Data Bases • Custom Term Papers • Free Term Papers • Free Research Papers • Free Essays • Free Book Reports • Plagiarism? Links • Top 100 Term Paper Sites • Top 25 Essay Sites • Top 50 Essay Sites • Search 97,000 Papers @ DirectEssays.com • Search 101,000 Papers @ ExampleEssays.com • Search 90,000 Papers @ MegaEssays.com Free Essays • Term Paper Sites • Chuck III's Free Essays • Free College Essays • TermPaperSites.com • Free Essays • My Term Papers • Essay World • Planet Papers	Search Lots of Essays Back to Subjects - Mythology AGAMEMNON AGAMEMNON Agamemnon is the first play of Aeschylus’ trilogy, the Oresteia. Aeschylus was the first of Athens’ three great tragedians; the others: Sophocles; Euripides. The Oresteia was also the first Greek tragedy trilogy written. As Greeks of this epoch focused on humanist ideas, so did Aeschylus. He devoted his genius to serious contemplations of humanistic questions, such as the nature of justice. Other humanistic values are honor, truth, compassion, loyalty, devotion to family and gods. He credits much of his success to Homer’s epics. It is helpful to have read both the Iliad and the Odyssey to understand the Oresteia. I will relate some background information from Homer’s epics as I recount a summary of Aeschylus’ Agamemnon. In order to appreciate and understand this play it is essential to know some background information of the characters. A brief summary of the Iliad’s Trojan War is as follows: At the time of the war, King Priam ruled Troy. He was married to Hecuba, who according to legend bore him forty-nine children, including the prophetess Cassandra, and the handsome Paris. Hecuba had a dream that Paris would be the cause of Troy’s destruction when she was pregnant with Paris. Upon confirmation of the oracle that her son would cause the destruction of Troy, she agreed to abandon the newborn Paris on Mount Ida, exposing him to death. Nevertheless, Paris was saved and raised by shepherds. Just before the beginning of the Trojan War, Zeus arranged to have Thetis, a goddess, marry Peleus, a mortal. All the gods and goddesses were invited except for Eris, the goddess of discord. At the wedding while all the gods and goddesses were enjoying themselves, Eris threw a golden apple into their midst with the words “FOR THE FAIREST” inscribed on it. Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite all attempted to claim the apple and finally asked Zeus to decide to whom the apple belonged. Zeus refused, and instead chose the shepherd Paris to serve as judge. Each goddess approached Paris in attempts to bribe him with special offerings. Hera offered him a rich kingdom and power; Athena offered him wisdom and military success; Aphrodite offered him love and the most beautiful woman in the world, Helen. Paris chose Aphrodite, thus making enemies of Hera and Athena. They both vowed to destroy Paris and the city of Troy. Upon learning that he would possess Helen, Paris went to Troy and established himself as a true prince, the legitimate son of Priam and Hecuba. He sailed to Sparta where he seduced and later abducted Helen. When King Menelaus, Helen’s husband, returned to Sparta and found that his wife was gone, he summoned a number of Greek generals and leaders, including his brother, King Agamemnon. Agamemnon was elected leader of the armies. As they sailed the Aegean Sea making their journey to Troy, the winds died. It was discovered the Agamemnon had killed a deer sacred to Artemis, goddess of the Hunt. Nothing could pacify her anger except the sacrifice of Iphegenia, Agamemnon’s daughter. After much anguish, Agamemnon sent for his daughter under the false pretense that she was to marry Achilles. Once there, however, he had her sacrificed. The play begins when Agamemnon returns after a ten-year siege at Troy. A chorus chants the story of Menelaus and his brother, but conclude each set with a somber refrain for Iphegenia was sacrificed in order to wage war for Helen. King Agamemnon brings with him his captured war-prize, Cassandra, Paris’ sister. Clymenestra, still in grief over her daughter’s death welcomes her husband, King Agamemnon and Cassandra. Clymenestra makes an effort to persuade Cassandra to join them in the palace, but she remains behind giving no reply. Cassandra cries in anguish to Apollo and begins to relate a tale of sins committed by Agamemnon’s father. She then describes the murder of a man - a husband. After the trance is over she turns to the chorus (in the play) and explains that because she broke her word to Apollo, he placed a curse on her: although she would remain a prophetess, no one would ever believe her. Cassandra also envisions her own murder. She then goes into the palace after having asked the gods to give her a painless death. Clymenestra kills Agamemnon and Cassandra, avenging the death of her daughter. The old men of Argos chastise her for killing the king. The chorus blames Helen, Clymenestra’s twin sister, for starting this war. Lamentation for Agamemnon continues regardless of Clymenestra’s claim that his death was justice, for it was her obligation to avenge Iphigenia’s death. Aegisthus, her accomplice, justifies their plot as rightful vengeance for Atreus’ (Agamemnon’s father) wrongs against Thyestes, Aegisthus’ father. The play ends as the chorus condemns Aegisthus and clings to the hope that Orestes will return to Sparta to avenge his father’s murder. Bibliography: Word Count: 845
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