Hereditary guilt in Agamemnon

The sacrifice of his daughter, Iphigenia, is perhaps one of Agamemnon’s major crimes, which brought about the domestic tragedy of his fate. Because of this crime, he was killed at the hands of his wife.

It should be known to all that Agamemnon sacrificed his innocent daughter due to another woman’s promiscuity. He did not do this of his own will but was compelled to commit such a grievous act so that the Greek forces could avenge the reckless actions of Paris and Helen.

Agamemnon and his crew could not continue their journey due to a strong west wind sent by the goddess Artemis. This wind was a punishment for Agamemnon having offended Artemis by killing an animal sacred to her. The only way to appease Artemis and stop the wind was for Agamemnon to sacrifice his daughter to her.

To seek revenge for Paris’ crime and to help his brother retrieve his wife, Agamemnon felt he had no choice but to sacrifice his daughter. Although the wind was obstructing Agamemnon and his crew from continuing their journey, most sensible fathers would have forsaken Helen if it meant saving their own daughter. As punishment for his crime, Agamemnon was murdered at home upon his return from the war as a victor. 

In this example of hereditary guilt, Agamemnon’s actions make it easy for readers to develop hatred toward him and sympathy for Clytemnestra.

Another significant reason that prompted Clytemnestra to kill her husband was that Agamemnon brought back a concubine, Cassandra, from the war. Not only did Agamemnon have the audacity to get Cassandra into the palace, but he also expected her to be treated with appropriate care and attention. He instructed, “Escort this stranger in, be gentle.” By doing so, he only strengthened Clytemnestra’s resolve and removed any doubts she might have had before his return.

Examining Agamemnon’s family history reveals the curse that plagued his lineage for generations. Atreus, Agamemnon’s father, initiated the cycle of violence by killing the children of his brother, Thyestes. As a result, Agamemnon inherited this curse and found himself in an ongoing rivalry with his cousin, Aegisthus. Coincidentally, Aegisthus is Clytemnestra’s lover, and his desire to kill Agamemnon makes Clytemnestra’s decision easier. It is clear that Aegisthus influenced her thoughts regarding Agamemnon’s death.

The Chorus explains another crucial reason for Agamemnon’s murder: they believe that the victors of the Trojan War must suffer for their success. This notion proves true in the end, as Agamemnon loses his life upon returning home as a victor of the Trojan War.