In Aeschylus’ Agamemnon and Lysias 1, the characterization of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon’s relationship is similar with Euphiletos and his wife; however, when we focus on the character’s specific gender roles, they are immensely different. Both marriages are built on deceit and lies. They also revolve around the concept of adultery but each individual responds in a certain way that is unique to their role. On one side, Euphiletos murders the adulterer, Eratosthenes, and defends himself as being a just citizen who obeys the Athenian law, while Agamemnon is an adulterer who seduces “every little Chryseis at Troy” (57). The women in these texts are similar, in terms of being unfaithful to their husbands. Clytemnestra willingly admits to her adulterous
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A man’s masculinity is measured by the amount of geras he has; the more geras a warrior owns, the more time or honor he gets from society. These war prizes, mostly women seen as objects, give Agamemnon a sense of authority over his army. When he returns home, he brings along Cassandra who he captures as a slave from Troy. He is characterized as being a fierce leader who puts the polis, city-state, before oikos, his individual house, and this is represented through the sacrifice of his daughter, Iphigenia, to the gods in order to stop the storm; “Should I desert the fleet and fail my allies?” (10) This decision unravels Agamemnon’s marriage and Clytemnestra turns her anger into revenge by planning her husband’s death. She is described by the watchman as a “woman in passionate heart and man in strength of purpose” (11). Clytemnestra takes pride in killing her husband and has full control of her actions which shows us her “manly” qualities. Compared to Aegisthus, Clytemnestra’s gender role is inverted with her being in charge of the house as well as luring Agamemnon to his fall with her deceitful and cunning personality; “deception is clearly a woman’s work” (64). She possesses factors from both gender roles but leans toward a more masculine …show more content…
As a response to finding the two of them in his house together, Euphiletos takes his vengeance and kills the adulterer which is permitted by the law. He’s characterized as being naïve and oblivious to the deception around him. This trait is more feminine on the spectrum of characteristics regarding what society expects from different gender roles. He’s not visually depicted as a masculine or strong man because he needs other people to accompany him when he faces the adulterer. I conclude that Euphiletos’ role is not as masculine as Clytemnestra or Agamemnon who are perceived as strong individuals who are quick to act when they feel rage. Clytemnestra murders her husband alone in a carefully executed manner while Euphiletos needed backup and recruited his friends in town. Even though Euphiletos is a civilized farmer in Athens, he’s not a fierce or impulsive man like Agamemnon. On the other hand, Euphiletos’ wife is pursued by Eratosthenes and her mind and body become corrupted by the stronger force. She is not characterized as being independent like Clytemnestra and cannot think for herself. The notion of a woman always needing a man to support her is exemplified with Lysias’ wife who continues to meet with Eratosthenes soon after Lysias leaves. Furthermore, she doesn’t have a name or identity in the text which shows the insignificance of her existence. She is an object in
A man’s masculinity is measured by the amount of geras he has; the more geras a warrior owns, the more time or honor he gets from society. These war prizes, mostly women seen as objects, give Agamemnon a sense of authority over his army. When he returns home, he brings along Cassandra who he captures as a slave from Troy. He is characterized as being a fierce leader who puts the polis, city-state, before oikos, his individual house, and this is represented through the sacrifice of his daughter, Iphigenia, to the gods in order to stop the storm; “Should I desert the fleet and fail my allies?” (10) This decision unravels Agamemnon’s marriage and Clytemnestra turns her anger into revenge by planning her husband’s death. She is described by the watchman as a “woman in passionate heart and man in strength of purpose” (11). Clytemnestra takes pride in killing her husband and has full control of her actions which shows us her “manly” qualities. Compared to Aegisthus, Clytemnestra’s gender role is inverted with her being in charge of the house as well as luring Agamemnon to his fall with her deceitful and cunning personality; “deception is clearly a woman’s work” (64). She possesses factors from both gender roles but leans toward a more masculine …show more content…
As a response to finding the two of them in his house together, Euphiletos takes his vengeance and kills the adulterer which is permitted by the law. He’s characterized as being naïve and oblivious to the deception around him. This trait is more feminine on the spectrum of characteristics regarding what society expects from different gender roles. He’s not visually depicted as a masculine or strong man because he needs other people to accompany him when he faces the adulterer. I conclude that Euphiletos’ role is not as masculine as Clytemnestra or Agamemnon who are perceived as strong individuals who are quick to act when they feel rage. Clytemnestra murders her husband alone in a carefully executed manner while Euphiletos needed backup and recruited his friends in town. Even though Euphiletos is a civilized farmer in Athens, he’s not a fierce or impulsive man like Agamemnon. On the other hand, Euphiletos’ wife is pursued by Eratosthenes and her mind and body become corrupted by the stronger force. She is not characterized as being independent like Clytemnestra and cannot think for herself. The notion of a woman always needing a man to support her is exemplified with Lysias’ wife who continues to meet with Eratosthenes soon after Lysias leaves. Furthermore, she doesn’t have a name or identity in the text which shows the insignificance of her existence. She is an object in