The Complete Aeschylus: The Oresteia

To the extent of this class so far, we have had the opportunity to read the book titled, The Complete Aeschylus: Volume 1: The Oresteia: 1, but more specifically the story of Agamemnon, the Greek Warrior King. The story of Agamemnon’s homecoming is one for the ages. To give you an idea of just how many Achaeans were involved in the war, 1,000 ships had set sail to Troy. Each ship held between 300-400 people. In quest of Troy, Artemis, who was a great goddess, halted the wind and demanded that Agamemnon sacrifice his daughter, Iphigenia. This predicament raised the question, “which is more of a priority, war or family?” Tragically, Agamemnon chose war and sacrificed Iphigenia. “He ordered his men to lift her like a goat, face downward, above …show more content…
Since he did what he pleased and violated them in one way or another, both women characterized him as a savage, ruthless, greedy, self-centered man. Agamemnon is viewed as a savage because he is uncontrollable. Agamemnon does what he wants, where he wants. He knows that since he has such a surplus of power that the only thing that can stop him is death, and until death caught up with him, he had no limits. Agamemnon is considered to be ruthless because even after he lost an entire generation of Greek sons, he saw that war as a victory and boasted around with his new trophy concubine. He was an unemotional man that felt no pity, even after he killed his own daughter. Both females viewed him as greedy because he pursued accomplishments, even if they were high risk and low reward. Lastly, both viewed him as a self-centered man because he viewed himself above the gods. This is ironic, because the two women closest to him viewed him as a demon. Wherever Agamemnon went, he brought pain and misery to those around him. It was clear Agamemnon had odd values, and his actions ultimately cost him his