Clytemnestra's Role

Paper Summary:

The paper provides a brief overview of the "Oresteia," a three part cycle of plays that include the Agamemnon, the Choephoroe and the Eumenides. The paper portrays how Clytemnestra's role is ultimately one of a weak woman in society; although she is queen and is very persuasive, she remains unsuccessful in the end.

Outline:
Introduction
Brief Overview of the Oresteia
The Role of Clytemnestra
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"The Oresteia is a three part cycle of plays; the Agamemnon, the Choephoroe, and the Eumenides. The Agamemnon sets the tone for the role Clytemnestra plays as a woman whose advice and words are completely disregarded by her husband. In the Agamemnon, Clytemnestra is deceived by her husband, Agamemnon, into sending him their youngest daughter Iphigenia. Agamemnon cuts Iphigenia's throat on an alter as a sacrifice. Furthermore, Clytemnestra's advice to respect the defeated Trojan temples and people is deliberately disregarded by Agamemnon, and the city is wildly looted, destroyed and burned. Clytemnestra finally kills Agamemnon after the Trojan War, when he brings home a raped and captured Trojan priestess."

Sample of Sources Used:

• McClure, L. (1999). Spoken like a woman. Speech and Gender in Athenian Drama. Princeton University Press.
• Encyclopedia Beta. (2007). Clytemnestra Greek wife of Agamemnon. Retrieved April 9, 2007, from http://ancienthistoryabout.com.
• Thalmann, W. (1985). Speech and Silence in the Oresteia. Phoenix, Vol. 39(3).
• Zeitlin, F. (1965). The Motif of the Corrupted Sacrifice in Aeschylus' Oresteia. Transactions and Proceedings of the American Philological Association, Vol. 96.

More papers on Clytemnestra's Role:

• Analytical Essay # 69866 : "Patriarchy and Clytemnestra"
• Book Review # 119637 : "The Role of Penelope in Homer's "Odyssey"
• Analytical Essay # 52809 : "The Role of the Chorus in Greek Plays"

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