Aeschylus agamemnon summary

In the immediate aftermath of the fall of Troy, the play opens at King Agamemnon 's palace in Argos with the lonely Watchman 's soliloquy. From the roof aeschylus agamemnon summary the palace, the Watchman begs the gods for respite from his interminable watch. The stars, his sole, plentiful and steadfast, companions seem to him like so many "dynasties" revolving in endless cycles, aeschylus agamemnon summary, waxing and waning, moving out of winter into summer and back again.

Agamemnon is the first play in the Oresteia , the only trilogy of Greek tragedies that has survived intact from classical times. Indeed, we might go so far as to say that, with these plays, Aeschylus essentially invented classic Greek theatre. Before we offer an analysis of Agamemnon , the first volume in the trilogy, it might be worth briefly recapping the plot of the play. The action of Agamemnon takes place at the end of the ten-year Trojan War. The Greek hero Agamemnon has been heavily involved in the fighting against Troy, and back home his wife Clytemnestra eagerly awaits his return.

Aeschylus agamemnon summary

The play opens with a watchman standing on the roof of the palace of Agamemnon at Argos. He explains that Clytaemestra has ordered him to keep a lookout each night for the light from a series of beacon fires that will signal the long-awaited fall of Troy. He has carried out this duty faithfully for several years already and is getting demoralized. Suddenly he observes a beacon burning in the distance and realizes that the war is over. The watchman is excited for a moment by the happy thought that his long vigil is ended and that his king will finally return home, but then a feeling of gloom comes over him. He refuses to state aloud the cause of his foreboding but remarks that the walls of the palace could tell the story if they were able to speak. The watchman determines to remain silent. He will be satisfied to welcome his beloved king home again. He goes out to tell the news to Clytaemestra. The watchman's speech sets the gloomy, tense mood that will be maintained throughout the play. There is skillful artistry evident in this powerful opening and full use is made of dramatic irony. Moreover, the watchman has been made into a real man instead of a mechanical giver of information. His ambiguous reaction and brooding thoughts are genuine in the circumstances. They immediately arouse the interest of the audience and give added poignancy to his guarded comments.

Too much glory brings an inevitable fall.

Aeschylus ' Agamemnon was originally performed at the City Dionysia of B. Aeschylus won 1st prize for his tetralogy the trilogy and a satyr play. Agamemnon, leader of the Greek forces in the Trojan War, has returned after 10 years. He arrives with Cassandra in tow. There is controversy about the performance dates for the Greek tragedies and the components of Greek tragedy.

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Aeschylus agamemnon summary

In the immediate aftermath of the fall of Troy, the play opens at King Agamemnon 's palace in Argos with the lonely Watchman 's soliloquy. From the roof of the palace, the Watchman begs the gods for respite from his interminable watch. The stars, his sole, plentiful and steadfast, companions seem to him like so many "dynasties" revolving in endless cycles, waxing and waning, moving out of winter into summer and back again. What he wishes, in short, is rest. He relates how he has been obliged by the queen to keep watch for a fire. Further he cannot sleep for restless fear. In his musings he hints of a great bygone woe, "the pity of this house," which he hopes will soon be redeemed. The flames, he says, would presage positively. Far off in the distance, then, a light glows, and the Watchman spies a messenger's blaze that hails the fall of Troy. He draws a joyous analogy to a sunrise.

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They immediately arouse the interest of the audience and give added poignancy to his guarded comments. Agamemnon is heard to cry out that he has been struck a mortal blow, and cries out again about a second. Start your 7-day FREE trial now! Not Applicable. Don't Miss Out! Agamemnon, being a powerful lord, may well have been considered above the law. Clytemnestra tells silent Cassandra to go inside. Gill N. The play inspired numerous adaptations, performances, and translations, and it remains one of the most widely read and recognized ancient tragedies. In the end, having no other recourse, the fretting Chorus must agree with Clytaemestra. She stands over the corpses of Agamemnon and Cassandra and boasts that she killed them. The Herald replies that a terrible storm seized the Greek fleet on the way home, leaving Menelaus and many others missing. She is remorseless; the Chorus is appalled at her brutality. The herald also explains that most of the Greek ships were destroyed by a storm as they were leaving Troy.

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Answer: this is a terrible defence, even in the world of classical myth, and Agamemnon deserved justice; whether he deserved a knife in amongst his bubble bath with his rubber duck is quite another matter. He relates how he has been obliged by the queen to keep watch for a fire. Soon, Agamemnon, with Cassandra , a captive soothsayer, beside him, enter in a chariot. These were Aegisthus' brothers. Daring is recorded as the undesirable offspring of aged Pride. Your Free Trial Starts Now! It was followed by the tragedies Libation Bearers and Eumenides , which also survived, and by a satyr play titled Proteus , which was lost. The action of Agamemnon takes place at the end of the ten-year Trojan War. Ace your assignments with our guide to Agamemnon! Characters Character List.