... some of its finest warriors. In his ninth year of battle against the city of Troy, Achilles is introduced as the most courageous, honorable, and victorious of all the Achaian warriors. Having triumphantly led his troops through numerous battles, he is portrayed as the most noble among all Greeks, often being referred to as "the brilliant" and "swift-footed" Achilles. While his actions usually result in heroic ... return, Achilles states, "Son of Atreus, most lordly, greediest for gain of all men,/ How shall the great-hearted Achaians give you a prize now/ No, for the present give the gi...

• Word Count: 1596
• Approx Pages: 6

... ") which is an important concept and now she becomes the aggressor. She again speaks with a perfect double meaning "let the red stream flow", already foreseeing and anticipating the future. She now takes a different approach; she is methodical and clinical in sealing Agamemnon's fate. Her husband is vain, he believes that he is the "king of all kings men kneel or die", almost like a god, at first he ... is not oblivious to offending the gods but as the chorus had said before "persuasion ... , maddening child of ruin overpowers him- ruin plans it all". The final temptation is when she com...

• Word Count: 1324
• Approx Pages: 5

... be buried abroad or not buried at all. It was a classical terrifying fate. The Herald then turns to speak to the palace being happy and joyful: "you halls of the kings, you roofs I cherish, sacred seats - you gods that catch the sun" The lords of the house would sit in the sacred seats and they would assert people. He is joyful that the familiar things are still there: "Gods that ... this is angering her. Clytemnestra enters She sweeps in dramatically and tells them off for not believing her: "I cried out long ago! For joy when the first Herald came burning through the night" She unders...

• Word Count: 2409
• Approx Pages: 10
• Grade Level: High School

... over an entire nation. Greek dramas showed that even great heroes have weaknesses, and inevitably fall from power, often having a negative impact on the lives of their people as well. The characters of Agamemnon, Oedipus, and Jason, all remarkable and once-great men, each fall from their power into death or despair. They had become too powerful, too arrogant, and too ambitious, and so ... the gods cut them down. This pattern of kings falling from power because of weaknesses and character flaws is very common in Greek dramas. The Greeks were proud of ... their democratic system, and the...

• Word Count: 1999
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

... and cornerstone of society itself. As queen, she rules in her husband's absence, controlling all legal and religious aspects of her city. As a mother, she is the center of private life, giving birth to future kings and citizens and managing her husband's household. Yet, Clytaemestra takes these two positions and inverts them by her deeds and descriptions. Thus we ... simply cannot exist in Aeschylus" society. The Oresteia, in effect, perpetuates traditional ideals; the values assigned to the "good" female characters, such as Elektra, embody the morals of the ruling men, while the real o...

• Word Count: 1605
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... gathered a large force that included many prominent Greek warriors, themselves either princes or kings, and sailed across the Aegean to win back Helen and humble the great fortress-city of King Priam. After ten years of stalemate, the gods themselves became closely involved in the war down below, as King Agamemnon offended first of all Apollo and then his own greatest warrior Achiles, whose mother was ... . The next day the fighting resumes, and the Achaians fight bravely. However, over the span of the day, most of the best men are injured and taken out of the fight. These include Agamem...

• Word Count: 2208
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: High School

... the disastrous consequences it ends. The character of Achilles is the cause of all that happens to himself, to the other Achians, to the Trojans, and particularly to Hector (Bowra, 193). Achilles is the reason for all of the destruction in the tenth year whether he was in or out of the war. The wrath originated in a quarrel between Agamemnon and Achilles. Both of these figures were problematic. Agamemnon was king of kings ... ). Achilles did not seem to belong in the war of mortals. Anytime he was there, or the Trojans think he was there, the Achians won every battle. Achilles was an unf...

• Word Count: 1906
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School