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?
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