Was Clytaemnestra Justified In Killing Agamemnon
It was unjustified for Clytaemnestra to murder Agamemnon on the basis of revenge for their daughter Iphigenia because of how long it had been, the fact that it was done for the greater good and because of Clytaemnestras’ infidelity to Agamemnon. This is summed up elegantly by the chorus of old men when they say to Clytaemnestra, “…And You, innocent of his murder? And who could swear to that? and how?...” (A, 1534-35). One reads very early on in the book of Agamemnon that “Ten years gone, ten to the day our great avenger went for Priam…” (A, 44-45). This references when the ‘great avenger’ or Agamemnon went to defeat Priam in Troy. It had clearly been ten years, quite a long time, since the death of Iphigenia when Agamemnon returns home and is murdered. One can infer, therefore, that Clytaemnestra had adequate time to grieve the death of her daughter and come to terms with things before Agamemnon returned home. Clytaemnestra states after she kills him that “I brooded on this
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A watchdog gentle to him alone, savage to those who cross his path…” (A, 601-05). She speaks of her faithfulness to her husband while he has been away. Following her gushing of innocence, the leader of the chorus says “She speaks well, but it takes no seer to know she only says what’s right.” (A, 612-13). This leads one to believe that her words may not be taken as true to heart as one may have liked to before. We learn of her infidelity near the end of the play when there is chaos over who will rule following the death of Agamemnon. She states that “Let them howl – they’re impotent. You (in reference to Aegisthus) and I have power now. We will set the house in order once and for all.” (A, 1707-08) she and her lover Aegisthus will rule over
A watchdog gentle to him alone, savage to those who cross his path…” (A, 601-05). She speaks of her faithfulness to her husband while he has been away. Following her gushing of innocence, the leader of the chorus says “She speaks well, but it takes no seer to know she only says what’s right.” (A, 612-13). This leads one to believe that her words may not be taken as true to heart as one may have liked to before. We learn of her infidelity near the end of the play when there is chaos over who will rule following the death of Agamemnon. She states that “Let them howl – they’re impotent. You (in reference to Aegisthus) and I have power now. We will set the house in order once and for all.” (A, 1707-08) she and her lover Aegisthus will rule over