Classical Literature

Classical Literature

Introduction

Aeschylus was born in the city of Eleusis in 525. He was among the first of the three famous ancient Greek tragedians, Euripides and Sophocles. Their plays are still being read and performed worldwide. He is often referred as the father of tragedy: As Aristotle said, Aeschylus prolonged the number of characters in is plays to permit for conflict between them, whereas before him, characters used to relate only with the chorus (www.imagi-nation.com). When Aeschylus initially began to write, the theatre had just started to evolve. Plays were more or less like some choral poetry which was complimented with expressive dance or animated oratorios. Although, Aeschylus is known to have written almost over ninety plays, but only seven of those have survived.

Discussion

The Oresteia is a trilogy consisting of three plays. The first is The Agamemnon, the second is The Libation Bearers, and the last is the Eumenides (www.imagi-nation.com).

Agamemnon is the opening of three plays in the trilogy of The Oresteia which precedes the curse by Thyestes. The play concentrates on the murder committed by Clytemnestra of her husband, Agamemnon (www.eddyho.tripod.com). She wanted to murder Agamemnon because she was holding within her heart a deep secret hatred because Agamemnon had sacrificed their eldest daughter, Iphigenia ten years ago at Aulis, so that the Greek convoy could sail towards Troy (www.imagi-nation.com). The play opens at night to a watchman who is awaiting a fire signal which indicates the end of Trojan War. When the watchman saw the fire signal, he immediately reports this news to Clytamenestra. When Agamemnon reached home, Clytamenestra welcomes him with open arms. Agamemnon had returned with Cassandra, who was the enslaved daughter of the Trojan king. Clytamenestra made Agamemnon on a blood-red tapestry that symbolizes the death. Agamemnon enters the palace with Clytemnestra. Cassandra, who had been ...