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Justice In Agamemnon And The Libation Bearers

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In Aeschylus' two plays Agamemnon, and The Libation Bearers, he demonstrates that a crime committed cannot go without the proper justice served. As read in Agamemnon, Clytemnestra believed she had to take matters into her own hands and get justice for her daughter because he was away at war for ten years, sacrificed their daughter Iphigeneia, and was unfaithful to Clytemnestra. This form of justice served was also seen when Orestes slayed his mother, Clytemnestra and her lover in The Libation Bearers, due her killing Agamemnon. Both of Aeschylus' plays show the idea of justice being served throughout them all by way of murder, and was driven by revenge and vengeance. The violent acts committed by members of this family are heinous and continue …show more content…

Her vengeful actions were triggered by the death of her daughter Iphigenia and the jealousy of her husband’s mistress Cassandra. Clytemnestra was utterly consumed by the murder of her daughter. Iphigenia was about to marry the famous Achilles. Clytemnestra’s love and pride for Iphigenia would have been at its strongest when she helped her daughter prepare for the noble marriage This murder was carried out by Clytemnestra’s husband, Agamemnon. Iphigenia cried out in terror. “Her pleas for help, her cries of "Father!" (Iliad) were not enough to stop the inevitable from occurring. Upon acquiring knowledge that she had sent her daughter to her death due to the deceit of her husband, Clytemnestra was grieved and enraged beyond measure and gave her heart over to the avengement of her daughter. Clytemnestra was enraged by the sacrificing of her daughter. The audience cannot help but to sympathize with …show more content…

Bitterness had been building in Clytemnestra for ten years. She devised a plan on how she would avenge her daughter's death and get him back for staying away for so long, leaving her to rule their city. Clytemnestra was also maddened by Agamemnon because he brought home a mistress. The mistress’ name was Cassandra, princess of Troy. Apollo blessed her with the gift of prophecy where she could tell the future and see into the past; however once Cassandra and Apollo’s relationship was over, Apollo placed a curse on Cassandra consisting of disbelief when she would tell of a prophecy. Cassandra knew that their deaths were coming soon after their arrival home. While Agamemnon was bathing, Clytemnestra trapped him in his bath seat and killed him with an axe. When she was caught of her crime, the chorus pressed for her exile and neglect company of all men because of her crime. She refutes, stating that she wanted vengeance for her daughter and therefore Agamemnon's death is justified by avenging his crime. As the Chorus laments the murder and blames Agamemnon's death on Helen of Troy, they leave Clytemnestra thinking that her crime will not bring destruction to

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