Agamemnon
Synopsis
“Agamemnon” is a Greek tragedy written by Aeschylus, the first play in the ‘Oresteia’ trilogy. The play revolves around the return of Agamemnon, the King of Mycenae, from the Trojan War. He is welcomed home by his wife Clytemnestra, who has been plotting revenge for his sacrificial act of sacrificing their daughter Iphigenia before the war. Clytemnestra eventually kills Agamemnon and his concubine.
Character Analysis
Agamemnon is the tragic hero around whom the play centers. His character traits drive the narrative.
Religious and a Responsible General:
“…He said the prayers, then had them lift her frame, thin as a goat-kid’s, dress splayed in unseemly fashion, head lolling shocked, yet still a lovely child…” (line 230). The line by the CHORUS narrates Agamemnon’s performance of the rite to appease the gods for a favorable wind after sacrificing his daughter. It takes a deeply religious person to sacrifice their beloved daughter upon the suggestion of a prophet . He leads the prayer. His strong faith in religion is also evident when he refuses to walk on the expensive tapestry laid out for him by his wife:
“CLYTAEMESTRA
At the gods’ demand, would you have sacrificed this?
AGAMEMNON
I would, on demand of their direct prophecies” (line 930).
Relating his actions to today’s society, I see a similar situation in people who are so religious that they don’t mind harming their family or others in obedience to their faith. They are willing to do anything in the name of their “god” or “God” without a second thought.
His role as a responsible leader is seen when everyone was in distress and silence after receiving the prophecy. As a strong leader, he alone steps forward to make a tough decision on behalf of his army. Oh, how I wish we had such leaders in our country!
One flaw I perceive of him is his fear of public opinion. This fear drives him to sacrifice his daughter.
“…But tell me, what’s the ill-free course? I can’t turn deserter, a general double-crossing troops he promised a bounty-day…” (230). Quoted by the CHORUS in reference to Agamemnon.
Later in the play, he acknowledges this weakness:
CLYTAEMESTRA
Then what have you to fear but the people’s blame?
AGAMEMNON
The popular view is important, all the same” (line 930).
The significance of his character in today’s world is that public opinion can drive people to make regrettable decisions. Had they rejected or feared public opinion less, as some of our Ghanaian politicians do, they wouldn’t have to face such dire consequences.
Upon learning about the need for virgin blood, he contemplates sacrificing his daughter, facing cognitive dissonance as a father and a general. The CHORUS records that he felt he had the liberty to commit something immoral after making his decision.
“So with relief he gave it Necessity’s name. Once necked in his yoke, though, we smelled from him something unclean, something desanctified, something set free to defile; new look on his face that said All is permitted for me” (line 220).
Now, you might wonder what drove him to this decision. I believe it was his fear of public opinion, and the gods took advantage to orchestrate his path. This led to a deteriorating relationship with his wife, which ultimately ended his life in a manner similar to how he caused his daughter’s death.
Clytemnestra
Clytemnestra, Agamemnon’s wife, is responsible for his death. Her character fuels the story’s development and reveals the main conflict as she seeks revenge for their sacrificed daughter.
Vengeful and Cunning: Anyone set on a revenge mission needs to be smart enough to catch their enemy off guard, and she executes this to perfection.
In her address to the CHORUS, she remorselessly states:
“…Yes, now your judgment’s exile from my home, now you sentence me to the public curse. Wise judges! Where were you when this man killed? Where were you when, like any lamb from the flock, he picked his own daughter to sacrifice to the weather? To him, our child was one casual two-minute spasm: to me, my dearest and my longest labor.
So now you rush to judgment, being witnesses how I have made him pay the price of her blood…”
Ironically, she defies the traditional view of women as weak and unintelligent in ancient times. While the play used “woman” as a synonym for gullibility and unintelligence, Clytemnestra demonstrates that a woman can be intelligent and strong when determined to execute a task.
Her role emphasizes “being paid in our own coin for whatever we do.”
CHORUS
The CHORUS serve as narrators, elders, commentators, and also provokes inner thoughts of other characters. They contribute to revealing actions that occurred backstage and in the past.
CASSANDRA
Cassandra is the captured prophetess from the war, together with the CHORUS, She heightens the play’s mood. Her lines create a foreboding ambiance that enhances the overall suspense.
In conclusion, this ancient Greek tragedy remains relevant as it explores human flaws, power dynamics, and the consequences of personal choices, offering valuable lessons that still resonate in today’s world.
Credit : Aeschylus’s Agamemnon translation (Timothy Chappell, June 4 2012 to January 23 2013).
by Nketsiah Isaac (BA Theatre Arts)