Title: The Oresteia. Agamemnon Author: Aeschylus Genre: Play Date: 468 B.C. A.

SYNOPSIS OF PLOT * The watchman discovers the beacons of fire are lit which means Troy is captured. * Clytemnestra informs the Chorus that Troy is captured but they dont rely on it until __the herald reinforces it. * Agamemnon returns to Argos with his war prize Cassandra. * Agamemnon greets and gives his thanks to the townspeople, lost soldiers, and the gods. * Clytemnestra welcomes Agamemnon home and declares her loyalty to him. * Clytemnestra orders the crimson tapestries to be laid before Agamemnon. * Agamemnon reluctantly walks upon the honorary tapestries. * Clytemnestra tries to get Cassandra into the palace but Cassandra refuses. * Cassandra informs the Chorus of her curse cast by Apollo, the Curse of Atreus, her __death and Agamemnons. Yet again no one fully believes what is to happen. * Cassandra walks to her death. * Screams are heard and Agamemnon and Cassandra are dead. * The Leader and Chorus enter the palace and discover the murder scene and murderer. * The Chorus is very angry with Clytemnestra and Aegisthus. * Clytemnestra defends the sacrifice of Agamemnon with the murder of her daughter __Iphigenia. *The Chorus is threatened by Aegisthus to keep quiet and watch themselves. B. CHARACTER INSIGHT Agamemnon Chief Characteristics: Proud, Ignorant, Dominate Motivated by honor. There is Ledas daughter, the keeper of my house. And the speech to suit my absence, much too long. This quote exemplifies Agamemnons ignorance. He fails to see through Clytemnestras faade for she is only happy that he is safe at home from war because he gets to die at her hands. If Agamemnon had listened carefully to the Chorus, he would have seen that he was warned against flatterers like his wife who was embellishing him with honorary crimson tapestries. Clytemnestra Chief Characteristics: Ruthless, Ambitious, Dominant, Deceitful Motivated by power. and when hes down I add the third, last blowI did it all. I dont deny it, no. This quote validates Clytemnestras ruthless nature. By no means is Clytemnestra ever characterized as a lady, but instead as a woman who maneuvers like a man. In order for Clytemnestra to keep power over the kingdom of Argos, Clytemnestra needed to be merciless and cruel to kill her husband Agamemnon with a sword.

Cassandra Chief Characteristics: Wise, Prophetic, Brave, Cursed Motivated by Fate. It is my turn to die. I address you as the Gates of Death. This quote validates Cassandras bravery in the face of death. Given the gift of sight by Apollo, she fully comprehends that her death and that of Agamemnons by the hands of Clytemnestra is eminent. Even though she knows her fate, she refuses to run and instead bravely walks to her own death not in cowardice, but in honor. Aegisthus Chief Characteristics: Cowardly, Proud, Treacherous Motivated by vengeance. And I, the weaver of Justice, plotted out the kill. Atreus drove us into exileand Justice brought me home. This quote displays Aegisthus motivation for revenge. Aegisthus is spiteful towards the House of Atreus because his father Thyestes was tricked into eating his children (Aegisthus siblings) and forced into exile (with Aegisthus). Thus, Aegisthus returned to Argos to cast revenge on Agamemnon who must now pay for the atrocious deeds committed by his father. Leader (and Chorus) Chief Characteristics: Loss of self-reliance, Lack of Union Motivated by a want of peace (but too scared to stand up). For years now, only my silence kept me free from harm. This quote demonstrates the lack of union amongst the people of Argos. The Leader with the rest of the citizens could have stood up to Clytemnestra and Aegisthus because all able-bodied men were off at war. Thus, a large group of the citizens could have overpowered the hierarchy, but were too scared to do anything out of fear. C. SYMBOLS In Agamemnon, FIRE symbolizes death and murder. Fire is presented at the beginning of the play used as a signal to alert Clytemnestra of the fall of Troy. Most importantly, the fire was a method to let Clytemnestra know that Agamemnon would be returning home soon to death by her hands. Thus, the fire signals the upcoming murder of King Agamemnon. The 2-EDGED SWORD used by Clytemnestra symbolizes both justice and revenge. Literally, this sword was the weapon used in the murder of Agamemnon. Clytemnestra wanted Agamemnon dead to pay for the sacrifice of their daughter Iphigenia and the numerous lives lost in the battle of Troy for the sake of Helen. Aegisthus wanted revenge for the murder of his siblings and the feast of his father Thyesetes. Thus, justice and revenge were accounted for with the blows of the 2-edged sword. The NET itself symbolizes deception. Literally, Clytemnestra used the woven garment and the robe to flatter Agamemnon in order to keep him from finding out her plan for revenge. The net really symbolized being trapped and being unable to do what

you should. Agamemnon was trapped between sacrificing his daughter and angering Zeus. This led to him being trapped by his wife who wanted revenge for the sacrifice of her daughter. The woven rug also symbolizes Agamemnons woven fate which was already decided from the day he was born. The curse of the House of Atreus was passed to him by his father, thus his demise was predestined. D. THEME For every unrighteous deed there is someone destined to bring justice to light. E. MOTIFS Sacrifice Murder Revenge Justice Truth Power Death Honor Resentment Destruction Desire Envy Fate Glory Tribute Dread Ignorance Suffering Pride Glory Loyalty Vengeance Fear Anger Grief

F. BIOGRAPHY/ MAJOR WORKS Aeschylus was born at Eleusis in 525 B.C. Inspired by the god Dionysus, Aeschylus wrote his first playwright at age 26. But it was not until fifteen years later that he succeeded in gaining a victory for one of his pieces. He is considered the Father of Tragedy and is one of the oldest poets whose many works have survived the years. Persians The Oresteia Suppliants The Seven Against Thebes Prometheus Bound G. PERSONAL REACTION Although written in a time period foreign to the cultures of today, Aeschylus successfully demonstrates the controversial human dilemma. Agamemnon was forced to decide between the life of his daughter and the safe voyage to Troy; the Chorus was forced to decide between standing up to Clytemnestra to save Agamemnon or to stay alive by keeping quiet. Even though the Greek culture is different from that of present day Americas I was able to relate to the play. There comes a time in life when you have to make challenging decisions that will determine the outcome of your future. Sometimes these decisions go against your morals, but sometimes there is little you can do about it.