Aeschylus, Agamemnon

Aeschylus, Agamemnon At about the age of 67, in 458 B.C. Aeschylus produced the tetralogy: Agamemnon, Coephoroi, Eumenides (and the satyr-play Proteus) on the subject of the descendants of Tantalus and Pelops: Agamemnon, Clytaemestra, Aegistheus, Orestes and Electra. The tetralogy won the first prize, as a surviving inscription (`Didaskaliai') indicates. PROLOGOS The Watchman 1-39 It is the 10th year of the Trojan War, high summer. For a year the watchman has been awaiting the signal to indicate that Troy has fallen. It comes. Joy that the king will be returning soon, but apprehension because of a tale the man could tell of doings at Argos. A loyal dog (cf. 1237-1238) PARODOS EPISODE I Chorus of Argive men Agamemnon & Menelaus like `vultures'; revenge, a stabbing. Fury for the rape of Helen of Sparta. They too know something about Clytaemestra that will not please the king (148-156). The story of Iphigenia's sacrifice by her father Agamemnon--the cause of Clytaemestra's anger (185-247) Clytaemestra, Chorus No one takes me in with visions, senseless dreams (275). Imagined tale of the Fall of Troy (325-348). "If only they are revering the city's gods, the shrines of the gods who love the conquered land (341-342). `The avenging dead may never rest' (350). Chorus: `Spoken like a man, my lady! ' 40257 258354 STASIMON I EPISODE II STASIMON II Chorus: "O Zeus our King, and Night beloved..." 355-502 Paris & Helen: 394-410 Anti-war sentiments: 415-466 `The people's voice is heavy with hatred...' Herald, Clytaemestra, Chorus 503-680 Troy: `The shrines of her gods and the high altars, gone!' (518; cf. 341 ff.; cf. temple doors 570-573) The rigors of war: hunger, cold, death: 546565 Clytaemestra: `And for his wife, may he return and find her true...' (601604) Departure from Troy: storm, disaster, wreck (620-1; 650-674) Chorus The crime of Paris & Helen: violence, justice `The house swam with blood...' (728) `Only the reckless act can breed impiety, multiplying crime on crime, while the house kept straight and just is blessed with radiant children...' (751-754) `...but the good shepherd knows his flock...' (779) `Search, my king, and learn at last who stayed at home and kept their faith and who betrayed the city (792-4) EPISODE III Agamemnon and Clytaemestra (Cassandra) `the Just gods' (797) `we were right' (809) For Argos, a national inquiry (831-836) Clytaemestra: a woman at home during the 355502 503680 681810 811974 war (848-864; 886-897) `and so, our child is gone...' (865!) Orestes (867-877) Hybris/hamartia: the tapestry (901-957). Justice lead him in! STASIMON III EPISODE IV STASIMON IV Chorus: Terror. Justice comes to birth. Man's fate: wreck on the reefs. Clytaemestra, Cassandra, Chorus Cassandra: seer, slave (Slave of the god Apollo, slave of Ag & Cly) `the House that hates god' (1088). She sees her own death (future) and what is happening to Agamemnon in his bath in the house (present): (1110 ff.) The Nightingale (1144-1150) Cassandra and Apollo: love &' deceit (12071222) The Fury is Clytaemestra: `The woman kills the man' (1241) `Raging mother of death, storming deathless war against the ones she loves! And how she howled in triumph' (1245-1246) She is the lioness (1271-1274; cf. 713-732 and shepherd imagery) Chorus: tyranny: lust for power never dies EXODOS (A) Clytaemestra & Chorus 1372-1576 exultation at her murder of the king; swansong of Cassandra, `Agamemnon's lover' Justification: Atreus & Thyestes, Iphigenia (1531-1533, 1551-1555, 1579-1587) (B) Aegistheus, Clytamestra, Chorus 15771673 9751033 10341345 13461371 13721673 [story of Atreus & Thyestes, 1583-1602] Aegistheus himself is the `Weaver of Justice' (cf. Three Fates); he murdered the king. As Tyrants, he and Clytaemestra will teach Argos how to behave; the chorus `barks' absurdly, insubordinate dogs. `The women, the corruption of Greece' Clytaemestra: What we did was destiny. The return of ORESTES, the Exile, hinted at. THEMES (Pagination of Greek text, not Grene & Lattimore): nets & snares: 129, 361 (455), 1046-48, 1116-8, 1127-1129, 1180, 1338, 1394-5, 1402-6, 1635, 1643 Furies: 65, 78, 115, 156, 457, 638-642, 702-3, 743, 759-60, 994, 1121, 1189-1198*, 1240*, 1498, 1603-4, 1610 Helen of Troy: War for a woman: 454, 523-528, 688, 733, 784, 808, 1483-95 Thyestes: 1226-1230, 1254-1258, 1531-1541, 1611-1634