Classical Wisdom Litterae - January 2021

XLI “Might you have vowed to the gods, in danger, such an act?” Then by appeal ing to his ego as the vanquisher of the King of Troy: “Imagine Priam conqueror: what would he have done?” And finally, brilliantly, by asking that he humor the whim of a ‘foolish’ woman: “Yield! You are victor: give me too my victory.” Her success in dialogue and trickery put her in the ascendancy over Agamemnon who is not only guilty in the eyes of the gods, but has also shown to his citizens that he is doomed by his own arrogance, by his god- like behavior.. Nor is this a one-off. He has taken Cassandra as his concubine when she had previously refused the advances of the mighty Apollo. It’s almost as if Agamemnon is wearing a ‘What Would Zeus Do’ wristband which he consults before each of his foolish and despicable acts. As Agamemnon steps foot on the tapestries, Cl y temnes t ra l et s out a “ pro l onged , triumphant cry”. Agamemnon’s fate is sealed. “ It ’ s almo st as if Agamemnon is wearing a ‘ What Would Zeus Do ’ wri st band which he consults before each of his foolish and despicable acts. ” Clytemnestra, by John Collier

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NjYyNDky