“Agamemnon”: Clytaemnestra

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because the war against Troy is over, which she knows because of the torch signals, she say that they are her, “proof, my burning sign…the power my lord passed on from Troy to me!” (Line 318-319)
Even though the Chorus did not initially believe her report about the victory at Troy, this does not compromise the respect and fear they feel for their queen. They justify their disbelief the easiest way they can, with the notion that women are easily swayed by gossip. Clearly, it was more their own qualms about believing victory has come after ten years, rather than their mistrust of women that led them to their doubt.
Clytaemnestra is not only seen as powerful in this first encounter, but “full of self-command” (line 355) It is this description of her that compliments the knowledge that it is her evil scheming that leads to the murder of Agamemnon. Aeschulus sets up a very self-driven woman who thrives on her position of power that she has obtained. In “Agamemnon”, the power that ...

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and self-commanding leader of the house, to an adoring wife. She says, “I am not ashamed to tell you how I love the man.” (Lines 832-843) This is such a contradictory statement compared to her real feelings for Agamemnon, which are that of loathing and a desire for him to be dead. She is putting on a façade to hide her real motives. Her power lay in the ability to manipulate Agamemnon, without him realizing it. She is both deadly and discreet. In this way, Aeschylus presented a woman very conscious of the way she portrayed herself.
The parts of Agamemnon, where she did reveal her true feelings came when she talked about her children, “And so our child is gone, not standing by our ...

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