"More sinned against than sinning." Is this a more appropriate description of Agamemnon than Clytaemestra?

Date Submitted: 02/10/2004 01:50:05
Category: / Literature / European Literature
Length: 4 pages (1024 words)
Clytaemestra's murder of Agamemnon can be seen as one of the main sins in the play. The Chorus of Argive Elders calls the act 'obscene' and since one of the functions of the Chorus is to direct the audience's sympathy and give voice to pious opinions this indicates Clytaemestra is more sinning than sinned against. However when she defends her acts after the murder to The Chorus she tells them it was she who was …
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…Ancient Greeks viewed these two acts differently. Therefore in the context of the play it is Agamemnon who is sinned against not Clytaemestra. In conclusion both Agamemnon and Clytaemestra commit sinful acts like murder and hubris. Though they are sinned against, for example Agamemnon is murdered and Clytaemestra's daughter is 'slaughtered' this does not excuse or cancel out their other actions. Neither could be said to be 'more sinned against than sinning' than the other.
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