Clytaemnestra Clytaemnestra is unlike most of the women of the ancient time period. Normally, women during this time period are passive, submissive, and cunning, while the men are more dominant and controlling. On the other hand, Clytaemnestra exhibits behaviors that are both masculine and feminine; however her behaviors are mostly masculine. She uses her cunning behaviors to help her carry out actions that she feels are justified by the cycle of revenge/justice. Clytaemnestra behaves like the standard woman of the ancient time period when it is needed and behaves more masculine in other situations. Clytaemnestra is a cunning, strong-willed woman who stands up for what she feels is just, all while defying some of the normal
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Throughout the play, Clytaemnestra frequently talks in a way that exhibits her masculine behaviors. For example, she says, “You and I have / power now” (1707-08). Power is not something that women have or even expect to have during this time period. She is demonstrating how she considers herself more dominant, and not some who is willing to be controlled. Even more, Clytaemnestra does not state that Aegisthus will have more power because he is a man, implying that she sees herself just as capable as any man. Also, she speaks about the war at Troy with such assurance that she sounds like a man. The chorus leader said she is, “Spoken like a man, my lady, / loyal, full of self-command” (355-360). It is expected for her to talk in a more subordinate way, but she does not follow these feminine roles. She considers herself just as important as the elders in the chorus. Moreover, when a king is absent, the grown son is supposed to take control of the kingdom. However, Clytaemnestra sends her son Orestes away, so she can have control and successfully murder Agamemnon. Clytaemnestra defies the feminine role by taking control of the kingdom when she knows her son was supposed to have control. In addition, she does not control the kingdom with weak force. She controls the kingdom as if she were the king himself. The watchman says, “That woman—she maneuvers like a man” (12). Also, she murders Agamemnon, which would be more expected of a man to do. Cassandra even says, “What an outrage—the woman kills the man!” (1241). The fact that what she did is a man’s job is further reinforced when the Leader asks, “What man prepares this…” (1263). The leader does not expect that a woman would be able to “bring the evil off “(1265). The Leader of the chorus even condemns Aegisthus for letting a woman commit the act of murder and calls him a coward. This action
Throughout the play, Clytaemnestra frequently talks in a way that exhibits her masculine behaviors. For example, she says, “You and I have / power now” (1707-08). Power is not something that women have or even expect to have during this time period. She is demonstrating how she considers herself more dominant, and not some who is willing to be controlled. Even more, Clytaemnestra does not state that Aegisthus will have more power because he is a man, implying that she sees herself just as capable as any man. Also, she speaks about the war at Troy with such assurance that she sounds like a man. The chorus leader said she is, “Spoken like a man, my lady, / loyal, full of self-command” (355-360). It is expected for her to talk in a more subordinate way, but she does not follow these feminine roles. She considers herself just as important as the elders in the chorus. Moreover, when a king is absent, the grown son is supposed to take control of the kingdom. However, Clytaemnestra sends her son Orestes away, so she can have control and successfully murder Agamemnon. Clytaemnestra defies the feminine role by taking control of the kingdom when she knows her son was supposed to have control. In addition, she does not control the kingdom with weak force. She controls the kingdom as if she were the king himself. The watchman says, “That woman—she maneuvers like a man” (12). Also, she murders Agamemnon, which would be more expected of a man to do. Cassandra even says, “What an outrage—the woman kills the man!” (1241). The fact that what she did is a man’s job is further reinforced when the Leader asks, “What man prepares this…” (1263). The leader does not expect that a woman would be able to “bring the evil off “(1265). The Leader of the chorus even condemns Aegisthus for letting a woman commit the act of murder and calls him a coward. This action