StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Justice in Agamemnons Family in the Oresteia - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
The author of the current essay "Justice in Agamemnon's Family in the Oresteia" underlines that the play starts with the announcement of the victory of King Agamemnon over Troy as a revenge mission for Paris Alexander kidnaping Helen while he was a guest of Menelaus…
Download free paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER96.4% of users find it useful
Justice in Agamemnons Family in the Oresteia
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Justice in Agamemnons Family in the Oresteia"

JUSTICE IN THE AGAMEMNON’S FAMILY IN THE ORESTEIA. Introduction The play is starts with the announcement of victory of king Agamemnon over Troy as a revenge mission for Paris Alexander kidnaping Helen while he was a guest of Menelaus. Upon their arrival, there is celebration among the people though short-lived as the king is killed by Clytemnestra and Aegustus. In the play, justice is served in two ways; supernaturally and by the humans themselves. The gods are the Supreme Being in meting out justice to the people. There are several unwritten rules the people have to follow, including not comparing themselves to the gods and being humble before them. Everything the people do is monitored by the gods and any deviation or disobedience is punished. Human beings are also able to judge among themselves and punish whom they deem wrong. In the play, however, the most common form of punishment was death. Many cases arose from previous actions where an aggrieved individual took matters into their own hands and acted as they pleased. Agamemnon attacked Troy so as to avenge the kidnap of Helen. He was also killed because of his father’s role in the death of Thyestes’ children. In this essay, I will demonstrate the different cases of justice in the play and how they were carried out. I will also show how humans overcame the gods in the end when they decide to punish Agamemnon themselves. Justice of the gods The gods play an important role in meting out justice to the society. When the play starts, the chorus reminds us that Artemis had demanded the sacrifice of Iphigenia- it was her that was taken away their wind for the ships, and the priests Calchas stated to them what their goddess needed. As much as the decision was hard for Agamemnon to take, it was needed to appease the gods for the sake of his army. As the general, he did not want to disappoint neither his crew nor the gods. The decision, to sacrifice his child is very unpopular with the people as indicated in the chorus, clearly indicates that the gods were the final authority in terms of justice. “My fate is angry if I obey these” “But angry if I slaughter” “This child, the beauty of my house…….” “How shall I fail my ships?” “And lose the faith of the battle” When Troy is conquered by Agamemnon and his army, Clytemnestra as the ruler in charge, is quick to thank the god Hepthaus. However, she also prays that the passion of the Greek should overwhelm them and disrespect the gods. Moreover, she asks that their men not to plunder the gods alter or assault any of the women of Trojan. The fear Clytemnestra exhibits clearly show the gods are ready to punish anyone who disobeys them. After returning from the war, the king of Argos owes his success to both the soldiers the gods. In the end, the gods turned against Troy and the city was destroyed for the sake of Helen. The queen, Clytemnestra, offers Agamemnon the red carpet for him to walk on when he leaves the chariot, because she thought he had earned special recognition. According to the play, the gods punish the people who compare themselves with them. Agamemnon thinks that by stepping on the red carpet he will be lifting himself high, yet he just wants to remain humble. After much persuasion and daring from his stubborn wife, he gives in to her demand and walks on it full of regret and shame for dirtying the fine cloth. His death at the end of the play can be attributed to the punishment he feared from the gods for his disobedience. After Cassandra is done with her “prophecy”, the Chorus is sure something terrible will happen. They pray to the gods for avoidance of the uncertain disaster and comfort. Their desperation clearly demonstrates that the gods are the supreme authority in meting out judgment. The gods are displayed as being incomparable to humans, and that their mercies lie on them (line 992-1000). The Chorus of Elders, moreover, mentions a case where someone tried to resurrect people and was punished, by making him impotent, for his pride (line 101-1027). Revenge The play revolves around revenge as a means of fulfilling justice. At the start of the play, Agamemnon and his army are out to conquer and defeat Troy. The son of the leader of Troy, Paris Alexander, had taken Helen away from Menelaus when he had visited the Greeks. Agamemnon’s absence, Clytemnestra is in charge of Argos. She announced the victory of their army after ten years when she was informed of the smoke by the watchman. The chorus of Elders changes their tune and starts to sing praises because they believe justice has been served, finally. However, the elders believe that it as the gods who played a big role in the victory. Even though he was a prince of Troy, he could not hide from the justice the Greeks had shown for kidnapping the host’s wife. On his return, Agamemnon says that law and order will be restored and that the disloyal would be punished and killed and the loyal rewarded. The order displays the authority the king was bestowed within the kingdom. He could order a punishment or an execution based on his judgment alone. Clytemnestra is quick to explain her actions while she was in charge, including sending their son, Orestes, to stay with a friend and how she tried to commit suicide due to the stress she had while he was away (www.BookRags.com). Cassandra, who was taken as a hostage during the war by Agamemnon, reveals what Argos did to the children of Thyestes’ children. Agamemnon father killed, cooked and fed Thyestes’ children to him. She says that there were vengeful spirits in that house due to the injustice done to Thyestes. She blames Clytemnestra for killing her own children and compares her to Scylla who was turned into a snake monster. Agamemnon and Clytemnestra are destined to die. Soon, the Chorus would be standing over her dead body. Cassandra prophesies doom to Agamemnon’s family. She says her death would be avenged by Clytemnestra’s’ son who will also avenge his dead father. When she enters the palace, she compares its smell to that of a “slaughterhouse” and an open grave. Her murderers, says will feel revenge one day (www.BookRags.com). As her final words, she asks Apollo, the god of light, to strike her killers and avenge for her. On her death, Clytemnestra is to be reminded by her killers that it is Cassandras’ death that they are avenging (line 1324-1326). Cassandra describes how Agamemnon will die. He will be bathed in “bright with water” and nearby there is a murderous woman that will deliver a “monstrous death to her husband”. Clytemnestra will bind him in a net and stab him until he dies in the bathtub. “Caught in the folded webs” “Entanglement she pinions him and with the black horn” “He crumbles in the watered bath” (Line 1125-1129) Conclusion In the end, revenge overcomes the will of the gods. The actions of both Clytemnestra and Aegisthus are both driven by the need to avenge for Agamemnon’s past action. When the play ends, Agamemnon is killed by Clytemnestra and Aegisthus, the son of Thyestes. Clytemnestra justifies the murder, saying it was payback for killing and sacrificing Iphigenia (Line 1417). She alleges to execute justice for Iphigenia through fate and the avenging spirit. Moreover, she speaks spitefully of Cassandra, who had been taken captive by Agamemnon during the conquest of Troy. Clytemnestra speaks highly of Aegisthus, whom she sees as her shield and loyal (line 1498). In contrast to her initial statement, she then blames Agamemnon for his own death. She says it is because of the deific spirit of retribution that took over her, that killing him with a vengeance for Atreus killing Thyestes’ children. The change of mind is when the Chorus alleges the presence of a demon that has afflicted the house of Atreus. As much Agamemnon’s death was prophesied by Cassandra, the actual motive of his death were Clytemnestra under the excuse of punishing him for his actions, including killing their child and being unfaithful in their marriage. Had the gods been in charge of punishing king Agamemnon, he would have been given an ‘unnatural punishment’, just like one who was turned into an enormous snake or the one who was made impotent. By killing the king Agamemnon, Clytemnestra believes she has ended the cycle of revenge. However, only an impartial force, like the gods, could end the bloodshed and feud in the kingdom. References Aeschylus, Alan Shapiro, and Peter Burian. The Oresteia. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003. Print. www.BookRags.com,. Agamemnon Summary. N. p., 2014. Web. 27 Jul. 2014. Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(Justice in Agamemnons Family in the Oresteia Essay, n.d.)
Justice in Agamemnons Family in the Oresteia Essay. Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/literature/1653579-greek-mythology-essay
(Justice in Agamemnons Family in the Oresteia Essay)
Justice in Agamemnons Family in the Oresteia Essay. https://studentshare.org/literature/1653579-greek-mythology-essay.
“Justice in Agamemnons Family in the Oresteia Essay”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/literature/1653579-greek-mythology-essay.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Justice in Agamemnons Family in the Oresteia

Cultural Ideals and Values of the Homeric Greek

According to Greek legend, it was in this age that the Oedipus tragedy evolved, and the story later depicted in Aeschylus' oresteia played out.... Even willful murder was punishable only by the family of the victim.... Almost without exception, custom took the place of law, and the administration of justice was private....
6 Pages (1500 words) Assignment

Trojan Women

They, therefore, plan an effective punishment for the soldiers who condone Ajax the Lesser even after he abuses the daughter of the royal family which indeed was a taboo punishable by death.... This research named "Trojan women" reveals the plot of the play called "Women of Troy"....
8 Pages (2000 words) Research Paper

The Oresteia

Eumenides is the third story of the oresteia.... Although he strongly believed that his father deserves justice for his murder, his conscience was still bothered by his plan to kill his own mother.... Agamemnon is the first part of trilogy and this shows the continuation of the curse Thyestes....
4 Pages (1000 words) Book Report/Review

To what extent is gender conflict a major theme of Aeschylus' Oresteia

It is not made clear whether the role of gender for this differentiation in the responses of the dramatis personae is decisive; it seems that gender influences at a first level the reactions to specific events – developed throughout the oresteia – however, it is not clear whether these reactions are depended only on gender or whether there are other factors also influencing the... oresteia is a trilogy.... Aeschylus' oresteia can be characterized as a rather innovative work – in terms of the social issues developed....
12 Pages (3000 words) Essay

The Eumenides by Aeschylus and Theogony

On their journey back home, Agamemnon's contingent was faced by a terrible sea storm wherein only agamemnons ship was able to survive.... (5) Clytaemestra exhibited the corpse of the king while proclaiming that justice had been served.... In the paper “The Eumenides by Aeschylus and Theogony” the author analyzes two texts exhibiting similar themes....
6 Pages (1500 words) Assignment

Role and Nature of the Gods in Agamemnon

is the first play in the tragic trilogy, oresteia.... The story of oresteia was an ancient myth-family tragedy, which involves the bloodguilt acts of vengeance, the curse and the wrath of Gods that caused all the consequences.... The play closes with the Chorus admonishing their actions and warning them about the consequences they are to face, through Orestes' return to avenge, which is continued in the subsequent plays of oresteia.... Though Clytemnestra and Aegisthus play a prominent role in the blood-guilt, they take no responsibility for their actions, as they blame their vengeance to be Fate and justice....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

What Is the Role of Fate in the Oresteia

"What Is the Role of Fate in the oresteia" paper focuses on a trilogy consisting of the Agamemnon, Libation Bearers, and Eumenides which talks about the fall of House of Atreus.... Aeschylus throughout the oresteia convinces that conscientiousness determines the experience of people rather than fate.... This clearly shows that the role played by fate in oresteia was not that impactful and constant.... verall we can say that oresteia received the title of family fate as it talks about the sad murders taken place within a family and by the family, Wife killing her husband and a child-killing his own mother....
7 Pages (1750 words) Essay

What Role Does Vengeance Play in Greek Myth

The villains who chose vengeance, in Agamemnon, Electra, and the oresteia are assessed, and whether the common misconception that revenge is part of the laws of nature is applicable.... This paper aims at assessing the role of vengeance in the Greek myths and the negative consequences of these myths....
8 Pages (2000 words) Research Paper
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us