Into The Mind Of The Noble Clytaemestra Essay, Research Paper

Into the Mind of the Noble Clytaemestra

Born in 525 B.C., Aeschylus was the earliest of the great tragic poets of Athens. He is commonly called the father of Greek tragedy. Tragedy and drama in the western world were born with Aeschylus, one of the greatest dramatists and poets of all time. He lived and wrote more than two millenniums ago in the city of Athens in Greece. He was completely a man of his century, and yet, because of this, his works have a special harmony, confident outlook, and a grasp of the meaning and quality of human life. The stories used in tragedy were taken almost exclusively from the great cycles of mythology. These ancient myths and heroic legends were like a bible to the Greeks, they recorded what was thought to be the social, political, and religious history of the people. “Agamemnon” is a product of Aeschylus’ genius and maturity. In this play, Clytaemestra is illustrated as a assertive and influential force. Although she is viewed in negative terms by other characters in the play, she demonstrates many dominating features such as power and skill.

Clytaemestra is by far the strongest and most powerful character in the play. This is most

clearly demonstrated when, at various points, she forces Agamemnon, as well as significant others, to bend to her will. Her most important characteristic, as pointed out, is her “male strength of heart.” The play revolves almost around a single plot, Clytaemestra’s thirst for revenge against Agamemnon for the sacrifice of their daughter, Iphigenia. She is a strong willed woman as well, and her strength is evident on many occasions is the play. Time and again her strength is illustrated when she forces Agamemnon, Aegisthus, and the Elders of Argos to do as she wishes:

“Lady, no man could speak more kind wisdom than you. …after the sure proof heard from you, my purpose is now to give our thanks to the gods, who have wrought a return in full for all the pains.”

Clytaemestra single-handedly plots the murder of Agamemnon and Cassandra, his concubine. When she is successful, she celebrates her triumph by professing it loudly, “…I have had long enough to prepare this wrestle for victory… I stand where I struck, over the finished work.” Clytemnestra firmly believes her actions are ethical and fair. Standing before the Chorus, she strongly adheres to her beliefs that she was justified in killing Agamemnon. The Elders are torn between devotion to their king and the moral issues and defense Clytemnestra passionately presents before them. The entire Trojan War was based on a superfluous act of hatred and vengefulness, spawned from the seduction of Helen. The audience can only feel sympathy for a broken hearted mother whose rage drove her to kill her husband and his concubine.

In addition to pride, strength, and efficiency, Clytaemestra is also skillful. These characteristics mainly come into play when she plans and carries out a plot to murder Agamemnon. Clytaemestra is seen by the Elders of Argos, also know as the Chorus, as untrustworthy. Although suspicious of her, they still did not foresee the impending murders. She tends to play on words with all of the true meanings hidden from all those around her. Clytaemestra more or less alludes to her plan of murder with confidence and a lack of fear of being exposed. Irony is displayed here: the audience are the only ones able to understand the double meaning in her words. When Agamemnon goes off to battle, Clytaemestra “hopes” that he and his soldiers do not commit any impiety in Troy that might offend the gods. She secretly wishes that Agamemnon return safely so she may kill him herself. Clytaemestra’s shrewdness is also demonstrated by the way she lures her husband into submission. She wants him to walk on the purple tapestries hoping this action would anger the gods who in turn would bless and aide her in his murder. When the Elders become aware of the death of their king, they are astounded. The emotion is heightened when it is discovered that the crime was committed at the hands of his wife. The Chorus threatens to exile her, but Clytaemestra defends herself by questioning why she is to be banished for killing the very person who sacrificed her child, Iphigenia. Clytemnestra cunningly justifies the double murder of Agamemnon and Cassandra by stating how her husband was unfaithful with many women:

” my husband…and with him his captive, his auguress, his oracle-monger mistress, who shared with him faithfully even the ship’s bench and the canvas! But they did it not unpunished! For here lies as you see, and she, having sung swanlike her last sad song of death, lies by him lovably…”

Although Clytaemestra was successful in her conniving plan to kill her husband, it unltimately continues the vicious cycle of revenge from one ruthless act to another. The day will near when she too is killed out of vengeance by someone dear.

Clytaemestra is a majestic and powerful woman whole personality monopolizes the entire tragedy. She is the only character whose commanding presence appears in all three plays of the trilogy, dominating the action of “Agamemnon” and taking smaller roles in the other two plays. It is evident that Aeschylus’ interests were not based on her psychological motivation. Although the trilogy covers a period of several years, Aeschylus does not show any changes in Clytaemestra’s personality. His drama is established more on the grounds of conflict and interplay of important ethical, moral, and philosophical principles than on the emotional and inner development of the particular characters in the play. Aeschylus’s portrayal of Clytaemestra is undoubtedly human, supported by her conniving intentions and thirst for revenge. Many critics consider her the most impressive and fascinating woman in tragedy which is ironic because Clytaemestra was not really considered important until Euripides wrote “Medea..”