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Agamemnon Personal Response

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Agamemnon- Personal Response Agamemnon is a play that takes place in the city of Argos while tying in places such as Troy. The three main characters of the play Agamemnon are Agamemnon, Clytemnestra, and Cassandra. Agamemnon is the tragic hero of the play, while Clytemnestra is the villainess, and Cassandra is the innocent. The play is encompassed by hubris, revenge and power. Hubris is associated with Agamemnon, power is linked with Agamemnon and Clytemnestra and finally Clytemnestra displays acts of revenge towards her husband. Clytemnestra displays acts of revenge towards him and Cassandra is the innocent war-prize Agamemnon claims after he defeats Troy. Agamemnon is the main character of this play. Agamemnon’s tragic flaw is his hunger for power. When he is back from war the entire city is at his palace’s doorstep to celebrate his home-coming but his wife is not. He gives in too soon into the script-writing of Clytemnestra. Although he allows himself to run through what is happening around him, he does not give it enough time to make the correct decisions. His head is held up too high not thinking of what exactly he is getting into. It is utter ignorance. Agamemnon giving up their daughter Iphengeia as sacrifice to god Apollo sticks with Clytemnestra and builds up as revenge towards Agamemnon. Agamemnon keeps his head held high and displays hubris through some of his actions which is illegal in the city of Argos. Agamemnon is the tragic hero of the play. When he was about to walk down the crimson silk he questioned his morals, and was aware that he was about to do something incorrect. And stepping thus upon the sea’s rich dye, / I pray, Let none among the gods look down. (Lines 1096-1097) He was afraid himself when he was about to walk on the silk that he may be hurt or cursed by the gods. Then with his wife persuades him that it is okay to walk down on the silk. This all becomes a part of Clytemnestra’s plan of luring Agamemnon into his death trap. Clytemnestra is the wife of Agamemnon. While Agamemnon was away on war, Clytemnestra was having an affair with Aegisthus, Agamemnon’s enemy. She tries to reason her revenge by saying she is getting back at her husband for giving their daughter as sacrifice to god Apollo. For by the sword his sin he wrought,
And by the sword himself is brought
Among the dead to dwell. (Lines 1781-1783)
In this quote, Clytemnestra speaks of her anger towards Agamemnon and says that he brought the knife over his head by what he did to their daughter. Although Clytemnestra is acting out of revenge, I do support her actions. She should get back at her husband for killing their daughter. He should not use reason such as giving his daughter up for sacrifice will give way for god Apollo to guide in how he could rule. I do believe she played her part well. Preying on an innocent soul such as Cassandra is where she should have drew the line.
Cassandra has the gift of oracle but she also has the curse that people will not believe her prophecies. This curse was given to her by Apollo because she refused to lay with him. Just before she walks into the palace she is aware that she is about to walk into her death.
Ye wands, ye wreaths that cling around my neck,
Ye showed me prophetess yet scorned of all—
I stamp you into death, or e’er I die— (Lines 1454-1456)
In this quote Cassandra mentions the graphic death scene she sees in her prophecy and still is willing to walk into her death. Cassandra walking into her death requires a lot of courage but what more is there for Cassandra to do in Argos. Cassandra was Agamemnon’s war-prize but what purpose does she have in Argos? She is from the enemy country. Her life in Argos is pointless thus she did make a good decision by walking into the palace. In conclusion, Agamemnon is the play that encompasses revenge and power. Hubristic actions become something else when a little ignorance is added. Clytemnestra plans her act out well. Bringing down the innocent Cassandra is where it gets questionable. All ends well, revenge is taken, power is gained, the innocent is killed and the tragic hero dies.

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