Question

Former king of Mycenae, brother of Menelaus, and commander of the Achaean forces at Troy. Odysseus encounters Agamemnon's spirit in Hades. Agamemnon was murdered by his wife, Clytemnestra, and her lover, Aegisthus, upon his return from the war. He was later avenged by his son Orestes. Their story is constantly repeated in the Odyssey to offer an inverted image of the fortunes of Odysseus and Telemachus.

How is the story of Agamemnon used in the Odyssey to create a contrast with the story of Odysseus?

Answer 1

The story of Agamemnon provides a contrast to Odysseus's story in 'The Odyssey' by painting a picture of betrayal and treachery versus Odysseus's successful homecoming and restoration of order, underscoring themes of loyalty and retribution.

Step-by-step explanation:

The story of Agamemnon in The Odyssey serves as a foil to that of Odysseus. While Agamemnon was betrayed and killed by his own wife, Clytemnestra, and her lover upon returning from the Trojan War, Odysseus experiences a different fate upon his return to Ithaca. In the Odyssey, Odysseus manages to reclaim his home and punish those who have wronged him, unlike Agamemnon who meets a tragic end. The contrast between the two heroes serves to highlight the vigilance, loyalty, and cunning that Odysseus and his household display, as opposed to the disloyalty and tragedy that befell Agamemnon's house.

Furthermore, the story of Agamemnon provides a cautionary backdrop for the events in Odysseus's life and emphasizes the central themes of homecoming, loyalty, and retribution found in the Odyssey. While Agamemnon's son Orestes did eventually avenge his father's murder, the initial act of treachery in Agamemnon's home stands in stark opposition to the faithfulness of Penelope and the growing maturity and resolve of Telemachus in Odysseus's absence.