Food for Thought: Agamemnon work out!

·         For discussion:

v      A lot of characters in the play attribute the murder of Agamemnon to divine vengeance for the crime committed by his father, Atreus. Leaving aside what the Chorus and other characters say, do you think Aeschylus believes this, or is the spirit of vengeance just a metaphor for the human, non-supernatural anger of Aegisthus, who plots with Clytemnestra to murder Agamemnon?

v      Assuming that Agamemnon's death really is brought about by divine will, because of the crime of his father Atreus, why does Menelaus get off scot free? If the crime of Atreus is inherited by his children, shouldn't Menelaus be just as guilty as Agamemnon? Does the fact that Menelaus remains unpunished cast any doubt on the divine vengeance theory held by various characters in the play?

v      Did Agamemnon act freely when he chose to kill his daughter Iphigenia? If not, did he still deserve to be punished?

v      Shortly before she dies, Cassandra says that she is being killed by the god Apollo. On a less supernatural level, she just seems to have been in the wrong place at the wrong time. Whichever way you look at it, Cassandra seems pretty disconnected from the cycle of killings and revenges within Agamemnon's family that lies at the heart of the tragedy. If you accept this description, why do you think Aeschylus included Cassandra in the tragedy?

v      Taken as a whole, does Aeschylus's Agamemnon portray Zeus and the other gods as just or unjust? Are they neither?

·         Questions again

·         Justice and judgement—explore

ü      In Agamemnon, is there a difference between justice and revenge? If so, what is it?

ü      How is Agamemnon's theme of "Justice and Judgment" related to that of "Wisdom and Knowledge"?

ü      Many characters in the play say that Zeus and the other gods are in charge of justice. But if Zeus is in charge of absolutely everything, doesn't that make him the cause of injustice as well? How can we resolve this contradiction? Is it possible?

ü      Who is the most unjust character in Agamemnon?

·         Revenge

ü      According to Aeschylus's play, is revenge an effective way of solving problems?

ü      Whose reason for getting revenge on Agamemnon makes more sense, that of Clytemnestra, or that of Aegisthus?

ü      Does Aeschylus's play portray revenge as ever justified?

ü      Is there a difference between justice and revenge? If so, what is it?

·         Fate and free will

ü      Does Agamemnon portray fate and free will as complete opposites, or is there some wiggle-room between the two ideas?

ü      Does Agamemnon have a choice when he sacrifices Iphigenia at Aulis?

ü      According to Agamemnon, does knowing the future provide any sort of advantage? Does it provide a disadvantage? Does it matter at all?

ü      If Agamemnon did not have free choice over his actions, is it fair for him to be punished

·         Wisdom and knowledge

ü      It is clear that the theme of "suffer and learn," as the Chorus puts it in line 177, is central to this play. But what does "learn" mean in this context? Do we have to suffer to learn all things, or only some things? What does Aeschylus's play tell us about these matters?

ü      The god Apollo has cursed Cassandra so that she can prophesy but will not be believed. And yet, the Chorus tells her that they believe her prophecy. Does this contradict the idea of Apollo's curse, or does it fit in with it somehow? If it does fit in, how?

·         Family

o        How would Agamemnon be different if its acts of murder and revenge had been committed by unrelated people, instead of members of the same family? Would the play even still make sense?

o        Clytemnestra appears to care deeply about her children; thus, her main motivation for killing Agamemnon appears to be because he sacrificed their daughter Iphigenia. If this is true, why did Clytemnestra banish their son Orestes?

o        Atreus kills Thyestes's children because of what Thyestes did. Aegisthus is pleased with the death of Agamemnon because of what his father Atreus did. Based on the play, do you think Aeschylus considers it just to punish a child for its parent's crimes?

o        If Agamemnon is guilty because his father was guilty, why does his brother Menelaus get off scot free? What does the fate of Menelaus say about the possibility that injustice is passed on from generation to generation?

·         Fear

ü      Who is the most fearful character in Agamemnon?

ü      In the play, do characters most often fear for themselves or on behalf of others?

ü      In their big debate scene, who is more fearful, Cassandra or the Chorus?

ü      To what degree does Aeschylus's play portray fear as inhibiting action?

ü      http://www.shmoop.com/agamemnon/fear-quotes.html

·         Politics

ü      Where does Aeschylus see political power as coming from: from the gods or from human beings?

ü      The internal debate between the Chorus members after they hear Agamemnon's death cries mimics the Athenian democratic assembly. What does Aeschylus see as the advantages and disadvantages of democracy?

ü      In Aeschylus's view, who has more power, rulers or their subjects?

ü      What does Aeschylus portray as the relationship between the family and the state?