Aeschylus, Agamemnon An Assignment Submitted by Name of Student Name of Establishment Class XXXX, Section XXXX, Fall 2014 Aeschylus, Agamemnon Introduction Aeschylus is considered to be one of the best Greek dramatists in the history of literature. Concerning the concept of his own heroes, it is worth saying that they are powerful enough to accomplish their goals. Moreover, they are inevitably clever and talented; however, Aeschylus’ heroes often lived tight and hard lives. Many people loved and respected these heroes even more than gods; it is because they were closer to people and lived their lives. This paper discusses the trilogy Oresteia and, mainly, the tragedy Agamemnon. The essay argues that there is unquestionable …show more content…
The thing is that in the ancient times each individual’s life was based on destiny; and it was impossible to escape the destiny. From the very beginning it is evident that the mortals are dependent on the gods. The servant of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra prays the gods to give him “…some relief and end this weary job.” It shows the significance of the gods for the human beings. The gods are the ones that move the world, and nothing could be changed. The citizens of Argos also worship the gods throughout the …show more content…
On the other hand, they are supreme judges who estimate people’s deeds. The gods manipulate people aiming to reach their final goals. They always react to negative actions of the mortals, giving a lesson to all gods’ defectors. Obviously, people should be conscious that the need to take full responsibility is obligatory for each individual; once people do not accept full and total responsibility for their actions, mankind will decline. It is impossible to escape the gods’ eye, and a consequence, both the heroes and mere mortals are obliged to follow the gods’
These mythical individuals show characteristics that are both valued and those that could be seen as inferior. In Sallust’s Conspiracy of Catiline, Catiline, the antagonist of his own story, is described as having some of these characteristics and how he displays them changes others perspective on him. With each of these characteristics that a Roman would have seen as positive were painted in a negative light because Sallust tells the audience instances where Catiline used these gifts in harmful ways. In contrast Aeneas, in Virgil’s Aeneid, is described and assigned what are thought of as the same Roman attributes, but these are held a positive approach compared to Sallust’s description of Catiline. The first example of this can be seen in the fifth section Sallust tells the audience of Catiline’s noble upbringing and is described as intelligent, ambitious, and as a brilliant solider.
The genre of each of the writings, Agamemnon and Lysias 12, effect the topic of each by changing the view of the argument
Illusions, Imagery and Manipulation In John Lewin’s adaptation of Aeschylus’ Oresteia, many situations throughout establish a lasting tone that characterize the ideas and situations being presented, figurative language and imagery are used very actively throughout all three acts on the Oresteia that depict a lasting tension between the characters. Throughout this trilogy, the characters are characterized directly and indirectly through their words and actions. The poetic language used throughout is made up of metaphors and similes, they make a large contribution when it comes to setting the overall tone of this Greek tragedy. Act one opens in medias res, focusing on Clytemnestra's plan to murder Agamemnon in order to “even things out”.
The Oresteia is a trilogy written by the Greek author Aeschylus that comprises of three plays; Agamemnon, the libation bearers, and the Eumenides. The central theme of this book is “justice” which in the case of Orestes has led to exile. This book was written at a time when the star of Athens was in decline. It was a time that marked the establishment of a new socio- political order, a democracy adjudicated by the rule of law. This rule of law meant the institutionalization of justice (i.e. having a justice system), where cases are heard and verdicts are being reached based on evidence.
In the realm of ancient Greek tragedy, Aeschylus stands out as a master storyteller who skillfully weaves together complex themes and narratives. Among his most renowned works is the Oresteia. The Oresteia consists of three plays: Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers, and The Eumenides. The Trilogy delves into the tragic history of Orestes and his family while also exploring the evolution of the Greek legal system and the concept of justice. Each play builds off of the other in a cohesive and dramatic progression.
They are allowed to interfere with humans in certain ways to certain extents, they have rules, and by punishing/rewarding humans, they create an order of morals/hierarchy so they serve a purpose as well. This presentation of the gods reveals that the Greeks see them as powerful, smarter, and "magically" significant beings. I think that the story shows that they see the Gods to be like us, but with power and authority.
The gods are beings capable of bringing misfortune or greatness which is why mortals tend to perform sacrifices in honor of the gods due
Indeed, the ancient Greek religion comprises of an utter belief in the gods, whereby devotion to them was the key to success. The gods bring Dike, that is, justice to mankind and decide of the people’s fate. This essay will put forward the idea that the gods as presented in the poem is not as necessary as it may seem. Despite being immortal, the gods have flaws. The poem, on the other hand, also involves feelings and relationships.
Aeschylus, who is said to have introduced the deuteragonist, is arguably one of the most unique Greek tragedians because of his writing style, character development, and usage of mythological gods and goddesses throughout his plays. One of his famous works is called The Oresteia, a trilogy from 7 preserved plays of many that were lost in history. In The Oresteia, his first play is called Agamemnon, which includes the themes of vengeance and justice. The play is about the king of Argos, Agamemnon, who is killed by his wife, Clytemnestra, when he returns home from the Trojan War. He is sent by the command of Zeus, who wants justice to be served in Troy because of Paris, the Prince of Troy, breaking the guest-host relationship with Menelaus, the
Do Not Ignore the Laws of the Gods Loyalty to the state should not undermine a person’s loyalty to their gods. When the king challenges or ignores the authority of the gods, he is headed for failure. Sophocles trumpets this message throughout his tragic play, Antigone. After Polyneices rebelled against Thebes and killed his brother Eteocles in battle, King Creon decreed that a traitor to the state cannot be buried.
The relationships between the Greek gods and mortals have always been complicated. The gods can be generous and supportive, but also harsh and destructive towards the humans. They claim to be all powerful beings with unlimited power and influence, but in truth, they are far more human than they are perceived. They meddle with human lives, not because they are wise, but because of their own selfish reasons. In Homer’s
Greek mythology is believed to be a subject that precipitates a substantial amount of interest among scholars who choose to explore it. From the numerous gods that the people believed in to the vast amounts of tales that were told in that particular era, there truly is nothing about the subject that doesn’t bring sparks of curiosity into people’s minds. At the same time, the constant, real connection between the Greek individuals and the Greek gods permits for people who study classical mythology to become notably intrigued. This association between the humans and the supernatural beings, in turn, sets the stage for a considerable amount of the plot in Greek literature. Within the Iliad and also the Odyssey by Homer, Greek gods and goddesses, for instance, typically take mortal form to influence the outcomes of the humans.
Why do the gods intervene with man? Now initially I just thought that they are petty beings, basically humans with powers and immortality, who have nothing better to do besides manipulating their human pawns for enjoyment like in the Iliad when the gods manipulate the war whenever the fighting becomes dull. However, upon diving deeper into the text I discovered, with the help of my discussion group, that not only are humans controlled by their own fate that they cannot escape but also the gods are bound by fate too. Nevertheless, fate effects the gods in a different way than the humans. Reading through the text, I discovered that at first glance there are not many rules that the gods must follow besides not killing each other and Zeus is the
The operation of the Gods sometimes remains otherworldly, as when Poseidon decides to wreck the ship of the Phaeacians, but generally they grant direct aid to particular individuals. In that sense, the change in the behavior
In the first chapter of Erich Auerbach’s novel Mimesis titled Odysseus’ Scar, the stylistic properties of the Old Testament and Homer’s The Odyssey are contrasted to show the two foundational styles for ancient epic literature. Auerbach starts the chapter with an analysis of Homer’s use of digression with in book 19 of The Odyssey, when Odysseus’s true identity is discovered by Euryclea, to alleviate suspense within the book. He goes on to discuss how the comparison of the Homeric style with the “equally ancient and equally epic style” (7) of the tale of the sacrifice of Isaac in the old testament demonstrates “the genius of the Homeric style” (7). Auerbach then goes on to discuss how the Bible and Homeric representation of Gods differ in that