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Agamemnon : Key info

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Agamemnon is a notable literary work by Aeschylus. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of Agamemnon.

Key info

Key Facts

  • Full Title: Agamemnon (first play of the Oresteia trilogy)
  • Author: Aeschylus (c. 525/524 – c. 456/455 BCE)
  • Title of the Author: Father of Greek Tragedy/ Father of Tragedy/ one of the three great Athenian tragedians (alongside Sophocles and Euripides)
  • Source: Draws from Greek mythology, especially the House of Atreus cycle. Based on legendary tales of the Trojan War’s aftermath and Agamemnon’s cursed family line.
  • Written Time: First performed in 458 BCE during the City Dionysia festival in Athens.
  • First Performed: 458 BCE at the City Dionysia in Athens, as the first play of the Oresteia trilogy (with The Libation Bearers and The Eumenides).
  • First Published: 458 BCE
  • Genre: Greek Tragedy / Mythological Drama / Revenge Play
  • Form: Verse drama written in Ancient Greek; uses iambic trimeter for dialogue and lyric meters for choral odes.
  • Structure: First play of the Oresteia trilogy (Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers, The Eumenides). Structured around the return of Agamemnon from Troy, his murder by Clytemnestra, and the curse on the House of Atreus.
  • Tone: Dark, foreboding, tragic, solemn, moralistic, and heavy with doom.
  • Point of View: Primarily dramatic dialogue and choral odes; perspectives shift between the Watchman, the Chorus of Argive Elders, Clytemnestra, Cassandra, and Agamemnon.
  • Significance: A cornerstone of Greek tragedy; it explores themes of fate, divine justice, revenge, blood guilt, and the conflict between personal desire and communal responsibility. It sets the stage for the trilogy’s broader exploration of justice evolving from blood vengeance to civic law.
  • Language: Ancient Greek.
  • Famous Line: “The scales of Justice move to show wisdom comes through suffering.”
  • Setting:
  • Time Setting: Immediately after the Trojan War (c. 12th century BCE, mythological time).
  • Place Setting: Argos, specifically in front of the royal palace of Agamemnon.

Key Notes – Agamemnon

  • Tragic Tradition: Agamemnon is a shining example of Greek tragedy. Aeschylus brings to the stage the conflict between gods, fate, justice, and revenge. The chorus plays a vital role here, representing the voice of society and expressing moral reflections. The play is based on ancient myths and legendary traditions.
  • The Title – Agamemnon: The title comes from King Agamemnon, who returns victorious from Troy. The entire play focuses on his homecoming and downfall. Although he is the conqueror of Troy, he becomes the victim of murder within his own family. The title thus symbolizes both victory and destruction.
  • Clytemnestra’s Revenge: Before setting out for Troy, Agamemnon sacrificed his daughter Iphigenia to appease the goddess Artemis. His wife, Clytemnestra, takes revenge for this act. Together with her lover Aegisthus, she murders Agamemnon. This revenge is not only personal but also part of the cycle of hereditary guilt that curses the House of Atreus.