Essay on "Power of the Gods Demonstrated in Agamemnon"
Essay 4 pages (1166 words) Sources: 1 Style: MLA
[EXCERPT] . . . .
Power of the Gods Demonstrated in AgamemnonOne of the predominant themes in Agamemnon is that of obeying the will of the gods. The gods are fickle and often hypocritical, but they also have the power to exact revenge upon humans that break their laws. With the character of Zeus, we see how this revenge becomes an integral aspect of the play. Zeus is the enforcer in Agamemnon and the primary agent of his will is. Zeus utilizes characters in the play to impose his will is Clytaemestra. While we might think that Agamemnon would be able to enjoy the fruits of his victories, he must deal with the retribution of the gods instead. It is known that the gods have no tolerance for those that transgress, and they are "deaf / to the one who turns to crime, they tear him down" (397-8) and Agamemnon is the best example of this as he must suffer the consequences of his actions. The gods are an essential aspect of the play because we know that, in the end, their hands govern all actions and all outcomes. Man may have free will but that generally turns out to be to his detriment as Agamemnon demonstrates.
All wrongs must be addressed and the wrongdoer must pay a price for his or her crime. The Chorus explains how Zeus lays down the law and those who transgress against it will "suffer into truth" (Aeschylus 179). Perhaps the most powerful example of this kind of suffering occurs with Agamemnon. While he is the king and does defeat Troy, his success is overshadowed by the sins of his father and his own sins. Agamemnon is doomed for a life of pain and suffering even before he is born. The retribution of the gods is linked to the house of Atreus before Agamemnon's birth and because sin must be a
download full paper ⤓
Agamemnon is not the only character in the play that ignites the fury of the gods. The sins of Paris infect the play and set the mood and tone for most of the plot. Zeus' law of hospitality was violated when Paris abducted Helen. This is revealed at the beginning of the play when the Chorus explains how Paris "shamed the tables spread for guests" (401). Helen, too, is condemned for leaving her house in "chaos" (403). The Trojan War becomes an outlet for Zeus' punishment as he employs the recklessness of Agamemnon on Troy. We read, "God takes aim / at the ones who murder many" (455-6). Here we see that it is widely known that sin rarely goes unpunished. Agamemnon becomes an agent of Zeus as demonstrated in the conquest of Troy but that victory is short-lived due to the fact that Agamemnon sacrifices his daughter in order… READ MORE
Quoted Instructions for "Power of the Gods Demonstrated in Agamemnon" Assignment:
The essay has to be from 1200 to 1500 words. It is about "Agamemnon" by Aeschylus, but it can only be the Norton Anthology of World Literature translation. I can send this to you if you don't have it. The essay needs a thesis and also needs to be supported by at least 4 quotations from "Agamemnon" which again is located in the Norton Anthology of World Literature. As for a thesis, I was leaning towards the rules that Zeus puts forth in society (even though they aren't set in stone) which are 1. Do not commit blasphemy 2. Do not kill family 3. Always be hospitable. I was thinking that when one character breaks a rule another character becomes an agent of Zeus and punishes the character who broke the rule. This was just my first idea, but it can be changed around as well. The quotations that are being used to support this have to be cited just with a page number in parentheses followed by a period. I'm not sure if this is standard MLA citation or my english teacher's creation so this is what she wants it to look like "Quote from Agamemnon" (14). If the quote is more than four lines please single space it and indent it on both sides. A bibliography is not needed just the citations. Thank you for all the help. I would appreciate if you used my thesis, but I have no problem with you makeing changes to it for a more cohesive argument.
How to Reference "Power of the Gods Demonstrated in Agamemnon" Essay in a Bibliography
“Power of the Gods Demonstrated in Agamemnon.” A1-TermPaper.com, 2008, https://www.a1-termpaper.com/topics/essay/power-gods-demonstrated/2197. Accessed 5 Oct 2024.
Related Essays:
Storytelling in Odyssey Book Report
Storytelling in "The Odyssey"
Storytelling not only shapes the Odyssey, it demonstrates the power of storytelling. Homer was not simply telling a story, he manipulated the art of storytelling to… read more
Book Report 6 pages (1670 words) Sources: 1 Topic: Mythology / Folklore / Science Fiction
Translating the Iliad Into More Contemporary Language Term Paper
Translating the Iliad into more contemporary language, with a dramatic change in setting presents many challenges. The first is to decide the degree to which the work needs to be… read more
Term Paper 20 pages (6546 words) Sources: 1 Topic: Language / Linguistics
Grendel and Lucifer: Both Grendel, the Monster Essay
Grendel and Lucifer: Both Grendel, the monster of the epic Beowulf, and Lucifer of Milton's Paradise Lost are outsider characters. Grendel is rejected by society because of his ugliness, so… read more
Essay 4 pages (1652 words) Sources: 0 Topic: Literature / Poetry
Hero? The Definition of "Hero" Has Changed Journal
hero?
The definition of "hero" has changed quite radically over the centuries. Today, there seems to be two types of hero: the "action hero" type displayed most prominently in films… read more
Journal 10 pages (2709 words) Sources: 0 Topic: Literature / Poetry
Figurative Language in Leda and the Swan by Yeats 1928 Term Paper
Leda and the Swan
Rhetorical Analysis of "Leda and the Swan"
The Irish poet W.B. Yeats' poem "Leda and the Swan" revolves around a literary allusion to the myth of… read more
Term Paper 2 pages (681 words) Sources: 1 Topic: Sexuality / Gender
Sat, Oct 5, 2024
If you don't see the paper you need, we will write it for you!
We can write a new, 100% unique paper!