Aeschylus, Agamemnon; Reception on returning from Troy

Greek tragedy is plentiful in this list and in some ways it gets a little repetitive but on the other hand they are easy to sit and read in one afternoon so while it can be a little tiring reading a whole heap back to back at least they go by quickly unlike some texts (*cough* Herodotus *cough*).

The Story
Agamemnon returns home form the Trojan war and is greeted by his wife who notices the concubine in his chariot and has him come inside, he is cold to her. His wife, scorned, plots to kill her husband, with her lovers help. The murder of Agamemnon is successful. His wife and her lover then take over the governance of the kingdom. (Wow! That's a short synopsis, but it is a short play...)

Reflections
What a tragic thing to come home to after many years away at war. I can understand his wife having an affair but it is the conspiracy to kill him that struck me as really off. Thankfully, she does not succeed in killing their son and Agamemnon's heir in the process. This sets up the rest of the group of plays, called "The Oresteia", with his son still alive to take vengeance.

Comparisons
It is interesting to see another story after the Trojan war and after the Iliad. This one is a triumphant king come home to disaster. By contrast, the Odyssey is the extended trip home of one of the other kings and he does eventually reunite with his family and all is happy, eventually.

Have you read Agamemnon? If so what did you think of it?

Want to read Agamemnon but haven't? Hopefully this inspires you to take the time to do so.
Get a copy of Agamemnon.