• Join over 1.2 million students every month
  • Accelerate your learning by 29%
  • Unlimited access from just £6.99 per month

Agamemnon's character and achievements

Extracts from this document...

Introduction

Agamemnon was extremely proud of his achievements as a whole. He had no mercy for the Trojans and all of the lost lives, giving us an impression he was quite a heartless man, ?Annihilation for the city.? He had hardly any respect for Troy and did not feel guilty when sacking it so brutally. He described his victory as them ?raping the city,? further emphasising his disrespectful character. He then talked about the Greeks ?gorging on the blood of Kings.? This metaphorical, vivid description showed his cruelty and the great joy he received when killing the royalty of his opponents. ...read more.

Middle

However the only person to stand by him was Odysseus, for which Agamemnon was truly thankful for. Despite this, he did not show indifference to him on a human level. He said ?Dead or alive I praise him.? Agamemnon did honour Odysseus but with coldness, showed no affection, care or empathy for him in himself. This reveals his sense of character once again, emotionless even when it comes to people who had done so much for him. He did reference the gods multiple times though, perhaps indicating his piousness and that he followed traditions. ...read more.

Conclusion

Agamemnon wasn?t a very caring man, and this was portrayed through his behaviour with Clytaemnestra. When he first saw her after 10 years he simply looked way, when ideally he should have spoken first. He flaunted Cassandra, his mistress, before Clytaemnestra and after the Queen?s lengthy welcome speech; his replies were brusque and disrespectful. Unexpectedly, in his short time on the stage, he did not make a very heroic impression and it seemed like Clytaemnestra had all of the power with her fierce and intelligent personality. We get the impression that Agamemnon relied quite a lot on other people to do the thinking for him. He was easily convinced by his wife to walk on the red tapestries and could not hold is ground. ...read more.

The above preview is unformatted text

This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our AS and A Level Classics section.

Found what you're looking for?

  • Start learning 29% faster today
  • 150,000+ documents available
  • Just £6.99 a month

or


Not the one? Search for your essay title...
  • Join over 1.2 million students every month
  • Accelerate your learning by 29%
  • Unlimited access from just £6.99 per month

See related essaysSee related essays

Related AS and A Level Classics essays

  1. How far does the Agamemnon reflect the Perfect Tragedy?

    She has declarative statements which are short and sharp and this represents her clarity and calculating scheme for Agamemnon to be murdered. Clytemnestra is really crucial to the fact that she shall get her glory and revenge and nothing can stop her scheme.

  2. Cinderella - play script

    Cinderella gasps) Cinderella: I can't stay! (Starts running. While she's talking, she runs through the ballroom, up the stairs, and outside) Prince: What do you mean? (The Prince follows her) Cinderella: I have to go. Prince: Wait! Come back! I don't even know your name! Lionel: Your Highness, what is it? King: Chris, don't let her get away!

  1. SHOULD AESCHYLUS' "AGAMEMNON" BE CALLED "CLYTAEMNESTRA"?

    This is exemplified by her strive for justice (The vengeance of her daughter, Iphigeneia), which she finally achieves with little or no help from Aegisthus, the tone in which she addresses people and the way in which she is able to rule and control the palace.

  2. How far do you feel that Aeschylus intended us to feel that Agamemnon deserved ...

    He displays hubris a great deal in his speeches, particularly in his opening speech. He is also blasphemous to the gods of Troy, who, although not his own gods, should not have been treated with such flippant disrespect. He says: " The storms of ruin live!

  1. Compare the portrayal of Clytaemnestra in both Aeschylus’ Agamemnon and Euripides’ Electra. Which ...

    to her daughter in regards to unhindered fury and a lust for vengeance. This older, wiser Clytaemnestra still remains crucial to the plot, but not as a central character, and is merely a shadow of her former self, the confident, powerful creature who dictated the action of Aeschylus? play.

  2. Compare the portrayal of Clytaemnestra in both Aeschylus’ Agamemnon and Euripides’ Electra. Which ...

    to her daughter in regards to unhindered fury and a lust for vengeance. This older, wiser Clytaemnestra still remains crucial to the plot, but not as a central character, and is merely a shadow of her former self, the confident, powerful creature who dictated the action of Aeschylus' play.

  • Over 160,000 pieces
    of student written work
  • Annotated by
    experienced teachers
  • Ideas and feedback to
    improve your own work