(855) 4-ESSAYS

Type a new keyword(s) and press Enter to search

Agamemnon


            Searching for just one definition to explain the meaning of the word, justice, is very difficult. There are various explanations for the word justice, but I found it to be very interesting that in many of the definitions the word, "just" is used to define the word justice. This becomes confusing and frustrating to any one person who is trying to seek out knowledge for this one word. The word "just," in the dictionary is said to mean "fair", so it only makes sense to say that the definition of the word justice means, "to have the quality of being fair or right". This word does not have one universal meaning. This is exactly what each of the characters in Aeschylus" book of plays, The Oresteia, did. It becomes very clear to see that each character holds different views on justice. .
             The first play, Agamemnon, introduces us to Clytaemnestra who murders her husband because Agamemnon sacrificed his daughter. Agamemnon murders his daughter in order to satisfy her to the gods, Clytaemnestra kills her husband to achieve, and she says, "a masterpiece of Justice". (Pg. 162, line 1430) Here it appears that revenge is the bottom line making another person pay for his actions and bringing justice to all. Although Clytaemnestra views all of her actions as being just, there are many other people within the plays who disagree with every move she made in killing her husband. Justice considered by one may not be considered to be justice by all others. The chorus shows their anger with the queens actions, "You, pathetic- the king had just returned from battle. You waited out the war and fouled his lair, you planned my great commander's fall." (Pg. 170, line 1658-1661). It is obvious that the chorus feels that Aegistheus and Clytaemestra truly wronged the king, rather than bringing justice. One person may consider something to be justice, and at the same time there might be others who don't consider it to be justice at all.


Essays Related to Agamemnon


Got a writing question? Ask our professional writer!
Submit My Question