Monday, 16 June 2008: begin Aeschylus, Agamemnon

Text-objective discussion: Jeannette Enderle

. Brothers Agamemnon and Menelaus, sons of Atreus, are kings of Argos
and leaders of the expedition against Troy. Agamemnon sacrificed his
daughter for favorable winds to Troy. Helen, Menelaus’s wife was
captured by Paris and brought to Troy.

. Thyestes cursed the House of Atreus before leaving since he was
served the flesh of his slaughtered sons. His son Aegisthus killed the
house of Atreus.

. Helen of Troy is Clytaemnestra’s sister.

. The war has consumned 10 years and Clytaemnestra is waiting for a
signal.

. A watchman laments that things were not governed well in this house
since the War started.

. Agamemnon’s Question????? “"It's harsh not to obey this fate—

but to go through with it is harsh as well,

to kill my child, the glory of my house,

to stain a father's hands before the altar 

with streams of virgin's blood.

Which of my options is not evil?
. The ships were stalled by strange winds so he sacrifices his
Virgin daughter.

Paris’s Moral Discission
. Such a man was Paris. He came
to the home of the sons of Atreus,
and then abused their hospitality,
running off with his host's wife. 
But she left her people [she = Helen]
the smash of shield and spear,
a fleet well armed for war.
To Troy she carried with her  
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no dowry but destruction.

. The War rages on for 10 years.

. Clytaemnestrs organized Messengers of Fire decry the victory at
Troy and the troups will be coming home.
I organized these messengers of fire,
setting them up in sequence, one by one.
In that race the first and last both triumph,
the ones who sent the message and received it.
That's the evidence I set before you,
a message from my husband, dispatched 
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all the way from burning Troy to me. 

. HERALD: Menelaus disappeared—the army lost sight of him and his
ship. That's the truth.
But let's hope things all turn out for the best.
As for Menelaus, wait for his return—
that should be your first priority. 
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If some ray of sunlight finds him still alive,

For she' s lived up to her name—Helen
a hell for ships, a hell for men,
a hell for cities, too.
From her delicately curtained room
she sailed away, transported
by West Wind, an earth-born giant. 

she turned into a bride of tears, a Fury

. Clytaemnestra welcomes Agamemnon but he hesitates and does not want
to walk on embroidered tapestry.

. Agamemnon: states what he must first do!

For other issues of the city and our gods,
we'll set up a general assembly,
all of us discussing things together.
We must make sure what's working well
remains that way in future. By contrast,
where we need some healing medicine,
we'll make a well-intentioned effort
to root out all infectious evil,
burning the sores or slicing them away.

. Clytaemnestra tells of the trails of those waiting for loved ones
in a War. She has buried her husband many times in her dreams.

And now, my beloved lord, come to me here,
climb down from that chariot. But, my king,
don't place upon the common ground the foot
which stamped out Troy.

. She questions: You must fear something, then, to act this way.
You've made some promise to the gods.
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. Agamemnon walks upon the tapestry and he calls attention to
Cassandra.




What flaw can be attributed to Agamemnon? Can we compare this to the
statement, “Mission Accomplished”.

Why does he want an Assembly?

What does the future hold for Clytaemnestra?

Do you think Cassandra Safe?