Throughout the tragedy Agamemnon, I was continually intrigued by the argument of

who was just in their wrongful act. For this essay, I would like to further examine into
each person’s rationales and personal beliefs as to why they felt just. Many believe that
Aeschylus feels most sympathetic towards Clytemnestra whereas many also believe
that Aeschylus feels Agamemnon to be the character most deserving of sympathy. This
division of thoughts on where the sympathy should lie is what interests me most. Both
Clytemnestra and Agamemnon present strong arguments on their respective behalves.
My goal is to look into each character’s arguments and then decide for myself who was
just in their act.

Clytemnestra wastes no time in showing her great joy and lack of remorse immediately
after she has killed Agamemnon. Although slightly shocking at first, her initial response
to the Chorus “I pushed the blade into him (…) that was my thanks to God (…) I felt my
whole body exult” (69) showed me that she truly felt just in her act and that she felt no
remorse for what she had just done. The Chorus plays the role of prosecutor here and
continuously questions and attacks her for her crime. Her responses to their
interrogation only further show that she feels one-hundred percent justified in her
actions. When initially called stupid by the Chorus for her celebration over murdering
Agamemnon, Clytemnestra responds by telling them “You are mistaken (…) here is the
hand that Justice contracted.”(71) Yet this claim that it was Justice who has driven the
blade into Agamemnon only further infuriates the Chorus and they again attack her,
calling her a horrid woman and claiming that she will no doubt be driven out of Argos for
what she has done. It is here the Clytemnestra stops purely saying that her actions
were just and finally explains her rational as to why they were.

Clytemnestra now reverses roles with the Chorus and attacks them, asking “where were
you when this monster butchered his daughter on the block?” She recounts to them
how Agamemnon felt it easier to sacrifice his own daughter than one of his precious
cattle so that he could sail in slightly more favorable winds. Her assault continues with
her reminding the Chorus that this horrendous murder was all to please his love-sick
brother and recapture a runaway whore. She then concludes her initial attack by asking
the Chorus “Why didn’t you judge Agamemnon? This man here was the criminal to be
punished and banished” (71)