How Would you Justify Clytemnestra’s Murder of her Husband, Agamemnon?

Answer

How would you justify Clytemnestra’s murder of her husband, Agamemnon? Give your own reasons for your answer.  

Clytemnestra’s murder of her husband, Agamemnon, in Aeschylus’s (525/524–456/455 BC) play “Agamemnon” (458 BC)  is a deeply complex and controversial act. While murder is generally considered morally wrong, there are specific reasons that could justify Clytemnestra’s actions from her perspective. Clytemnestra’s motivations are rooted in personal grief, a desire for justice, infidelity, and the cycles of violence and revenge that dominate the play.

Avenging the Death of Her Daughter Iphigenia: The most significant reason for Clytemnestra’s actions is Agamemnon’s sacrifice of her daughter, Iphigenia. Before sailing to Troy, Agamemnon was told by a prophet that the goddess Artemis demanded a sacrifice to allow the Greek fleet to sail. Agamemnon chose to sacrifice his daughter, Iphigenia, to appease the gods. This act was devastating for Clytemnestra as a mother. She viewed it as an unforgivable betrayal. Clytemnestra says,

I stand now where I struck, where I achieved what I set out to do. I did all this. I won’t deny the fact.

Hare, Clytemnestra openly admits that her actions were premeditated and motivated by revenge for the sacrifice of her daughter, Iphigenia. From her point of view, killing Agamemnon was an act of justice.

The Theme of Justice: Clytemnestra’s motivation is closely tied to the play’s themes of fate and divine justice, where those who commit evil deeds must eventually pay for them. Clytemnestra’s decision to kill Agamemnon can also be seen as a quest for justice. As a wife, she expected love and protection from her husband, but Agamemnon betrayed that trust by murdering their daughter.

The Cycle of Family Violence: The House of Atreus, to which both Clytemnestra and Agamemnon belong, is cursed with a long history of violence and revenge. Agamemnon’s father, Atreus, had once killed the children of his brother Thyestes and served them as food. This act set off a chain of bloodshed that continued for generations. In her husband’s absence, Clytemnestra develops an affair with Aegisthus, who is Agamemnon’s cousin and Thyestes’ son. She plots with Aegisthus and kills Agamemnon, which serves double revenge- Clytemnestra’s revenge for her daughter, Iphigenia, and Ageisthus’ revenge on the House of Atreus. However, Clytemnestra’s infidelity corrupts her act of revenge. Clytemnestra says,

The form of this corpse’s wife was taken on by the ancient savage spirit of revenge. For that brutal meal prepared by Atreus,

Here, Clytemnestra justifies her act by invoking the spirit of revenge, which she believes drives her actions.

Destined to Doom: Clytemnestra’s murder of Agamemnon can be seen as predestined because the House of Atrus is crushed to meet their doom inevitably. This event sets the chain of bloodshed in motion, as Agamemnon’s son Orestes will return to take revenge on Clytemnestra and Aegisthus. It is revealed in Cassandra’s prophecy:

Another man will come and will avenge us, a son who’ll kill his mother, then pay back his father’s death,

Reclaiming Power and Autonomy: Clytemnestra is portrayed as a strong and intelligent woman who defies traditional gender roles. In ancient Greek society, women were expected to be submissive and obedient. However, Clytemnestra takes matters into her own hands. By killing Agamemnon, she asserts her power and refuses to be a passive victim of her husband’s decisions. While Clytemnestra’s methods are extreme, they can be justified as they reflect her determination to break free from the oppressive constraints of her society.

In verdict, while Clytemnestra’s murder of Agamemnon is a brutal and tragic act, it can be justified from her perspective. Agamemnon’s tragic death is predestined by the curse on the House of Atreus. She avenges the murder of her daughter, although her motive is corrupted due to her affair with Aegisthus.