Agamemnon Main Text
AGAMEMNON
CHARACTERS IN THE PLAY
AGAMEMNON, son of Atreus and King of Argos and Mycenae; Commander-in-Chief of the Greek armies in the War against Troy.
CLYTEMNESTRA, daughter of Tyndareus, sister of Helen; wife to Agamemnon.
AIGISTHOS, son of Thyestes, cousin and blood-enemy to Agamemnon, lover to Clytemnestra.
CASSANDRA, daughter of Priam, King of Troy, a prophetess; now slave to Agamemnon.
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Agamemnon Character
Characters
Major Characters
Agamemnon (King and General): The victorious Greek commander in the Trojan War and King of Mycenae. Proud, powerful, yet doomed by fate’s curse. His crime of sacrificing his daughter, Iphigenia, and his arrogance in victory led to his downfall. Clytemnestra (Queen): Agamemnon’s wife. Intelligent, cunning, and vengeful. To avenge the killing of her daughter Iphigenia, s...
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Agamemnon Literary Device
Figures of Speech
Metaphor: Definition: When one thing is directly compared to another without using like or as. Example: “A house full of death.” Explanation: Here, the royal dynasty of Argos (the House of Atreus) is called “a house full of death.” This shows that the family is tainted by repeated murders, revenge, and curses. The family’s history itself becomes a metaphor for death. Irony: Def...
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Agamemnon Quotations
Quotes
“The scales of Justice move to show wisdom comes through suffering.” – (Agamemnon)
Explanation: The chorus declares that humans cannot achieve true wisdom without enduring pain. Suffering teaches justice, humility, and respect for divine order. It reflects the tragic belief that learning comes not from joy, but from hardship.
“Old violent aggression loves to generate new troubles among e...
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Agamemnon Summary
Background
Aeschylus’ Agamemnon is one of the greatest works of ancient Greek tragedy. It was written in the 5th century BCE and was first performed in 458 BCE at the City Dionysia festival in Athens. The play is the first part of the Oresteia Trilogy, which presents the continuing story of blood curses and revenge in the House of Atreus. The background of Agamemnon is set against the victory in t...
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Notes (15)
- Can Agamemnon’s Murder be Justified?
- Dramatic Significance of the ‘Red Carpet Episode’ in “Agamemnon.”
- Evaluate the Illicit Relationship Between Clytemnestra and Aegisthus.
- Discuss the Opening Scene of “Agamemnon.”
- Write a Note on the Use of Dramatic Irony in “Agamemnon.”
- Evaluate Agamemnon as a Tragic Hero
- How Would you Justify Clytemnestra's Murder of her Husband, Agamemnon?
- Sketch the Character of Clytemnestra
- Trace the origin of Greek tragedy with special reference to Aeschylus.
- Write in brief about Aeschylus’s gods and goddesses
- Write a short note on Cassandra as you found in “Agamemnon.”
- Comment on the role and function of the Chorus in the play “Agamemnon.”
- How does Aeschylus treat the theme of hereditary guilt in “Agamemnon?”
- What is the guilt of Agamemnon that brings miseries in his life?
- Discuss the dramatic suspense around Agamemnon’s homecoming.