Question

The powerful wife of Agamemnon and mother of Orestes, Clytamnestra is arguably the tragic hero of The Libation Bearers. She is the sister of Helen of Troy, and cousin to Penelope (Odysseus' wife). Although she does not spend much time on stage in The Libation Bearers, her character has already been fully developed in the preceding play, the Agamemnon, and thus her influences are felt and understood. She is a fiercely protective mother, and went to the lengths of killing Agamemnon in order to avenge the murder of their daughter Iphigineia. She is extremely intelligent and persuasive, although her arguments are of no avail against Orestes when it matters most. Although her lover Aigisthos is ostensibly now king of Argos after Agamemnon's murder, it is Clytamnestra who really runs the show. She is not afraid to do a man's job in a man's world.

How does Clytemnestra's character differ from the traditional portrayal of women in Greek tragedy?

Answer 1

Clytemnestra's character in Greek tragedy differs from the traditional portrayal of women in a few key ways: she is fiercely protective, intelligent and persuasive, and defies gender roles.

Step-by-step explanation:

Clytemnestra's character in Greek tragedy differs from the traditional portrayal of women in a few key ways. Firstly, Clytemnestra is depicted as a fiercely protective mother who is willing to take extreme measures to avenge her daughter's death. This contrasts with the more passive and submissive roles often assigned to women in Greek tragedy.

Secondly, Clytemnestra is portrayed as extremely intelligent and persuasive, a trait that sets her apart from the traditional portrayal of women as morally weak or easily manipulated.

Lastly, Clytemnestra defies gender roles by taking on traditionally male tasks and responsibilities, such as orchestrating the murder of her husband and effectively running the kingdom. This challenges the societal expectations placed on women in Greek tragedy.