The theme of justice in Aeschylus’s play, Agamemnon.

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The themes of justice in Aeschylus’s play Agamemnon.

The word justice is derived from the word just meaning acting or being in conformity with what is morally upright. The word justice as defined in the Merriam-Webster online dictionary as the administration of what is just, especially impartial adjustment of conflicting claims or the assignment of merited rewards or punishments. In the play “Agamemnon” which was written by Aeschylus in the year 458 B.C.E each character has their own definition of justice, they all avenge for the crimes committed through murder.

Agamemnon definition for justice is “Reward those who follow the law and punish those who don’t.” He declares that he shall exercise justice accordingly to the citizens of Argos now that he has returned. Those who have been good will be rewarded and those who have been unjust will be punished. Agamemnon wishes to fight the Trojan War, and in order to do that he sacrificed his eldest daughter named Iphigeneia. The sacrifice was described as sickening but he went ahead and did it. The act is what leads the queen Clytemnestra towards avenging for the death of her daughter. The queen views the act as murder; the love of her daughter drives her to killing the husband as he returns home after the fight. She defines the act as justified, claming that he was wrong in sacrificing his own blood and calls it “a master piece of justice” ( Perry p.126). However, Aegisthus supports Clytemnestra’s action and believes that it will fix the mistake Atreus did in cooking Thyestes’ children in the oven and serving them to him. Clytemnestra assumes that she has brought justice in Argos by ending the curse of bloodshed that has been in continual for several years. She declares the chorus “I swept from these halls the murder”, she thinks that the murder of Cassandra and Agamemnon will erase all other murders from the past.

The elders view the sacrifice of Iphigenia, as unjust and the loss of many Greeks who have lost their lives in the Trojan War over the past ten years due to Helen. However, they do not believe that Zeus used Clytemnestra as a tool to demand justice against his husband for killing their daughter or to punish him for Atreus sins. Instead, they believe it is very wrong and long for the day his son Orestes shall return and avenge for his father’s death. They view it as justice when the mother will be killed by the son, forgetting it will lead to continuous bloodshed. They express anger and comment “you pathetic, the king had just returned form battle. You waited out the war and fouled his lair; you planned my great commander’s fall.” (Perry p.70)

The chorus perceives the act of attacking Troy as just however, they state that the damage must not be exceeded hence it will become unjust causing destruction and the ones responsible should be disciplined. Auxiliary, they warn on the subject of being proud. Egotism is a crime that shall be reprimanded; Paris was put to death, his family murdered and the entire city destroyed because he had kidnapped Helen and violated Menelaus’ trust.

Cassandra’s definition of justice was “an eye for an eye.” As she enters the royal palace at Argos and prepares to die, she prays that justice will at one time prevail when Orestes returns. She does not think that it is justice being murdered by Clytaemnestra. The queen is jealous of her because the king had made her a slave and his love. Cassandra names a long list of torments proclaiming destruction of Troy and the death of her family was not warranted. She states that the Greeks were wrong for what they committed. She accepts the responsibility of the curse that was placed on her after rejecting Apollo’s love. Both had an agreement and she did not play her part, she had promised to be Apollo’s lover if given the gift of prophesies but after been granted the gift she declined.

When Orestes returns home, he is told by an oracle to avenge for his father’s death in order to bring justice. He believes him stating, “Apollo will never fail me, his tremendous power, and his oracle charges me to see his trial through…’ gore them like a bull!’ he called, or pay their debt with your own life, one long career of grief.” (Conacher P.191). He murders his mother and his lover Aegisthus due to the oracle and perceives that he has achieved justice. The chorus view the act committed by Orestes as unfair, they say it was sarcasm, as they cannot understand how one can murder their own mother. They say “what spur could force a man to kill his mother” (Perry p.250). Finally, Zeus king of all gods was the cause of all doing; he is responsible for the injustice caused since he misled everyone as described in line 1486.

Conclusion.

Every character in the play has their own definition of justice and this has lead to most murders. The stories revolve on murders, all the characters avenge with murder, and the aspect of forgiveness is not considered. The characters do not consider the future consequences of their actions. Their definition of justice is ironic but according to them, it seems fair and just. One incidence of justice lead to another incidence of crime hence justice did not prevail since it only lead to enormous bloodshed and promoted vengeance within Troy. Theme of justice seems to have been absorbed more into revenge, the play revolves around you hurt me so I hurt you and you hurt my family hence I hurt yours too.