Aeschylus Difficult Decisions

In Aeschylus’ The Agamemnon, Agamemnon and Clytemnestra are both faced with difficult decisions, in which they thought they made the correct choice. Aeschylus states through the Chorus how Agamemnon and Clytemnestra were prideful in their decisions and this is why they are not just. Agamemnon chose to kill his daughter and Clytemnestra kills her husband out of selfish desires. Aeschylus gives his point of view through the Chorus telling of the unjust actions of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon. Agamemnon chose to sacrifice his daughter Iphigenia rather than lose the respect of his soldiers. He was told that if he sacrificed his eldest daughter, he would gain favorable winds to reach Troy. This was a selfish act; his pride led him to choose possible rich and wealth from the war

Clytemnestra developed a lust for the throne. Clytemnestra made a decision to kill Agamemnon. To justify her killing she brought up the crimes of Agamemnon, sacrificing their daughter Iphigenia. She said, “him who, caring no more than for the death of a beast, though his fleecy herds had sheep enough, sacrificed his own child, the darling born of my pains” (45). She stated that it was this that caused her to kill him as she said, “By the accomplished Justice for my child, by Doom and Revenge, to whom I offered this dead man up” (45). Clytemnestra believes Agamemnon’s death was a punishment for his crimes.

Aeschylus’ opinion is voiced as the chorus points out Clytemnestra’s hubris in her action. They said, “You are proud of thought, and presumptuous is your note, for indeed the murderous stroke is maddening you. The blood-fleck in your eyes is right natural. For all this, you shall find yourself friendless and pay retaliatory stroke for stroke” (45). The Chorus explains Clytemnestra’s hubris and makes this a reason for the killing of Agamemnon. She did this to gain the throne due to her