How does the commitment to acting for our duties and loyalty affect the way we live? In both Agamemnon and Libation Bearers, we see the importance of these aspects to both Clytemnestra and Orestes, for they are willing to murder to attain them. The overarching goals of duty and loyalty lead the characters to violent actions that not only impact their lives, but also the lives of those involved. The importance of pertaining to characteristics and actions that embody those of someone with a sense of duty and loyalty is shown through the violent deeds Clytemnestra and Orestes are willing to commit. In the stories of Clytemnestra and Orestes, we can see both similarities and differences in the ways they demonstrate duty and loyalty through the …show more content…
The most influential component in what drove both of these characters to their actions was their focus on family loyalty. In Clytemnestra's situation, she was demonstrating her loyalty to her murdered daughter by killing her murderer. Clytemnestra said, “ The king hath slain. Yea, for the murdered children’s life, a chieftain's in requital ta’en” (Aeschylus, 46). An added element to the severity of this action was that this murderer happened to be her husband. Clytemnestra, however, seemed to view the situation as that Agamemnon had brought this on himself. Clytemnestra said, “For by the sword his sin he wrought, and by the sword himself is brought among the dead to dwell” (Aeschylus, 47). The fact that is was seen almost as common knowledge that Agamemnon would be murdered himself because he had murdered a loved one suggests that family loyalty was a strong component not only from Clytemnestra’s perspective, but also from the people living in this culture. As readers, we see how important loyalty to family was when Clytemnestra expressed her action not only as righteous, but as expected and necessary. Clytemnestra said,”Lest ill valour meet our vengeance-twas’ a necessary deed”( Aeschylus, 51). However, Clytemnestra's commitment to expressing loyalty to her own flesh and blood overcame any …show more content…
Orestes said, “Dear god, my father degraded so! Oh she’ll pay, she’ll pay by the gods and these bare hands- just let me take her life and die!” (Aeschylus, 196). However, one factor that differentiated Orestes’ reasoning to murder his mother was that the gods were commanding him to do so. Orestes said, “I can still hear the god...unless I hunt my father’s murderers, cut them down in their own style…’Gore them like a bull! He called, ‘or pay the debt with your own life, one long career of grief” (Aeschylus, 191). Throughout Libation Bearers, Orestes continually expresses his love and duty towards his family. Orestes said, “Send us justice, fight for all you love, or help us pin them grip for grip.They threw you- don’t you long to throw them down in return? “ (Aeschylus, 199). As readers, we see that Orestes was committed to being loyal to his father not only to show his love, but also to serve justice. Just as Clytemnestra lost any desire she had to be loyal to Agamemnon after he murdered their daughter, Orestes also lost any need or desire to be loyal to Clytemnestra after she murdered his father. Orestes said, “But she who plotted this horror against her husband, she carried his children, growing in her womb, and she-I loved her once and now I loathe- I have to loathe”(Aeschylus, 222). It is reasonable that both Clytemnestra and Orestes lost