Within the first few lines of Agamemnon (11) Clytemnestra is described by the watchman as a ‘woman in passionate heart and man in strength of purpose.’ This statement provides a clear distinction between gender roles but also presents Clytemnestra has having ‘manly’ qualities. The chorus reinforces this idea when they state ‘Lady, you speak as wisely as a prudent man’ (Agamemnon 351). These ‘manly’ qualities are best demonstrated in Clytemnestra’s use of language, particular examples include ‘I stand where I dealt the blow; my purpose is achieved. Thus have I done the deed; deny it I will not’ and ‘You are testing me as if I were a witless woman’ (Agamemnon 1379-80; 1402). Pomeroy (1994:98) notes that ‘womanly behaviour was characterised then…by
