What kind of woman is Clytemnestra?
What kind of woman is Clytemnestra?
Clytemnestra is decisive, resolute, and aggressive, and her femininity is often called into question. However, she is able mask her anger in public moments in order to carry out her revenge plot.
What kind of person is Clytemnestra?
Clytemnestra is shown as an independent woman, with the strength and intelligence of a man, who has ruled a country in her husband’s place for 10 years. It is only fitting that her act of vengeance be completed with a man’s weapon.
Who does Clytemnestra sleep with?
The Trojan War lasted ten years. During this period of Agamemnon’s long absence, Clytemnestra began a love affair with Aegisthus, her husband’s cousin. Whether Clytemnestra was seduced into the affair or entered into it independently differs according to the respective author of the myth.
What did Clytemnestra do wrong?
Clytemnestra, in Greek legend, a daughter of Leda and Tyndareus and wife of Agamemnon, commander of the Greek forces in the Trojan War. She took Aegisthus as her lover while Agamemnon was away at war. Upon his return, Clytemnestra and Aegisthus murdered Agamemnon.
How does Clytemnestra act like a man?
Nearly every male character in the play criticizes Clytemnestra for exhibiting qualities associated with men, and in the end, these very qualities—decisiveness, aggression, and sense of justice—are in fact what allow her to carry out her revenge plot.
Is Clytemnestra justified?
In Aeschylus’ The Agamemnon, Agamemnon and Clytemnestra have to make tough decisions throughout the play, decisions they believe are justified. The actions of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra are not justified because they are caused by their blinding hubris and desire for power.
Is Clytemnestra a heroine?
Two of the most famous Greek tragic heroes (heroines) were Medea and Clytemnestra. They share characteristics Aristotle deemed essential for the heroic character in a tragedy. They are both of high rank. Medea is a princess and a sorceress, and Clytemnestra was the de facto ruler of Argos in Agamemnon’s absence.
How many kids did Clytemnestra?
Agamemnon and Clytemnestra had four children: one son, Orestes, and three daughters, Iphigenia, Electra and Chrysothemis. Menelaus succeeded Tyndareus in Sparta, while Agamemnon, with his brother’s assistance, drove out Aegisthus and Thyestes to recover his father’s kingdom.
How is Clytemnestra portrayed in the play?
In Aeschylus’s tragedy Agamemnon, the character of Clytemnestra is portrayed as a strong-willed woman. She was the representative of woman power of the age. Critics have often compared Clytemnestra with lady Macbeth. But this comparison is not apt to Clytemnestra had no lament what she had done.
How does Clytemnestra behave when facing death?
How does Clytemnestra behave when facing death? She almost accepts her death when she says, “i killed by deceit and by deceit i was killed.” She is almost hypocritical and has not changed since Agamemnon. How does orestes react after killing his mother?
What do you think of the representation of Clytemnestra?
In Agamemnon Aeschylus represents Clytemnestra as a woman who defies every convention of the female gender role. Aeschylus’ portrayal of Clytemnestra can be seen as negative and positive, an example being that she seeks justice for her daughter but at the same time is totally unrepentant for the act of murder.
Where did the name Clytemnestra come from?
The name ‘Clytemnestra’ seems to have Indo-European roots in “kleu-” to hear “tem-” to cut. If the name means famous cutter then it is a name that applies to what she did to Agamemnon. No doubt she had another name before the myths. The other possibility is Nemesis.
What was the role of Clytemnestra in the Trojan War?
Clytemnestra plays only a passive role, permitting herself to be seduced, and permitting her husband to be murdered. Questions about the nature of women and the legitimacy of their agency lie at the very heart of the Trojan War myths. The war is sparked when Helen, the wife of Agamemnon’s brother, disappears to Troy.
Why did Clytemnestra throw a net on Agamemnon?
Upon his return from Troy, Agamemnon was welcomed by his wife. When he went to take a bath, Clytemnestra threw a net on him and stabbed him. Agamemnon’s concubine, Cassandra, who was outside the palace, had foreseen the plot, but as she was cursed by the god Apollo, no one believed her and she reluctantly accepted her fate and was slain.
Who are the four children of Clytemnestra?
Clytemenestra had four children by Agamemnon: Chrysothemis, Iphigenia, Electra and Orestes. Agamemnon sacrificed Iphigenia to Artemis so he could go fight at Troy. Chrysothemis is mentioned by Euripides but only appears in Sophocles’ Electra. She was corrupted by Aegisthus and turned against Agamemnon.
