewives, others often put them in the position of political leaders, heroines, and murderers.
The women that receive major roles in the stories such as Penelope in Homer 's The Odyssey,
Lysistrata in Aristophanes ' Lysistrata, and Clytemnestra in Aeschylus ' Agamemnon are major
characters with important roles, thus breaking the traditions of normal culture during this time
period in Greek history. Not only are these women strong and well–spoken, but they wield
considerable political power during a period in which women were only at the sidelines of the shot–
calling leaders. Strong central female characters occur in each classic. Penelope, Clytemnestra, and
Lysistrata all have significant roles that differ because of the genres and their characteristics.
Mothers are persistent figures throughout The Odyssey and are seen as the sideline cheering section
rather than true supporters of their sons and husbands in terms of military or personal
accomplishments. The mothers in this text serve little function besides mourning their men and
urging them to remain safe. Without a male to guide them, these women appear to be lost and
distraught. Penelope is one outlier in The Odyssey. While she is left at home during the war and
Odysseus ' trip home, Penelope is able to keep the suitors
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Clytemnestra's Suffering
In Aeschylus' version of the tale of Agamemnon, the hero returns from his voyage after ten long
years, only to be murdered by his wife. From a close reading of the text, it is clear that Clytemnestra
had multiple reasons for doing what she did. Her anger and resentment towards her husband
stemmed from a number of wrongs that he committed. The question readers are faced with is this:
were Clytemnestra's actions justified? Clytemnestra is a likeable character; she is a powerful woman
who gets things done. Her suffering is great, and the audience feels sympathy for her. But were the
means she used to deal with her situation morally acceptable? The answer, of course, is no.
However, evidence from the text will show that Clytemnestra truly felt like she had no other choice.
That is not enough to exonerate her from her crimes; it will explain why she killed Agamemnon, but
not excuse it. On the surface, Clytemnestra's initial reason for killing Agamemnon is to avenge the
death of their daughter, Iphigenia. Clytemnestra says, "And though they wend their way unerringly,
what those dead suffered may yet work them ill, – that pain which never sleeps – and fresh woe
come" (Hamilton 177). She is clearly still mourning the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
He was the king, after all. He came home, after surviving a bloody war for ten years. She figured
that if the war did not kill him, what would happen to him in the safety of his home? Clytemnestra
also witnessed the warm welcome Agamemnon received when he returned home. His people still
adored and revered him, regardless of the things he had done while he was away. Clytemnestra saw
that she alone felt this resentment and hatred. The people of Argos were ready to accept
Agamemnon as their ruler, and Clytemnestra would be out a throne, and a husband. After ruling for
so many years, Clytemnestra did not want to give her power back to the man who killed her
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The Tragedy Of Clytemnestra And Cassandra's 'Agamemnon'
Jordan Arnold Professor Wilder
Blue Humanities
9/19/17
Prompt 3 In the tragedy of Agamemnon, both Clytemnestra and Cassandra have their opinions of
Agamemnon. He has shown the type of King he truly is. Clytemnestra, his wife, has took action in
her own hands when it came to dealing with Agamemnon. This resulted in his brutal death where he
least expected it. Cassandra, priestess of Apollo, was cursed with gift of prophecy but no one will
believe her. With that being said she knew things were going to end bad with Agamemnon before
everyone else. This is why Cassandra remains a noble prophet when Agamemnon tries to lead her
into temptation. With them being the voice of the play they commonly explain their emotions
towards Agamemnon out of anger. They both know that the things that he is doing is morally wrong
and not the work of a honest king.
Clytemnestra had to deal with things that a wife should not have to deal with. Was it him sacrificing
his own daughter for the gods, or even him having a mistress while he was gone at
war.Agamemnon's main goal was to show that he had dominance over her along with his kingdom.
She envied the fact that he was able to make these decisions without any sense of sympathy for
anyone. The death of Agamemnon was revenge for the death of her daughter. Agamemnon killed a
deer in a grove sacred to Artemis so the gods did not provide wind for the sail boats once they tried
to set sail to Troy to go to war. Then it is revealed
... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...
Agamemnon's Treatment Of Women In Electra
Paedagogus, an old servant who looked after Orestes (the son of King Agamemnon), tells Orestes of
how he took him from Mycenae after the king was murdered by his wife, Queen Clytemnestra, and
her lover. Orestes plans on getting revenge for his father's death by the command of Apollo. He
hears Electra, his sister, crying; however, he ignores her due to his focus being solely on revenge.
Electra has been held captive by her mother and Aegisthus–her mother's lover–since the death of her
father. She has mourned Agamemnon's death for years. The Chorus of women act as a voice of
reason for Electra, questioning why she has mourned for so long. Her response is that she has been
abused and no one can be moderate or restrained in her situation. Meanwhile,
... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...
Masculinity In Agamemnon
Lines 1372 to 1430 in Aeschylus's Agamemnon is a dialogue between Clytemnestra and the Chorus
right after she avenged murder on Agamemnon and Cassandra. This dialogue is essential as it gives
Clytemnestra a very masculine representation as she defies the conventional female role. Aeschylus
uses many literary features to properly execute her masculinity. Clytemnestra's daring and
remorseless acts ensues her rejection of femininity, which in turn allows her to be a powerful and
dominant force in the play. Clytemnestra's justification for the murder was to seek justice for the
sacrifice of her daughter Iphigenia. She murders Agamemnon with no sign of remorse. She states
that "Much have I said before to serve necessity, / but I will feel no shame now to unsay it all."
(Lines 1372–1373) And "be glad, if it ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
How can you speak this way, with mouth/ so arrogant, to vaunt above your fallen Lord." (Lines
1399–1400) Here, the chorus along with many audience members are surprised at her unladylike
behavior. She then stuns the audience once again with her prideful mannerisms and replies that "You
try me out as if I were a woman and vain; / but my heart is not fluttered as I speak before you. / You
know it. You can praise or blame me as you wish; / it is all one to me" (Lines 1401–1404)
Clytemnestra herself goes against the womanly stereotypes and essentially tells them that their
opinion does not hinder her whatsoever. She had an objective in mind and she has fulfilled it, their
approval or disapproval will not affect her. Aeschylus even uses the word "fluttered" which is a very
feminine word to describe what Clytemnestra heart should be feeling as she is a woman, but due to
her intentions, it does
... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...
Justice In 'Vengeance In The Play Oresteia'
In today's world, justice is served periodically in order to keep conformity in society and it's usually
served because of acts of vengeance. The line that separates justice from vengeance is very thin.
Justice benefits society and vengeance benefits the individual, or retaliation. In the play "The
Oresteia" there are numerous acts of vengeance committed by the characters Agamemnon,
Clytemnestra, and Orestes and justice is considered "served" for their actions. Each character feels
as if their actions are justified and morally right.
Vengeance is derived from one's desire to retaliate on another. The one yearning for vengeance
believes that their actions are righteous, however; they are considered selfish and harmful. In
relation to "The ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Justice is a complicated word to define, in comparison to vengeance, since every individual has their
own beliefs on what is morally right. Some individuals who perform acts of vengeance will often
see their actions as justified: Vengeance is a part of justice.For example, Agamemnon claimed on
line 443 "We were right, and therefore ruthless,"; he believes that the sacrifice of his daughter,
Iphigenia, and his callous actions in Troy are pardoned because he considers what he did as just. He
believes that justice has been served even though him and his army destroyed the entire city of Troy
and he sacrificed his daughter to allow his ships to sail. Another example of vengeance for justice is
when Clytemnestra butchered Agamemnon in revenge for killing her daughter. Clytemnestra claims
in lines 792–792 that it is "never the hand of queen or wife, but the hand of Justice, drove the knife,"
because she personally believes that her retaliation brought justice: her desire for revenge on
Agamemnon is what fuels her belief in what she considers justice. Lastly, when Orestes murdered
his mother for killing his father, Agamemnon, he also did it as an act of vengeance, but for the sole
purpose of gaining
... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...
Essay Justice in the Oresteia
Justice in the Oresteia
Justice is often taken for granted in the world we live in today with a judicial system that gives fair
punishment for most crimes. In the Oresteia justice works much differently, where there are no
judges or a court system to resolve disputes, instead there is revenge. Revenge is very messy
because somebody will and has to get hurt first to desire revenge, and it leads to a cycle that cannot
and will not end until everybody is dead. Justice does not and cannot only be revenge because in the
end nobody would be left in that system. Aeschylus' Oresteia focuses on revenge as justice, with the
old system that no longer works and that someone must fix, and a new system that has ... Show
more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Clytemnestra also gives her justification for murdering her husband, and for ten long years she
thought about how sweet revenge would be when Agamemnon arrived. She also tells her lover,
Aegisthus, "Our lives are based on pain" (1690). Clytemnestra does not realize how ironic her
statement will be later on when pain controls her. Aegisthus sums–up their code of justice when he
says, "There are gods in heaven avenging men, / blazing down on all the crimes of earth" (1607–
1608). He also is foreshadowing that his crime must also be paid for and he will suffer the
consequences of killing Agamemnon and revenge. Aegisthus does not realize it, but Orestes is
seeking revenge upon him and his for the death of Agamemnon. After Orestes kills them, there is
nobody left alive to kill him to avenge their deaths. Clytemnestra invokes the Furies who seek
revenge for anybody who has nobody to seek it for them. The Furies chase Orestes to Apollo's
temple where Orestes asks him for forgiveness, "Lord Apollo, you know the rules of justice, / know
them well. Now learn compassion" (88–89). Orestes is the first person who is trying to change the
system and realizes it must be changed for the gods and the Furies to spare his life. Revenge as
justice has one major problem,
... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...
Clytemnestra's Acts Of Deception And Ambiguity
Clytemnestra, the wife of Agamemnon, displays acts of deception and ambiguity throughout the
play Agamemnon. Clytemnestra is at home for about 10 years while Agamemnon is away at the
battle of Troy. While Agamemnon is away at war, Clytemnestra cheated on him with Aegisthus. This
leads to much of the deception and ambiguity leading up to and after Agamemnon's death.
Clytemnestra believes she is doing the "just" thing by murdering Agamemnon because he had their
daughter, Iphigenia, sacrificed. During the play the audience is shown how Clytemnestra is
ambiguous and gives her reasoning behind this "just" cause for murdering her husband.
Clytemnestra is full of deception and ambiguity in many scenes of this play. She is able to deceive
her husband, ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
I agree with the Chorus and their view that Clytemnestra should not have murdered her husband out
of revenge. The Chorus says "no one will stand by you, you have no allies. Revenge will come and
you will pay, blow for blow" (Agamemnon .1429–.1430). Here the Chorus is saying Clytemnestra
will get what she deserves for this and that she will not get away with murdering her husband. I
agree with this because none of the citizens will stand by a queen who murdered the king. Also, her
children will not stand by their mother who murdered their father. Another reason the Chorus argues
against Clytemnestra's position is because justice will come to those who deserve it. "The sword of
Justice is being sharpened on the grindstone of Destiny to cut more pain" the Chorus means that the
Gods are prepared to give punishment to Clytemnestra and she will not be able to escape it because
it is her destiny (Agamemnon .1535–.1536). This is another point I agree with and it is similar to an
eye for an eye. There is cycle of wrong doing that occurs throughout the play, Agamemnon killed
Iphigenia, so Clytemnestra killed Agamemnon. Now it is time for Clytemnestra to be killed as
justification for her wrong doing. Lastly, the Chorus says "such unrelenting anger...a vicious trial of
destruction, an insatiable appetite for disaster" (Agamemnon
... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...

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Clytemnestra's Odyssey and the Cycle of Revenge

  • 1. Examples Of Clytemnestra In The Odyssey Clytemnestra's Odyssey In Robert Fagles' introduction to Aeschylus's tragedy Agamemnon, he calls Clytemnestra a "female Odysseus" who "has the right of retaliation on her side." Fagles' comments on Clytemnestra's actions and comparison of her to Odysseus can be justified. In The Odyssey, Odysseus is seen as a very masculine authority figure whose character is defined by his strength, courage, and confidence. His most distinguishing trait, however, is his sharp intellect, which helps him out of some very tough situations he finds himself in throughout the epic. Similarly in Agamemnon, Clytemnestra is portrayed as a strong, independent, and quick–witted character who defies every convention of the female gender role. Within the beginning of the tragedy, the watchman and the chorus describe Clytemnestra as, although being just a woman, a man in strength of purpose. This provides a clear distinction between gender roles but also presents Clytemnestra as having 'manly' qualities. One such being her dominant leadership, a trait shared by Odysseus too, during her husband's absence. Fagles' notion of Clytemnestra having "the right ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ... It is the rejection of this role that leads to many thinking of her as devilish and abnormal. Another factor that leads to her portrayal as a diabolic character is her cunningness, portrayed in her skillful manipulation of the language she uses. Clytemnestra's double–meaning in her words which not only deceives Agamemnon's men but also sends a justification to the gods for what is to come can be seen as frightening as it is ingenious. Aeschylus' portrayal of Clytemnestra can also be seen as negative as it is positive. She seeks justice for her daughter which many people can relate too. But at the same time is totally unrepentant for the act of ... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...
  • 2.
  • 3.
  • 4.
  • 5. Agamemnon's Pride: A Greek Tragedy In "Agamemnon", a Greek tragedy, it focuses on Clytemnestra's plot to murder her husband, Agamemnon. This greek tragedy portrays Agamemnon as a pious leader. However, Agamemnon's pride ultimately led to his downfall. When Agamemnon returned home triumphant after ten long years at war, he is blinded by pride, because Clytemnestra his wife was suspiciously happy to see him. This sense of pride causes him not to remember that he had their daughter sacrificed to the gods. Everyone knew that she had been angry and unfaithful to him, because of the sacrifice, but nobody wanted to tell him because they feared the wrath of his pride. Agamemnon's pride ultimately led to his downfall, because it blinded him to the fact that his wife was planning ... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...
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  • 9. Essay The Cycle of Vengeance in Aeschylus’s Oresteia The Cycle of Vengeance in Aeschylus's Oresteia The cyclic thread of vengeance runs like wild fire through the three plays in Aeschylus's Oresteia. This thread, with its complexity of contemporary and universal implications lends itself quite well to – in fact, almost necessitates – deeply interested study. While a brief summary of the Oresteia will inevitably disregard some if not much of the trilogy's essence and intent, on the positive side it will establish a platform of characters, events, and motives with which this paper is primarily concerned. As such, I begin with a short overview of the Oresteia and the relevant history that immediately precedes it. The house of Atreus is cursed, it would seem, with the perpetual cycle ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ... Now joined together (amorously) by a common hatred for Agamemnon, Clytemnestra (Agamemnon's wife) and Aegisthus plot and execute the death of Agamemnon. As John H. Finley, Jr. has rightly put it, "Both Agamemnon and Aegisthus perpetuate their father's infections" – Agamemnon by the slaughter of innocents and Aegisthus by the adultery with Clytemnestra (Pindar 258). The Libation Bearers speaks of the remaining children of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, Orestes and Electra, who (with some urging from Apollo) avenge the death of their father by killing both Aegisthus and their own mother. The Furies, enraged by Orestes' violation of the filial bond, pursue his punishment. The Eumenides covers the taming of the Furies, the reconciliation of the dominant opposing forces in the trilogy, the establishment of Athena's court of law, and, as J. J. Pollitt argues, "brings us out of the earlier dark irrationality into what seems an enlightened world of order and reason" (30). Each of these acts, excepting the first and the last, is both a consequence and a cause: every individual involved sought to avenge the horrid act of an offender – each seemingly sought justice by way of retribution. By identifying only a single reason or cause each for the vengeful acts outlined above, it is easy to generalize this chain of events into cyclic manifestation of the age–old law "an eye for an eye." Much is lost in this simplification of the story; the ... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...
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  • 13. Oresteia Revenge Quotes Throughout The Oresteia, the themes of justice and revenge are often used as reasoning for certain events that take place. In many instances, the characters refer to certain events as revenge, while others see them as justice. For example, Clytemnestra kills her wife in pursuit of justice, and can be displayed as just due to her motives and reasoning. Orestes' killing of Clytemnestra may be viewed as just in his eyes, but in reality, is revenge. In The Oresteia, revenge, often portrayed as a selfish act, regards experiencing a spiteful joy caused by retaliation, while justice is displayed primarily as a rational decision, rather than an emotional one. Orestes, Agamemnon's father, kills his mother Clytemnestra to avenge his deceased father, ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ... She believes justice and revenge are two separate ideas. Electra's view is correct. Revenge is a selfish act, and selfishness cannot be justified. However, justice is rational and complete in fairness. For example, ending one's life should result in the end of the killer's life. In the killing of Agamemnon, Clytemnestra avenges her daughter Iphigenia by killing Agamemnon. Her decision isn't based on her emotional state, but rather she is in pursuit of justice. However, she states that justice and revenge are separate ideas. This true because justice is moral fairness and revenge is experiencing happiness in ... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...
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  • 17. The Aeschylus Trilogy And Sweat By Lynn Nottage The Aeschylus Trilogy and Sweat by Lynn Nottage, though written thousands of years apart, actually share the same underlying problems especially when it comes the the characters that drive the plot. In both plays, there is this very prominent character trait found in most, if not all, the characters, selfishness. These self centered characters actually create conflict simply by only thinking of themselves. The self–centered and selfish air in both time periods, whether brought up by individual characters or even character groups, drives the plot in both the Aeschylus Trilogy and Sweat. The mythical story of "Agamemnon" opens with an air of hope and fear as the very weary watchmen and city of Argos wait for the fall of Troy, a war that has been going on for ten years. After the signal is seen, Agamemnon's wife Clytemnestra, who has been ruling in his absence, appears from her home and tells the city the great news, they have won the war. Agamemnon arrives home and has brought the captured Trojan princess Cassandra, his concubine. Clytemnestra falsely welcomes him with gifts that will lead him to his death. After also being welcomed, Cassandra, moves into a state of frenzy, foreshadowing to Agamemnon's murder and her own. She enters the house, knowing it will lead to her death. Thc cries of the dying Agamemnon are heard by many, when the palace is revealed, Clytemnestra is joyfully standing over the bodies of her victims. She answers the elders' charges by claiming justice ... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...
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  • 21. Chorus Intervention in Aeschylus' the Eumenides and Agamemnon In The Eumenides and Agamemnon of The Oresteia trilogy, Aeschylus constructs an over–arching metaphor for elements of the new Athenian democracy. The chorus in each play represents the people who feel under–represented and disrespected, by the society's changing values. In The Eumenides, the chorus of Furies is frustrated with the younger gods and infringements on their power; in Agamemnon the chorus fears more the control of an effective woman in Clytemnestra rather than the leadership of fruitless Agamemnon. Both choruses take direct actions thought to ensure their prominence. Agamemnon picks of the story eponymous Greek king following the conclusion of the Trojan War. In his absence, his wife Clytemnestra has assumed the throne, and ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ... 1561) Clytemnestra is to them a force which will "hold [them] down" (Agamemnon, Ln. 146), and a "woman [who] made him (Agamemnon) suffer." (Agamemnon, Ln. 1481) They call for the return of Orestes to both avenge his father's death and release them from her rule. Their view of the future with Clytemnestra as ruler pays no heed to the success of her reign. Even Agamemnon acknowledges that her rule surpassed his: "The storms of ruin live! Her last dying breath, rising up from the ashes sends us gales of incense rich in gold." (Agamemnon, Ln. 804) The chorus' overriding concern is not with success or competency, but only with the preservation of the tradition rule. By first backing Agamemnon and then calling for Orestes murder of Clytemnestra they are seeking to reassert and realign the old order. While the chorus in Agamemnon is focused on restoring power to Agamemnon as king, the play's sequel, The Eumenides traces the progression of the struggle for power as the chorus of the Furies strives to retain authority. The metaphorical focus of The Eumenides is the changing values in contemporary Athens. In Athenian democracy's first recorded trial, Orestes is charged with the murder of his mother Clytemnestra. At the prompting of Clytemnestra, the chorus of Furies begins the play by taunting Orestes. This propels Orestes into a public trial. The Furies then work to ensure that matricide, which they ... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...
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  • 25. S. H. Landes Agamemnon Agamemnon is an interesting tale about a king in the city of Argos. It was created by aeschylus around 458 B.C. It was translated by S. H. Landes in 1995. The book it part of a trilogy, and while the protagonist, and name of the story, is Agamemnon he does not actually show up until the middle of the story. The story focus pretty heavily on themes of revenge for the sake of justice. It also focuses on the effects of war. The story's exposition starts with the Watchman waiting for a beacon to signal Troy's fall. When it finally lights up the Watchman is overjoyed. He tells the queen. The signal of the fall of Troy is the inciting incident. A chorus then comes out and recounts the details of the battle between Troy and Greeks. They tell ... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...
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  • 29. The Medea And AeschylusThe Oresteia In both Euripidide's The Medea and Aeschylus' The Oresteia, the chorus acts as a point of relatability for the audience. The chorus is meant to be made up of everyday folk watching the story unfold just as the audience is, and providing feedback or advice to the more prominent characters. The chorus acts as a gauge for Greek opinion, a capsule of how the audience most likely would have reacted while watching these plays. In the case of Euripidide's The Medea and Aeschylus' The Oresteia, the chorus is a litmus test especially for the misogyny present in Greek culture. Both choruses condemn the women of their respective plays. It is on the basis of Medea and Clytemnestra's gender and background that they are condemned by the chorus. It is only looking at them through a modern lens that we can really recognize the great injustices of their respective circumstances and sympathize with them. The way the two plays are written aims to get us, the audience, to dislike Medea and Clytemnestra. Though sharing some distinct similarities like their class position within society, Medea and Clytemnestra are introduced to their audiences in very different ways. Medea appears first in her nurse's monologue. Her nurse describes her as a "poor creature" (60), showing clear sympathy for the position that Medea finds herself in. Though a foreigner who killed her own brother and father, the nurse views Medea in a sympathetic light, clearly wanting the situation at hand to be different. However, ... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...
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  • 33. Revenge In Oresteia Research Paper 2017 In the Greek play Oresteia, the theme of the intersection between past, present, and future can be seen in the instances of revenge and justice that occur between various characters. Also, the play can teach us many aspects about how to improve our life in the future in order to become better people, by learning and deviating from our actions and forgiving others for what they have done instead of retaliating. In Oresteia, the reoccurring theme of revenge can be seen in all three acts in the play, producing much of the tragedy in it. Revenge can first be seen when Clytemnestra kills Agamemnon and Cassandra at the plaice, however, there are many layers to this revenge that is committed. Iphigenia, Agamemnon's daughter, was sacrificed by her father so that the god Artemis would be appeased and the Greek ships could reach troy. By killing Agamemnon, Iphegenia's death would be avenged and the blood crime of familial murder be resolved. Clytemnestra could be seen as ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ... For example, the revenge from death and infidelity are repeated by both Clytemnestra and Orestes showing how the motives intersect from one life to another. Both Clytemnestra, Orestes also use the form of vengeful justice created by The Furies to rationalize their murders. The Furies believe in the blood for blood justice used that was handed to them at their time of creation, that "The mother killer must not escape, he must be punished... blood must pay for blood!" (Furies 256,264). Clytemnestra states "Here is Agamemnon, my husband made a corpse by this right hand–a masterpiece of justice. Done is done," (Agamemnon 1429–1431). Thus stating, Clytemnestra believes that since she killed Agamemnon, she brought justice to herself, her daughter, and her city. Orestes believes that to obtain justice for his father and himself, he needs to reenact the vengeful justice that his mother took on his ... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...
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  • 37. Masculinity Of Clytemnestra In this paper, I will discuss the different ways Clytemnestra isn't your typical female character. In most of Greek mythology women were mostly seen as passive, weak, and constantly taking orders from men. She was the complete opposite, she was really a one of a kind. More masculine than some of the men in the stories, and definitely more masculine than feminine she was a very strong, solid, independent, powerful character throughout Agamemnon. The story definitely wouldn't be as controversial as it was if it weren't for the boldness, extremely deceptive tactics, manipulative ways, and ruthless acts of Clytemnestra. She constantly defied the role that was given to women in the art of ancient Greece, she paved the way for powerful women characters for the future. The story of Agamemnon was really a prime example of the masculinity of Clytemnestra. From the point in the story where Agamemnon has to sacrifice his beloved daughter in order to save the people of his empire and go to war, you could tell that did not sit well with her. I mean it must be the worst thing in the world to have to sacrifice a child of your own, something that a king had to do. It makes you think of how great of a king he was to have the balls to do so, but that decision that he made it stuck with Clytemnestra. It drove her into madness, and ruthless behavior. She wanted her revenge and she was going to have her revenge no matter what, she was going to stop at nothing in order to get it. She ruled the ... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...
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  • 41. Oresteia And Clytemnestra The Oresteia and the character of Clytemnestra The Oresteia is a trilogy of Greek tragedies written by Aeschylus. It was originally performed at the Dionysia Festival in Athens where it won the first prize in 458 B.C. The play wants to reveal the idea of justice. Men and women are in conflict. This situation leads Clytemnestra to become not a wife and mother (which were the only appropriate roles for respectable women in ancient Greece), but a tyrant. Clytemnestra in ancient Greek, was the wife of Agamemnon. She is one of the main characters in the play and I can say that it is the most interesting one. By "interesting" I don't mean that is a likable character because she is considered a murderer but it is important to analyze the reasons ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ... The bad actions of Clytemnestra are immediately seen in a negative way but she, at first, has avenged her daughter's murder. What the chorus thinks of her is that she is an imposing figure, she is not noble and her information is unreliable. She is kind of underestimated and misjudged. She is presented as the bad woman but it is clear that the aim of Clytemnestra is taking her revenge. Aeschylus' portrait of Clytemnestra can be seen as negative and positive; on one hand she seeks justice for her daughter, on the other she is completely incurable for the act of murder. She does not hide from her actions, instead she freely admits her murder and embraces the power and authority. It is through the inversion of traditional gender roles, adopting masculine speech, behaviors and activities, that she achieves her revenge for the sacrifice of Iphigenia. On one hand Clytemnestra's revenge may have been seen as an upsetting act but on the other hand it let people (the audience) reflect on the traditional gender role of women in society. The power of Clytemnestra can be also seen through the chorus speech. It highlights her authority even if the chorus ... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...
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  • 45. Medea And Agamemnon Ancient expectations for women include always putting the responsibilities of being a mother above all else, as shown in Euripides' Medea and Aeschylus' Agamemnon, as well as Euripides' Iphigenia at Aulis. Both Clytemnestra and Medea exhibit motherly love and tend to those responsibilities, but commit atrocious, unladylike acts, which jeopardize the sympathy felt for them by an audience. The respective playwrights of each story use their character's motivations and how they align with their roles as mothers first and women second to ultimately characterize each in either a negative or positive light. The motherly motivation that Clytemnestra and Medea exhibit excuses their vengeful and deceitful actions, however Medea's final action, ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ... Euripides' Iphigenia at Aulis provides important context regarding the sacrifice of Iphigenia and Clytemnestra's past with Agamemnon. Clytemnestra is ashamed after talking to Achilles about the wedding between him and Iphigenia that he is unaware of. After discovering Agamemnon 's true intentions, she decides that she will no longer "let shame prevent" her from seeking Achilles' help to stop Agamemnon because "whose interests should [she] consult before [her] child's?" (Iphigenia at Aulis 24). Her concern for Iphigenia overpowers the indignity she feels because her child's well being is greater than her own. Both women's anger and desire for vengeance grow as their children are endangered or harmed as "vengeance makes grief bearable" (Medea 2.55). The playwrights show each as either a good or bad woman based on if their vengeful actions are ultimately in favor of their children or not. The mistreatment that both receive from Jason and Agamemnon despite all that they do for them contributes heavily to their vengeful actions as well. Medea used her magical powers, defied her father, and killed her brother to devote herself to Jason, is still treated coldly and is neglected by Jason, who abandons her and their two sons and leaves her for Creon's daughter. She realizes that "to annihilate the past is not possible: but its fruit in the present" can be used at her disposal to fulfill vengeance (Medea 1.364–5). She decides to channel the woe she ... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...
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  • 49. Revenge In Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers, And The Furies The Oresteia trilogy, including the tragedies Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers, and The Furies, explores the theme of revenge on most of the characters. These plays contain a strong sense of brutality against civilians because there were lots of slaughtering within the house of Atreus. The decision of Agamemnon sacrificing his youngest daughter, Iphigenia as a stepping stone to travel and conquer Troy provoked the death of several others throughout the play. Agamemnon clearly faces a dilemma between war accomplishments and his daughter, but in the end he chose to have what was best for his people. Because of this decision, justice was viewed as an act of retaliation because the characters in Oresteia takes the role of providing punishments to another individual for their past wrongs. Aeschylus presents the first play, Agamemnon as Clytemnestra sets a plan to kill Agamemnon, the second play, The Libation Bearers as Orestes avenging against Clytemnestra for murdering his father, and the third play, The Furies as Orestes getting tormented by matricide. This must be understood that acts of vengeance fails to achieve true justice because it only creates disharmony in society. Although the characters of Aegisthus, Clytemnestra, Orestes, and the Furies were driven by revenge on someone else, Aeschylus reveals a final verdict in court is the best way to achieve justice for societies. In Agamemnon, Clytemnestra finally murders Agamemnon for killing her beloved daughter, Iphigenia due ... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...
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  • 53. The Oresteia Instead of saying The Oresteia is a tragic trilogy that many people are killed, it would be more appropriate to generalize it as the extension and the termination of vendetta. Even though Oresteia doesn't cover the origin of the whole feud of the twins, Atreus and Thyestes, the whole trilogy never digresses from the main theme: revenge. As the first observable vendetta in the trilogy, Clytemnestra's revenge to Agamemnon is dramatic and thought–provoking with the specialty of her role in her family and her reasons to kill Agamemnon in the story. For the mariticide in Agamemnon, reflecting Clytemnestra's attitude to Agamemnon is way more significant than marking as the first murdering in the trilogy. From line 1521 to 1564, we may understand ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ... In today's ethic, we may condemn everyone who murders his family members no matter who they are. But in pre–modern society, people normally rebuke and disdain those who murders his/her bloodlines because it is a betrayal to their parents' or their own blood. In line 1529, Clytemnestra describes Agamemnon's bloodline killing and his death that "with the sword he struck; with the sword he paid for his own act." This indicates another reason that Clytemnestra murders Agamemnon: to punish those who betrayed their bloodlines. Since Iphigeneia is the daughter of both Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, killing Agamemnon is definitely reasonable to Clytemnestra. Nevertheless, Clytemnestra is also the member of Agamemnon family, what will people think if she murders her husband? People might not judge the murderer in the mariticide or uxoricide as heavy as those murder the bloodlines because sexual partners don't share the blood from the same parents during pre–modern period. In a way, mariticide and uxoricide are totally same as the normal murdering. Thus, we may see the Chorus is unable to condemn Clytemnestra for betraying her husband and "Make lamentation, render the graceless grace to his soul for huge things done in wickedness?" (1544) is the most they may ... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...
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  • 57. Clytemnestra In The Oresteia In the Oresteia, Clytemnestra is portrayed as an intelligent, powerful woman who acts decisively in her own interests and to protect the throne. Clytemnestra should be considered a heroine for demonstrating her excellence by defending her own honour according to traditions, and also for transgressing the boundaries that limited women in ancient times. Two of the most heroic acts that she performed were ruling Argos while Agamemnon her husband was away waging the Trojan War and ultimately taking revenge on him for the sacrifice of her daughter. Like many heroines, Clytemnestra is flawed and dies tragically in the end. The daughter of Tyndareus and Leda, Clytemnestra is also the half twin sister of Helen. In the Oresteia, Clytemnestra is a problematic character; in the beginning of the Oresteia the Watchman says that "Oh she's a woman all right, a woman with a man's heart." (Oresteia, p.3) proving that he's not her biggest admirer. Clytemnestra is an example for double role of man and woman, she is a woman but the culture of the ancient time considers her ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ... When he found out about the affair, Atreus banished Thyestes and later invited him to a banquet and gave him food made from the flesh of his own children. Thyestes then cursed Atreus and his family. Further deepening the confrontation is that Aegisthus was conceived by incest specifically to take revenge on Atreus' family including Agamemnon. Thyestes asked an oracle for advice and was told to have a son by his own daughter who would carry out the revenge on Atreus. When Aegisthus was born his mother Pelopia rejected the boy because she was ashamed about the incestuous relationship with her father and banished him away from the palace. A shepherd found the boy and delivered him to Atreus. When he grew up Thyestes told him the truth that he was his father and grandfather. So Aegisthus killed ... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...
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  • 61. Justice In 'Vengeance In The Play Oresteia' In today's world, justice is served periodically in order to keep conformity in society and it's usually served because of acts of vengeance. The line that separates justice from vengeance is very thin. Justice benefits society and vengeance benefits the individual, or retaliation. In the play "The Oresteia" there are numerous acts of vengeance committed by the characters Agamemnon, Clytemnestra, and Orestes and justice is considered "served" for their actions. Each character feels as if their actions are justified and morally right. Vengeance is derived from one's desire to retaliate on another. The one yearning for vengeance believes that their actions are righteous, however; they are considered selfish and harmful. In relation to "The ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ... Justice is a complicated word to define, in comparison to vengeance, since every individual has their own beliefs on what is morally right. Some individuals who perform acts of vengeance will often see their actions as justified: Vengeance is a part of justice.For example, Agamemnon claimed on line 443 "We were right, and therefore ruthless,"; he believes that the sacrifice of his daughter, Iphigenia, and his callous actions in Troy are pardoned because he considers what he did as just. He believes that justice has been served even though him and his army destroyed the entire city of Troy and he sacrificed his daughter to allow his ships to sail. Another example of vengeance for justice is when Clytemnestra butchered Agamemnon in revenge for killing her daughter. Clytemnestra claims in lines 792–792 that it is "never the hand of queen or wife, but the hand of Justice, drove the knife," because she personally believes that her retaliation brought justice: her desire for revenge on Agamemnon is what fuels her belief in what she considers justice. Lastly, when Orestes murdered his mother for killing his father, Agamemnon, he also did it as an act of vengeance, but for the sole purpose of gaining ... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...
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  • 65. Essay on Agamemnon Agamemnon was the son of Atreus, the brother of Menelaus and the brother–in–law of Helen; he was told to sacrifice his daughte Agamemnon was the son of Atreus, the brother of Menelaus and the brother–in–law of Helen; he was told to sacrifice his daughter Iphigenia to atone for the killing of a deer sacred to Artemis so that the Greek fleet could have wind to sail to Troy. However, Artemis snatched Iphigenia away at the last second and transported her to Tauris (now known as the Crimea) to serve as her priestess. In his absence, his wife, Klytemnestra, openly took a lover, Aegisthus, and plotted Agamemnon's murder in revenge for his "murder" of Iphigenia. After the defeat of Troy, Agamemnon received the Trojan princess ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ... But Greek society did value success in war and the increase of honor. Hence when Ag returns home, even though the chorus has been cursing him earlier, all is forgiven because he returns victorious. (See the Chorus' speech at 351–474) On the other hand, society puts a check on outrageous excess with the concept of divine punishment for being too hubristic. This leads to a somewhat schizophrenic mentality. The imperative is to achieve, but not too much. Difficult line to walk. 2. Agamemnon's Return and Walking on the Carpet: Clytemnestra invites Ag to step on the carpets she strews in his path. At first he outright refuses. He says all the right things, but he does give in. Why? Clyt. tempts his pride and he can't resist. By mentioning Priam she is in effect saying "you are the conqueror, so don't you have the right to this?" And her answer to his fear of being envied is "He who goes unenvied is not admired." (See lines 905–949 for the whole scene.) Ag's walking on the carpet is a symbol of his sacrilege. Ag has trampled on the carpets as he has trampled on his daughter. (See ll. 369–372) The Threat of Clever Women
  • 66. The problem of relations between men and women, and more specifically the problem of Greek society with strong women, is brought up by the character of Clytemnestra. Clytemnestra is characterized as a masculine woman. She is shown to govern the household (l. 10: "a lady's male ... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...
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  • 70. Monster Clytemnestra In Aeschylus Oresteia The Monster Clytemnestra in Aeschylus' Oresteia In the three–part play Oresteia, Clytemnestra is a character that manipulates, lies, cheats, and murders. From the very first moment we hear of her existence, we know she is unlike the women of her time. "Oh she's a woman all right, a woman with a man's heart." (11) the watchman in the first scene of Agamemnon tells the audience. This tells us that she does not act in a way that the watchman associates with the women around him. Already, in the first few lines of the first installment of the play, we know that Clytemnestra is different. Throughout the play, Clytemnestra tries as hard as she can to keep herself on top, stopping at nothing to get what she wants. She wants to rule the city and she wants to have power over the people in her life. She is power hungry, manipulative, and determined. This determination is not a good thing for the people around Clytemnestra. Because of her need for power, she ends up turning on almost everyone she is supposed to love. This is what leads to her eventual death. Clytemnestra is a dynamic character, who does everything she can to be on top – killing, lying, cheating, and murdering are just a few of these things. She does not care who she hurts, or what she does to get where she wants to be. It is ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ... In all this time/ I've kept our promises, never broken our seal./ There has been no scandal, I know as much about/ the pleasures of another man as I do of steeping metal./ This is my boast, and it is true,/ it would not disgrace the noblest of women" ... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...
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  • 74. Theme Of Vengeance In The Oresteia Orestes has to kill her (Zeitlin, 476). The view of vengeance in Aeschylus's The Oresteia also depends on the situation the person enacting the vengeance is in beforehand. Another component that changes the view of vengeance is what situation the character is in; meaning how the murderer is related to the victim and the position they are in at the time or before. Clytemnestra is in a situation where her husband kills their daughter and she can either retaliate or live with the fact that Iphigenia is dead. She chooses to kill her husband and she does not have any support other than that of Aegisthus. Orestes is basically forced into killing his mother and Aegisthus by Apollo and people around him like his sister Electra and the Chorus as well as his friend Pylades. In the beginning of Liberation Bearers, Orestes comes back and encounters his sister Electra at their father's grave. During their reacquaintance, Orestes tells Electra that he has been ordered to kill Clytemnestra and Aegisthus by Apollo, "...if I failed to kill my father's killers.......to kill the two of them as they killed him, in the same way. He said that otherwise I'd pay the debt with my own life, and it would be a life of torment that would never end" (Aeschylus, Liberation Bearers lines 307–313). He has this threat hanging over his head and any time he starts to waver, his friend Pylades, his sister, and the chorus encouraged him. "the third and last storm battering their house. In the end, Orestes does in fact come third and as a saviour. Before entering the palace he rehearses the piece of deceit by which he wraps his mother and Aegisthus in their own toils. As he puts it before his sister and the confederate chorus of Trojan captives, he will not give Aegisthus time to ask from where he has come", this shows that he has a lot of support behind him in this endeavor in addition to the support of Apollo (Clay, 4). After he kills his mother and her lover, he has to wash his hands of the blood and, "to be cured, he must journey to the oracle of Delphi" (Burke, 382). Orestes kills his mother, subsequently he begins to see the furies that are coming after him (Burke, 382). The Furies that are now pursuing him punish "blood–guilt" (Burke, 382) ... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...
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  • 78. Deceitful Clytemnestra of Euripides' Electra Essay Deceitful Clytemnestra of Euripides' Electra Agamemnon returns from Troy, a victorious general, bringing home spoils, riches and fame. He is murdered on the same day as he returns. Clytemnestra, his adulterous wife, has laid in wait for her husband's homecoming and kills him whilst he is being bathed after his long journey. During the Agamemnon, large proportions of the Queen's words are justifications for her action, which is very much concerned with the sacrifice of Iphigenia to the gods, in order for the fleet to set sail for Troy. Aegisthus, the new husband of the Queen Clytemnestra, and partner in the conspiracy to murder the war hero, had reasons, which stemmed from the dispute between the Houses of Atreus and Thyestes. Was the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ... No blame is placed upon him by the people and they believe he "slipped his neck in the strap of fate" 217, only after which did his spirit become "black, impure, unholy" 218. The people of Mycenae, typically represented by the elders, and thus the Chorus have absolved him of blame in their minds. All their words about the leader are nothing but in praise of their king. They are nearly "faint with longing" for the return of their king, though we can also partly attribute this to a desire to be rid of Clytemnestra more than their wish to return to the rule of Agamemnon. They indeed emphasise the tyranny of the Queen ("she commands, full of her high hopes...manoeuvres like a man" 13). The sentry echoes the love for the King though ("My king, I'll take your loving hand in mine" 37), and the herald is similarly well disposed toward him, and he hasn't been under the yoke of Clytemnestra ("he brings us light in the darkness...Agamemnon lord of men"). The people absolve the King of blame over Iphigenia, and give him unconditional loyalty, but Clytemnestra rests it all upon his shoulders ("girl of tears...here you are repaid" 1554). She understands the grandeur of her action and the scale of it but believes that "what we did was destiny" 1692. Though, it is my belief that the honourable King of Mycenae was commanded by the fates to kill his daughter, and it was by no means his will to carry ... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...
  • 79.
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  • 81.
  • 82. Theme Of Vengeance In The Oresteia Orestes has to kill her (Zeitlin, 476). The view of vengeance in Aeschylus's The Oresteia also depends on the situation the person enacting the vengeance is in beforehand. Another component that changes the view of vengeance is what situation the character is in; meaning how the murderer is related to the victim and the position they are in at the time or before. Clytemnestra is in a situation where her husband kills their daughter and she can either retaliate or live with the fact that Iphigenia is dead. She chooses to kill her husband and she does not have any support other than that of Aegisthus. Orestes is basically forced into killing his mother and Aegisthus by Apollo and people around him like his sister Electra and the Chorus as well as his friend Pylades. In the beginning of Liberation Bearers, Orestes comes back and encounters his sister Electra at their father's grave. During their reacquaintance, Orestes tells Electra that he has been ordered to kill Clytemnestra and Aegisthus by Apollo, "...if I failed to kill my father's killers.......to kill the two of them as they killed him, in the same way. He said that otherwise I'd pay the debt with my own life, and it would be a life of torment that would never end" (Aeschylus, Liberation Bearers lines 307–313). He has this threat hanging over his head and any time he starts to waver, his friend Pylades, his sister, and the chorus encouraged him. "the third and last storm battering their house. In the end, Orestes does in fact come third and as a saviour. Before entering the palace he rehearses the piece of deceit by which he wraps his mother and Aegisthus in their own toils. As he puts it before his sister and the confederate chorus of Trojan captives, he will not give Aegisthus time to ask from where he has come", this shows that he has a lot of support behind him in this endeavor in addition to the support of Apollo (Clay, 4). After he kills his mother and her lover, he has to wash his hands of the blood and, "to be cured, he must journey to the oracle of Delphi" (Burke, 382). Orestes kills his mother, subsequently he begins to see the furies that are coming after him (Burke, 382). The Furies that are now pursuing him punish "blood–guilt" (Burke, 382) ... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...
  • 83.
  • 84.
  • 85.
  • 86. Justice In The Odyssey As Mahatma Gandhi once noted astutely, "An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind." Gandhi's assertion challenges this moral code established in both the Odyssey and the Old Testament, just as Aeschylus challenges the validity of vendetta as a successful technique for maintaining societal order in his Oresteia trilogy. The revenge ethic plays a key role in the story because it makes justice the personal responsibility of the person insulted; the killer must be killed, and the act of retribution must be carried out by the most appropriate person––preferably a close blood relative. It is a radically straightforward basis for justice, linking retribution to the family and its collective honor. Like the storied blood feud between the Hatfields ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ... The chorus notes that for those who exact vengeance, "no cure whatever exists; and all ways which converge / in one road, to purify / blood on polluted hands, go straight onward in vain" (lines 71– 74). They appeal to the gods for some kind of remedy to the madness: "You great powers of Fate, may Zeus grant an ending here / in which justice changes to the other side" (lines 307–309). Nevertheless, the chorus seems to change its mind later on in the dialogue with Electra and recognizes that justice by retribution has been a valid way to keep the peace in the past. They note that "certainly there is a law that bloodshed / dripping to the ground demands another's blood. / The havoc from those slain before / shouts the Fury on / who brings fresh ruin upon ruin" (lines 400– 405). Orestes tells Clytemnestra that she "killed the man you ought not; so you must / suffer the thing you should not" (lines 929–230) and proceeds to commit matricide. At this point, the chorus laments that Orestes took his own mother's life, but they admit that their "choice is nevertheless for / this eye of the house not to fall utterly in destruction" (lines 933–934). Later on in Eumenides when ... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...
  • 87.
  • 88.
  • 89.
  • 90. S. H. Landes Agamemnon Agamemnon is an interesting tale about a king in the city of Argos. It was created by aeschylus around 458 B.C. It was translated by S. H. Landes in 1995. The book it part of a trilogy, and while the protagonist, and name of the story, is Agamemnon he does not actually show up until the middle of the story. The story focus pretty heavily on themes of revenge for the sake of justice. It also focuses on the effects of war. The story's exposition starts with the Watchman waiting for a beacon to signal Troy's fall. When it finally lights up the Watchman is overjoyed. He tells the queen. The signal of the fall of Troy is the inciting incident. A chorus then comes out and recounts the details of the battle between Troy and Greeks. They tell ... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...
  • 91.
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  • 94. The Oresteia Instead of saying The Oresteia is a tragic trilogy that many people are killed, it would be more appropriate to generalize it as the extension and the termination of vendetta. Even though Oresteia doesn't cover the origin of the whole feud of the twins, Atreus and Thyestes, the whole trilogy never digresses from the main theme: revenge. As the first observable vendetta in the trilogy, Clytemnestra's revenge to Agamemnon is dramatic and thought–provoking with the specialty of her role in her family and her reasons to kill Agamemnon in the story. For the mariticide in Agamemnon, reflecting Clytemnestra's attitude to Agamemnon is way more significant than marking as the first murdering in the trilogy. From line 1521 to 1564, we may understand ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ... In today's ethic, we may condemn everyone who murders his family members no matter who they are. But in pre–modern society, people normally rebuke and disdain those who murders his/her bloodlines because it is a betrayal to their parents' or their own blood. In line 1529, Clytemnestra describes Agamemnon's bloodline killing and his death that "with the sword he struck; with the sword he paid for his own act." This indicates another reason that Clytemnestra murders Agamemnon: to punish those who betrayed their bloodlines. Since Iphigeneia is the daughter of both Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, killing Agamemnon is definitely reasonable to Clytemnestra. Nevertheless, Clytemnestra is also the member of Agamemnon family, what will people think if she murders her husband? People might not judge the murderer in the mariticide or uxoricide as heavy as those murder the bloodlines because sexual partners don't share the blood from the same parents during pre–modern period. In a way, mariticide and uxoricide are totally same as the normal murdering. Thus, we may see the Chorus is unable to condemn Clytemnestra for betraying her husband and "Make lamentation, render the graceless grace to his soul for huge things done in wickedness?" (1544) is the most they may ... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...
  • 95.
  • 96.
  • 97.
  • 98. Betrayal In Aeschylus Oresteia Aeschylus' Oresteia is a trilogy of books about the aftermath of the Trojan War in Agamemnon's family. The trilogy contains many themes including tragedy, deception, justice, vengeance, and most importantly betrayal. Many of Agamemnon's family members turn against each other, including Agamemnon himself. However, the betrayals in Oresteia are not betrayals committed purely out of hatred. Vengeance plays an important role in Clytemnestra's murder of her husband, and Orestes murders his mother out of vengeance, not simply because he wants to. Since the different family members betray each other out of spite, Orestes cannot be considered the hero of the story. Orestes does avenge his father, but Agamemnon was not innocent, and Clytemnestra's actions ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ... Clytemnestra thought she was proclaiming justice by killing Agamemnon in retribution for his immoral actions. However, the murder of Agamemnon could be seen in other ways. The murder of Iphigenia is recognized as a terrible crime, and Clytemnestra acts to avenge her daughter's undeserved death. She believes her act is righteous, and she confesses to what she did with no guilt or remorse. Since Agamemnon is foolish and arrogant, he is not a sympathetic victim. However, when the trilogy is viewed as a whole, Clytemnestra's crime is indeed wrong and entails vengeance by Orestes. The motivation for her actions becomes apparent when Aegisthus appears. It is not simply that she wants vengeance for her daughter, but she also wants to be able to continue her life with Aegisthus without Agamemnon in the way. Aegisthus does not appear in the story until the end of the first book when the transition to The Libation–Bearers begins, and Clytemnestra loses sympathy. With Aegisthus in place, it is difficult to define Clytemnestra as a hero, but in comparison to the other family members, she is the closest to being a hero. Oresteia is a story full of flawed characters, and the hero of the story is deeply flawed herself. It is a good reminder that even the best of people have horrible ... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...
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  • 100.
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  • 102. Summary Of The Play 'The Furies' Throughout the play the Furies where trying to gain revenge by killing Orestes for killing his own mother. The Furies believed that blood must be paid with blood for and gruesome act as killing your own mother. The Furies cross–examine Orestes on the charges that he committed. Orestes admits that he killed his mother, and says that he did so following the commands of Apollo, which got his commands from the God Zeus. He also says that his mother had it coming to her (because she killed Agamemnon, Orestes's father). Now the Furies question Apollo. Apollo backs up everything that Orestes says, and elaborates on Orestes's point that his mother wasn't related to him. Apollo says that mothers are only incubators of embryos, and that only fathers are truly parents are uses Athena as an example of how mothers aren't needed to birth a child. Apollo expressed the importance of relying on the law instead of revenge and the important things that are on the line. According to the book, " The Ballots are out, make a careful count, be fair, have respect for justice as you divide the votes. An ill judged verdict could cause great harm, and a single vote can restore a mighty house" (Line 748). The play "The Furies" shows that law is better than revenge because all facts of a case must be examined before a decision can be made on punishment for crimes committed. The furies wanted to kill Orestes mainly because he killed his own mother and that kind of crime could only be paid with blood, but ... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...
  • 103.
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  • 106. Sophocles Electra Compare And Contrast Essay In Electra Sophocles focuses most attention on Electra's desire to avenge her father. Electra's obsession with revenge is so excessive that it dominates all her thoughts and actions, turning her into a bloodthirsty madwoman. Unlike Electra, Chrysthemis has no burning desire for vengeance against Clytemnestra. She would rather forget the past and adapt herself to new environment. There are different approaches of accepting Agamemnon's death that leads to the dispute between two sisters (El. 380–460). Chrysthemis' reaction is being rational and seeking for the biggest benefit as living free life full in comfort by obeying Clytemnestra and Aegisthus (El. 990–1020). Though Chrysthemis understands Electra's intention to "eye to eye" from the moral side, Chrysthemis does not see that she can be better off from doing this as well. Chrysthemis behaves the way that can lead to the greatest expedience for her. In Sophocles' Electra Chrysthemis is an example to show the contradiction between words and ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ... She explains that she does not have enough power to rebuff, and chooses the path of least resistance. She finds it more rational to live the life the way it is by staying silence. Thus Chrysthemis obeys Clytemnestra's request to do funeral libation to Agamemnon. However, when Chrysthemis meets Electra on her way to Agememnon's grave she gets convinced that slayer cannot give gifts to the victim with good intentions. Electra says that such libation is not respectful and morally inacceptable which Chrysthemis agrees with. Despite this fact, Chrysthemis' decision of following Electra's advise does not reflect her immediate intention of supporting Electra's plan of killing Clytemnestra. Chrysthemis believes that her murdered father pardons her for being silent rather than continue the blood war with Clytemnestra and Aegisthus against Clytemnestra and ... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...
  • 107.
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  • 110. Summary Of The Net Imagery In Oresteia In the Oresteia, revenge drives the characters to act. Although they call it justice, it is not. Aeschylus uses net imagery to symbolize faith and destiny. When Clytemnestra murders Agamemnon and Cassandra, the net imagery acts as a symbol of terrible fate. However, then fate reverse. Now, Orestes is caught in Apollo's net and kills his own mother. Lastly, Athene changes the meaning of the net from one of chaos to that of order and justice. These uses of the net imagery help the reader focus on a crucial theme in the play: the superiority of a formal justice system to one based on the individual quest for revenge by progressively altering the nets meaning and its affect on those around it. Clytemnestra's use of the net imagery focuses the reader on the drawback, that is, collateral damage, of a justice system that is based on the individual quest for revenge by emphasizing the collateral damage associated with revenge. As she stands over the bodies of Agamemnon and Cassandra she says: "I wrapped in a great net– not a fish could have slipped from the shoal" (69). Involving the shoal in Clytemnestra's speech explains that with every revenge quest there are innocent people who suffer the repercussions. An avenger does not consider the bystanders surrounding the guilty person. Clytemnestra states that the net was so large that the fish could not escape the shoal. If the fish's fate is to be caught in the net yet it cannot escape the shoal, that means the shoal suffers the same ... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...
  • 111.
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  • 114. Essay The Powerful Clytemnestra in Aeschylus' Oresteia The Powerful Clytemnestra in Aeschylus' Oresteia What Price Glory? was the title of a Maxwell Anderson play about World War I. Although the Oresteia deals with the period following a much different war, the same question can be asked of it. In the trilogy Aeschylus presents the reader with a stunning example of ancient Greek society, in which warrior ideals were firmly held, and glory in battle was considered the supreme good. The question of moral justification in the trilogy brings in many complex issues, but all of them revolve around the construction of Greek society and the role of different individuals in this system. Two of the most extraordinary characters are the personages of Agamemnon and his wife Clytemnestra. This couple ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ... The society in which this play takes place is so foreign from our own that it is difficult to understand the actions of many characters. However, in Greek society many of these actions were much more understandable. The first of these situations was the sacrifice of Iphigeneia by Agamemnon. The king speaks of his grief when he says, Heavy indeed my fate if I disobey, but heavy, too, if I must butcher my child, the glory of my house, polluting a father's hands with streams of virgin's blood beside the altar. Which of these two things is without evil? (Agamemnon, 41) 1 Yet Agamemnon does go on to murder his daughter. In his society was he free to make any other decision? He says, "How shall I become the deserter of my fleet and fail my allies?" (Agam., 41) The question of whether he should inflict so much suffering on his family is not even mentioned. Agamemnon is obviously feeling societal pressure to sacrifice Iphigeneia, yet one must question if he had any possible alternatives. If he had said "no," he could have faced revolt, and he would have been considered weak by other men. Yet to whom did he owe his first allegiance? Was war really so much of a social ideal, or was it possible for Agamemnon to have made a different choice and saved his daughter? At this point it is very conceivable that Iphigeneia had to be sacrificed, but why exactly did the whole situation get this far? When the soldiers embarked for Troy they set out upon a dangerous ... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...
  • 115.
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  • 118. Essay Justice in the Oresteia Justice in the Oresteia Justice is often taken for granted in the world we live in today with a judicial system that gives fair punishment for most crimes. In the Oresteia justice works much differently, where there are no judges or a court system to resolve disputes, instead there is revenge. Revenge is very messy because somebody will and has to get hurt first to desire revenge, and it leads to a cycle that cannot and will not end until everybody is dead. Justice does not and cannot only be revenge because in the end nobody would be left in that system. Aeschylus' Oresteia focuses on revenge as justice, with the old system that no longer works and that someone must fix, and a new system that has ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ... Clytemnestra also gives her justification for murdering her husband, and for ten long years she thought about how sweet revenge would be when Agamemnon arrived. She also tells her lover, Aegisthus, "Our lives are based on pain" (1690). Clytemnestra does not realize how ironic her statement will be later on when pain controls her. Aegisthus sums–up their code of justice when he says, "There are gods in heaven avenging men, / blazing down on all the crimes of earth" (1607– 1608). He also is foreshadowing that his crime must also be paid for and he will suffer the consequences of killing Agamemnon and revenge. Aegisthus does not realize it, but Orestes is seeking revenge upon him and his for the death of Agamemnon. After Orestes kills them, there is nobody left alive to kill him to avenge their deaths. Clytemnestra invokes the Furies who seek revenge for anybody who has nobody to seek it for them. The Furies chase Orestes to Apollo's temple where Orestes asks him for forgiveness, "Lord Apollo, you know the rules of justice, / know them well. Now learn compassion" (88–89). Orestes is the first person who is trying to change the system and realizes it must be changed for the gods and the Furies to spare his life. Revenge as justice has one major problem, ... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...
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  • 122. Essay on Agamemnon Agamemnon was the son of Atreus, the brother of Menelaus and the brother–in–law of Helen; he was told to sacrifice his daughte Agamemnon was the son of Atreus, the brother of Menelaus and the brother–in–law of Helen; he was told to sacrifice his daughter Iphigenia to atone for the killing of a deer sacred to Artemis so that the Greek fleet could have wind to sail to Troy. However, Artemis snatched Iphigenia away at the last second and transported her to Tauris (now known as the Crimea) to serve as her priestess. In his absence, his wife, Klytemnestra, openly took a lover, Aegisthus, and plotted Agamemnon's murder in revenge for his "murder" of Iphigenia. After the defeat of Troy, Agamemnon received the Trojan princess ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ... But Greek society did value success in war and the increase of honor. Hence when Ag returns home, even though the chorus has been cursing him earlier, all is forgiven because he returns victorious. (See the Chorus' speech at 351–474) On the other hand, society puts a check on outrageous excess with the concept of divine punishment for being too hubristic. This leads to a somewhat schizophrenic mentality. The imperative is to achieve, but not too much. Difficult line to walk. 2. Agamemnon's Return and Walking on the Carpet: Clytemnestra invites Ag to step on the carpets she strews in his path. At first he outright refuses. He says all the right things, but he does give in. Why? Clyt. tempts his pride and he can't resist. By mentioning Priam she is in effect saying "you are the conqueror, so don't you have the right to this?" And her answer to his fear of being envied is "He who goes unenvied is not admired." (See lines 905–949 for the whole scene.) Ag's walking on the carpet is a symbol of his sacrilege. Ag has trampled on the carpets as he has trampled on his daughter. (See ll. 369–372) The Threat of Clever Women
  • 123. The problem of relations between men and women, and more specifically the problem of Greek society with strong women, is brought up by the character of Clytemnestra. Clytemnestra is characterized as a masculine woman. She is shown to govern the household (l. 10: "a lady's male ... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...
  • 124.
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  • 126.
  • 127. The 's The Odyssey, Lysistrata, And Clytemnestra In the time of Ancient Greece, Greek women were restricted to living within the society 's norms fulfilling mostly guided roles like housework. While some works of the time presented women as mere housewives, others often put them in the position of political leaders, heroines, and murderers. The women that receive major roles in the stories such as Penelope in Homer 's The Odyssey, Lysistrata in Aristophanes ' Lysistrata, and Clytemnestra in Aeschylus ' Agamemnon are major characters with important roles, thus breaking the traditions of normal culture during this time period in Greek history. Not only are these women strong and well–spoken, but they wield considerable political power during a period in which women were only at the sidelines of the shot– calling leaders. Strong central female characters occur in each classic. Penelope, Clytemnestra, and Lysistrata all have significant roles that differ because of the genres and their characteristics. Mothers are persistent figures throughout The Odyssey and are seen as the sideline cheering section rather than true supporters of their sons and husbands in terms of military or personal accomplishments. The mothers in this text serve little function besides mourning their men and urging them to remain safe. Without a male to guide them, these women appear to be lost and distraught. Penelope is one outlier in The Odyssey. While she is left at home during the war and Odysseus ' trip home, Penelope is able to keep the suitors ... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...
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  • 131. Clytemnestra's Suffering In Aeschylus' version of the tale of Agamemnon, the hero returns from his voyage after ten long years, only to be murdered by his wife. From a close reading of the text, it is clear that Clytemnestra had multiple reasons for doing what she did. Her anger and resentment towards her husband stemmed from a number of wrongs that he committed. The question readers are faced with is this: were Clytemnestra's actions justified? Clytemnestra is a likeable character; she is a powerful woman who gets things done. Her suffering is great, and the audience feels sympathy for her. But were the means she used to deal with her situation morally acceptable? The answer, of course, is no. However, evidence from the text will show that Clytemnestra truly felt like she had no other choice. That is not enough to exonerate her from her crimes; it will explain why she killed Agamemnon, but not excuse it. On the surface, Clytemnestra's initial reason for killing Agamemnon is to avenge the death of their daughter, Iphigenia. Clytemnestra says, "And though they wend their way unerringly, what those dead suffered may yet work them ill, – that pain which never sleeps – and fresh woe come" (Hamilton 177). She is clearly still mourning the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ... He was the king, after all. He came home, after surviving a bloody war for ten years. She figured that if the war did not kill him, what would happen to him in the safety of his home? Clytemnestra also witnessed the warm welcome Agamemnon received when he returned home. His people still adored and revered him, regardless of the things he had done while he was away. Clytemnestra saw that she alone felt this resentment and hatred. The people of Argos were ready to accept Agamemnon as their ruler, and Clytemnestra would be out a throne, and a husband. After ruling for so many years, Clytemnestra did not want to give her power back to the man who killed her ... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...
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  • 135. The Tragedy Of Clytemnestra And Cassandra's 'Agamemnon' Jordan Arnold Professor Wilder Blue Humanities 9/19/17 Prompt 3 In the tragedy of Agamemnon, both Clytemnestra and Cassandra have their opinions of Agamemnon. He has shown the type of King he truly is. Clytemnestra, his wife, has took action in her own hands when it came to dealing with Agamemnon. This resulted in his brutal death where he least expected it. Cassandra, priestess of Apollo, was cursed with gift of prophecy but no one will believe her. With that being said she knew things were going to end bad with Agamemnon before everyone else. This is why Cassandra remains a noble prophet when Agamemnon tries to lead her into temptation. With them being the voice of the play they commonly explain their emotions towards Agamemnon out of anger. They both know that the things that he is doing is morally wrong and not the work of a honest king. Clytemnestra had to deal with things that a wife should not have to deal with. Was it him sacrificing his own daughter for the gods, or even him having a mistress while he was gone at war.Agamemnon's main goal was to show that he had dominance over her along with his kingdom. She envied the fact that he was able to make these decisions without any sense of sympathy for anyone. The death of Agamemnon was revenge for the death of her daughter. Agamemnon killed a deer in a grove sacred to Artemis so the gods did not provide wind for the sail boats once they tried to set sail to Troy to go to war. Then it is revealed ... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...
  • 136.
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  • 139. Agamemnon's Treatment Of Women In Electra Paedagogus, an old servant who looked after Orestes (the son of King Agamemnon), tells Orestes of how he took him from Mycenae after the king was murdered by his wife, Queen Clytemnestra, and her lover. Orestes plans on getting revenge for his father's death by the command of Apollo. He hears Electra, his sister, crying; however, he ignores her due to his focus being solely on revenge. Electra has been held captive by her mother and Aegisthus–her mother's lover–since the death of her father. She has mourned Agamemnon's death for years. The Chorus of women act as a voice of reason for Electra, questioning why she has mourned for so long. Her response is that she has been abused and no one can be moderate or restrained in her situation. Meanwhile, ... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...
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  • 143. Masculinity In Agamemnon Lines 1372 to 1430 in Aeschylus's Agamemnon is a dialogue between Clytemnestra and the Chorus right after she avenged murder on Agamemnon and Cassandra. This dialogue is essential as it gives Clytemnestra a very masculine representation as she defies the conventional female role. Aeschylus uses many literary features to properly execute her masculinity. Clytemnestra's daring and remorseless acts ensues her rejection of femininity, which in turn allows her to be a powerful and dominant force in the play. Clytemnestra's justification for the murder was to seek justice for the sacrifice of her daughter Iphigenia. She murders Agamemnon with no sign of remorse. She states that "Much have I said before to serve necessity, / but I will feel no shame now to unsay it all." (Lines 1372–1373) And "be glad, if it ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ... How can you speak this way, with mouth/ so arrogant, to vaunt above your fallen Lord." (Lines 1399–1400) Here, the chorus along with many audience members are surprised at her unladylike behavior. She then stuns the audience once again with her prideful mannerisms and replies that "You try me out as if I were a woman and vain; / but my heart is not fluttered as I speak before you. / You know it. You can praise or blame me as you wish; / it is all one to me" (Lines 1401–1404) Clytemnestra herself goes against the womanly stereotypes and essentially tells them that their opinion does not hinder her whatsoever. She had an objective in mind and she has fulfilled it, their approval or disapproval will not affect her. Aeschylus even uses the word "fluttered" which is a very feminine word to describe what Clytemnestra heart should be feeling as she is a woman, but due to her intentions, it does ... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...
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  • 147. Justice In 'Vengeance In The Play Oresteia' In today's world, justice is served periodically in order to keep conformity in society and it's usually served because of acts of vengeance. The line that separates justice from vengeance is very thin. Justice benefits society and vengeance benefits the individual, or retaliation. In the play "The Oresteia" there are numerous acts of vengeance committed by the characters Agamemnon, Clytemnestra, and Orestes and justice is considered "served" for their actions. Each character feels as if their actions are justified and morally right. Vengeance is derived from one's desire to retaliate on another. The one yearning for vengeance believes that their actions are righteous, however; they are considered selfish and harmful. In relation to "The ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ... Justice is a complicated word to define, in comparison to vengeance, since every individual has their own beliefs on what is morally right. Some individuals who perform acts of vengeance will often see their actions as justified: Vengeance is a part of justice.For example, Agamemnon claimed on line 443 "We were right, and therefore ruthless,"; he believes that the sacrifice of his daughter, Iphigenia, and his callous actions in Troy are pardoned because he considers what he did as just. He believes that justice has been served even though him and his army destroyed the entire city of Troy and he sacrificed his daughter to allow his ships to sail. Another example of vengeance for justice is when Clytemnestra butchered Agamemnon in revenge for killing her daughter. Clytemnestra claims in lines 792–792 that it is "never the hand of queen or wife, but the hand of Justice, drove the knife," because she personally believes that her retaliation brought justice: her desire for revenge on Agamemnon is what fuels her belief in what she considers justice. Lastly, when Orestes murdered his mother for killing his father, Agamemnon, he also did it as an act of vengeance, but for the sole purpose of gaining ... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...
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  • 151. Essay Justice in the Oresteia Justice in the Oresteia Justice is often taken for granted in the world we live in today with a judicial system that gives fair punishment for most crimes. In the Oresteia justice works much differently, where there are no judges or a court system to resolve disputes, instead there is revenge. Revenge is very messy because somebody will and has to get hurt first to desire revenge, and it leads to a cycle that cannot and will not end until everybody is dead. Justice does not and cannot only be revenge because in the end nobody would be left in that system. Aeschylus' Oresteia focuses on revenge as justice, with the old system that no longer works and that someone must fix, and a new system that has ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ... Clytemnestra also gives her justification for murdering her husband, and for ten long years she thought about how sweet revenge would be when Agamemnon arrived. She also tells her lover, Aegisthus, "Our lives are based on pain" (1690). Clytemnestra does not realize how ironic her statement will be later on when pain controls her. Aegisthus sums–up their code of justice when he says, "There are gods in heaven avenging men, / blazing down on all the crimes of earth" (1607– 1608). He also is foreshadowing that his crime must also be paid for and he will suffer the consequences of killing Agamemnon and revenge. Aegisthus does not realize it, but Orestes is seeking revenge upon him and his for the death of Agamemnon. After Orestes kills them, there is nobody left alive to kill him to avenge their deaths. Clytemnestra invokes the Furies who seek revenge for anybody who has nobody to seek it for them. The Furies chase Orestes to Apollo's temple where Orestes asks him for forgiveness, "Lord Apollo, you know the rules of justice, / know them well. Now learn compassion" (88–89). Orestes is the first person who is trying to change the system and realizes it must be changed for the gods and the Furies to spare his life. Revenge as justice has one major problem, ... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...
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  • 155. Clytemnestra's Acts Of Deception And Ambiguity Clytemnestra, the wife of Agamemnon, displays acts of deception and ambiguity throughout the play Agamemnon. Clytemnestra is at home for about 10 years while Agamemnon is away at the battle of Troy. While Agamemnon is away at war, Clytemnestra cheated on him with Aegisthus. This leads to much of the deception and ambiguity leading up to and after Agamemnon's death. Clytemnestra believes she is doing the "just" thing by murdering Agamemnon because he had their daughter, Iphigenia, sacrificed. During the play the audience is shown how Clytemnestra is ambiguous and gives her reasoning behind this "just" cause for murdering her husband. Clytemnestra is full of deception and ambiguity in many scenes of this play. She is able to deceive her husband, ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ... I agree with the Chorus and their view that Clytemnestra should not have murdered her husband out of revenge. The Chorus says "no one will stand by you, you have no allies. Revenge will come and you will pay, blow for blow" (Agamemnon .1429–.1430). Here the Chorus is saying Clytemnestra will get what she deserves for this and that she will not get away with murdering her husband. I agree with this because none of the citizens will stand by a queen who murdered the king. Also, her children will not stand by their mother who murdered their father. Another reason the Chorus argues against Clytemnestra's position is because justice will come to those who deserve it. "The sword of Justice is being sharpened on the grindstone of Destiny to cut more pain" the Chorus means that the Gods are prepared to give punishment to Clytemnestra and she will not be able to escape it because it is her destiny (Agamemnon .1535–.1536). This is another point I agree with and it is similar to an eye for an eye. There is cycle of wrong doing that occurs throughout the play, Agamemnon killed Iphigenia, so Clytemnestra killed Agamemnon. Now it is time for Clytemnestra to be killed as justification for her wrong doing. Lastly, the Chorus says "such unrelenting anger...a vicious trial of destruction, an insatiable appetite for disaster" (Agamemnon ... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...