1. satiate (line 1534): filled to satisfaction
2. Cassandra continues to speak of her own death, and Agamemnon's. The chorus begins worry just as they hear cries of pain from inside the palace. They open the doors to find Clytemnestra standing over the bodies of both Agamemnon and Cassandra with an ax covered in blood. She describes exactly how she murdered her husband to the chorus, without the slightest bit of remorse. The chorus concludes that she should have to leave the kingdom, but then they change their minds and decide that she can stay and they will blame the death on Helen. Clytemnestra reasons that Agamemnon deserved his death because he killed their daughter, and he was evil. Also, Clytemnestra's lover Aegisthus comes into the play and is happy that Agamemnon is dead. He reveals that Agamemnon's father boiled and ate two of Aegisthus's father's sons. Therefore, his family has always wanted revenge and the only way to do this was through Agamemnon's death. The chorus at first says that Aegisthus should take the fall for Clytemnestra's crime, but then she reasons with them and they accept their rule.
3. One of the questions that I had from the first section was if Clytemnestra did her job too well. After reading the last section, I firmly believe that she has done her job too well. When she admits that she murdered her husband and Cassandra, instead of being exiled from the kingdom, she convinces the chorus that Agamemnon deserved his death and that she should not be punished and this crime can be blamed on Helen. She is a very powerful and manipulative woman and can get others to do what she wants. Soon after this, her lover is introduced. The chorus wants to convict him of this crime because he has let a woman do the job for him, and not only do they not follow through with this decision but they even accept the rule of Clytemnestra and her lover. Now that Clytemnestra is in power again, the author alludes to the idea that somebody will come back to avenge the death of Agamemnon.
4. a) Did Clytemnestra defy her fate in murdering Agamemnon?
b) Was the author intending to create a pathos for Cassandra in that she was cursed by Apollo and people will not believe her?
c) Will Clytemnestra be punished by the gods for having an affair?
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Agamemnon, Lines 1000-1500
1. wily (line 1028): crafty or sly
2. After Agamemnon's return home and Clytemnestra laid out the purple carpet for him to walk on, he insists that this is not necessary, and does not want the gods to be angry at him. The chorus hears Cassandra's story and how she was given the gift of being able to see the futue by Apollo and she promised to give him a child. Cassandra backed out and because of this he put a curse on her so that nobody will believe what she tells them when she makes a prediction about the future. After the chorus hears this story, she makes a prediction that she and Agamemnon will be killed at the hands of a woman, and their deaths will be avenged.
3. As I read this section I found the character of Cassandra to be very interesting. I think, but I am not sure that the author intended to create a pathos for her as pity was evoked when she told the story of the curse that was placed upon her by Apollo. However, I struggle with the idea that since Cassandra can see the future, why would she have an affair with Agamemnon? Had Cassandra not been Agamemnon's lover, her life could have been spared as Clytemnestra probably would not have killed her. Then I began to think that Cassandra may have wished to die as it was a great burden to live with the curse that Apollo has placed on her. So, is it possible that she has just come to terms with death and did not care if she had to suffer the consequences of being the lover of a married man?
4. a) Around line 1028, was Clytemnestra mocking Agamemnon or was she being genuine?
b) Was the author using animal imagery to describe Clytemnestra as a snake or a lion, and Agamemnon as an eagle?
c) If Cassandra knows that people will believe in fates that tell the future, but not her because of the curse, then why would she try to predict to them both her death and Agamemnon's?
Agamemnon, Lines 500-1000
1. manifold (line 513): rightfully so-called for many reasons
2. In this section the Herald returns to the kingdom, very happy to be home and also announces that Agamemnon will also be returning soon. Clytemnestra orders the Herald to find Agamemnon and bring him home quickly, as she has missed him very much. The chorus questions about Menelaus, Agamemnon's brother, and it is revealed that he has probably died. Because of this loss, they begin to talk of Helen and how she was not worth all of the lives lost and the suffering of many people. Soon, Agamemnon enters in a chariot accompanied by Cassandra he is also greeted by his wife who tells him all about how much she suffered while he was away, and how much she loves him. She even ordered that a purple carpet be laid out in front of him as he enters the palace.
3. I find it interesting that Clytemnestra has made such a big deal over her husband's return home. She is clearly still angry at him for sacrificing their daughter many years ago, and I think that she was enjoying having the power and ruling over her husband's kingdom while he was away. So, it is fascinating that she would be rejoicing Agamemnon's return such as when she says, " First, that a wife sat sundered from her lord, in widowed solitude was utter woe-- and woe, to hear how rumour's many tounges all boded evil-woe, when he who came." Why would the author choose to make Clytemnestra give such a warm welcome to her husband, but yet have it be so insincere? Did the author intend to make it so that Agamemnon could tell that she was not happy about his return?
4. a) Was Agamemnon intending to flaunt Cassandra in front of his wife?
b) Did the people of Agamemnon's kingdom (possibly the chorus) believe that he was a hero?
c) Can Agamemnon, or other people in the kingdom tell that Clytemnestra is not sincere when welcoming her husband home?
2. In this section the Herald returns to the kingdom, very happy to be home and also announces that Agamemnon will also be returning soon. Clytemnestra orders the Herald to find Agamemnon and bring him home quickly, as she has missed him very much. The chorus questions about Menelaus, Agamemnon's brother, and it is revealed that he has probably died. Because of this loss, they begin to talk of Helen and how she was not worth all of the lives lost and the suffering of many people. Soon, Agamemnon enters in a chariot accompanied by Cassandra he is also greeted by his wife who tells him all about how much she suffered while he was away, and how much she loves him. She even ordered that a purple carpet be laid out in front of him as he enters the palace.
3. I find it interesting that Clytemnestra has made such a big deal over her husband's return home. She is clearly still angry at him for sacrificing their daughter many years ago, and I think that she was enjoying having the power and ruling over her husband's kingdom while he was away. So, it is fascinating that she would be rejoicing Agamemnon's return such as when she says, " First, that a wife sat sundered from her lord, in widowed solitude was utter woe-- and woe, to hear how rumour's many tounges all boded evil-woe, when he who came." Why would the author choose to make Clytemnestra give such a warm welcome to her husband, but yet have it be so insincere? Did the author intend to make it so that Agamemnon could tell that she was not happy about his return?
4. a) Was Agamemnon intending to flaunt Cassandra in front of his wife?
b) Did the people of Agamemnon's kingdom (possibly the chorus) believe that he was a hero?
c) Can Agamemnon, or other people in the kingdom tell that Clytemnestra is not sincere when welcoming her husband home?
Agamemnon, Lines 1-500
1. emprise (line 140): an adventurous, daring, or chivalric enterprise
2. In this section, Agamemnon has been away at war for 10 years, leaving his kingdom to his wife Clytemnestra to rule. In order to go to war, Agamemnon was told to sacrifice his daughter to the gods. Selfishly, he has his men kill his daughter which greatly angers Clytemnestra. When Clytemnestra was in power, she tells the chorus, which is made up of the elderly and wise citizens that they have defeated Troy. They are skeptical of this, and ask Clytemnestra if it is possible that she had dreamed this, or heard a rumor. The chorus gives thanks to the gods for the fall of Troy, but they also wonder if the gods have tricked them or perhaps if Clytemnestra is celebrating this victory too soon.
3. It seems to me that the chorus is doubting Clytemnestra because she is a woman. It is possible that they think she has more power than any woman should have and she is doing an excellent job of ruling, or they simply think that because she is a woman she has no idea how to rule a kingdom. An example of the chorus being skeptical of Clytemnestra's great news is exhibited starting on line 324 where the chorus says, " Thrills thro' my heart such joy as wakens tears." Clytemnestra replies,"Ay, thro' those tears thine eye looks loyalty." The chorus is still doubtful in saying, "But hast thou proof, to make assurance sure?" The queen has told the chorus time and time again that the messenger has seen the flames that would signify the fall of Troy, but they have yet to believe her. Finally she commands to them, "Peace--thou dost chide me as a credulous girl."
4. a) In class we researched the story of the Trojan War, and I found myself wondering if Helen was stolen by Paris or if she went with him on her own accord. If she did leave with him on her own, what was the reason for this war?
b) Do Greeks believe that we as humans have one set destiny?
c) Was Agamemnon forced to sacrifice his daughter or was he just willing to do so because he really wanted to go fight in the war?
2. In this section, Agamemnon has been away at war for 10 years, leaving his kingdom to his wife Clytemnestra to rule. In order to go to war, Agamemnon was told to sacrifice his daughter to the gods. Selfishly, he has his men kill his daughter which greatly angers Clytemnestra. When Clytemnestra was in power, she tells the chorus, which is made up of the elderly and wise citizens that they have defeated Troy. They are skeptical of this, and ask Clytemnestra if it is possible that she had dreamed this, or heard a rumor. The chorus gives thanks to the gods for the fall of Troy, but they also wonder if the gods have tricked them or perhaps if Clytemnestra is celebrating this victory too soon.
3. It seems to me that the chorus is doubting Clytemnestra because she is a woman. It is possible that they think she has more power than any woman should have and she is doing an excellent job of ruling, or they simply think that because she is a woman she has no idea how to rule a kingdom. An example of the chorus being skeptical of Clytemnestra's great news is exhibited starting on line 324 where the chorus says, " Thrills thro' my heart such joy as wakens tears." Clytemnestra replies,"Ay, thro' those tears thine eye looks loyalty." The chorus is still doubtful in saying, "But hast thou proof, to make assurance sure?" The queen has told the chorus time and time again that the messenger has seen the flames that would signify the fall of Troy, but they have yet to believe her. Finally she commands to them, "Peace--thou dost chide me as a credulous girl."
4. a) In class we researched the story of the Trojan War, and I found myself wondering if Helen was stolen by Paris or if she went with him on her own accord. If she did leave with him on her own, what was the reason for this war?
b) Do Greeks believe that we as humans have one set destiny?
c) Was Agamemnon forced to sacrifice his daughter or was he just willing to do so because he really wanted to go fight in the war?
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