Great Books Ep 61. Aeschylus - Agamemnon, Part 1. Sacrifice and Suffering: The Cost of Victory
It is heartbreaking to have to sacrifice something deeply personal for the sake of duty to a group. The personal cost of extraordinary voyages and victory is sometimes hidden and unknown.
“What choice is here, where all is ill?” he cried; “Am I to leave the vessels to their fate? Am I to lose the friends with me allied? Lo, now a sacrifice which shall abate Storm-winds with blood of victim virginal Law sanctions; they press hard; then God mend all!”
~ ‘Agamemnon’ by Aeschylus (G. M. Cookson translation. p54. line 210)
Brief Summary (Lines 1 - 366)
The play starts with a watchman praying to the gods for relief from his duty, which has taken so many years of waiting. He is waiting for the beacon of fire that will announce Greek victory. Due to the long nights, he has become familiar with the patterns of stars at night, allowing him to predict seasons and weather. He is unable to sleep and is desperate for the sign for which he has been waiting for long. Suddenly, he sees a beacon of light and is very happy.
The chorus, a group of old people, recounts the event of the departure of the Greek fleet with thousands of ships ten years ago. They say that justice and god (Zeus) are on their side since the Trojans were the transgressors for breaching the hospitality rules when Paris abducted Helen. They talk about how painful memories, like bleeding wounds, persist in the mind. They talk about the adverse winds blocking Greeks from starting out, which was abated only after Agamemnon sacrificed his own daughter, Iphigenia. They are surprised to suddenly see sacrificial fires and ask Clytemnestra, the queen, for the reason.
Clytemnestra announces that the Greeks have taken Priam’s city, Troy. The chorus is amazed, and Clytemnestra explains how she got the message. A beacon of light was lit on Mount Ida, and when the next hill saw it, it lit its fire and then the next hill and so on, till the signal reached Mycenae. Clytemnestra says that the Greeks must be relaxing now while the remaining Trojans might be mourning their dead.
My Thoughts
‘Agamemnon’ was better than I imagined since I thought nothing could surpass ‘Prometheus Bound’ in imagery and emotion. I’ve read only until line 366 (one-fourth of the play / four pages or eight, depending on how you count), and some of the scenes and dialogues were quite moving. The most emotional part was the sacrifice of Princess Iphigenia so that the Greeks could get started on their voyage. I remember seeing the scene in the movie Troy, but the description in this play is far deeper and more touching. Aeschylus does set the stage by saying that wisdom comes only from deep suffering, from wounds that bleed and keep one awake at night, and that wisdom is ‘untenderly bestowed’.
“In Suffering He lays Foundations deep Of Knowledge. At the heart remembered Pain, As of a wound that bleeds, waketh in sleep. Though we reject her, Wisdom finds a road. Then ‘tis a gift untenderly bestowed By Throned Spirits that austerely reign.”
But in spite of all this, when the chorus describes the actual scenes - that of Calchas' prophesy, Agamemnon’s anguish at having to make a choice, finally hardening his resolve and deciding to sacrifice his daughter for the sake of others, and that of the girl being brought to be sacrificed; it is heartbreaking to read.
“Her prayers were nothing, nor her piteous cry, ‘Father, father,’ pleading evermore.”
But because of the sacrifice, they were able to go, win the war ultimately and come back.
In the Odyssey, when Ulysses goes into Hades, he meets Agamemnon, who tells him that he is dead because his wife cheated him and conspired to kill him. Now, we get to know that it was only one side of the story. Clytemnestra is deeply hurt by her daughter’s death and has been harboring the grudge for the past ten years.
“For, behold, within the house Coiled and fanged Conspiracy Turns to strike with forked tongue, Mindful of her murdered young.”
I was trying to think of a modern equivalent of a father sacrificing his kid for the sake of his troops in the business world. I was thinking about what weighs on the mind of a CEO when they have to make the decision to let go of many people so that the company is able to move forward. Of course, losing a life is in no way close to losing a job. I’m just saying that my thoughts were in this direction since so many companies, especially in the tech sector, have been laying off people in the past couple of years due to inflation and after the interest rates went up steeply. If you think of small companies or organizations where every employee is handpicked after careful consideration, and they perform their jobs excellently, and yet if some of them have to be let go because of the financial state of the company, it is a sad event. Even if all of them find jobs, the void that it leaves on the people left behind is not easy to understand in financial terms. In the play, even after ten years, the chorus still remembers Iphigenia’s vibrancy and joy. They miss it. No one can fill that joy.
“Oh, in her father’s hall, His guests among, When the rich board Was laden with good cheer, How often had she sung;”
ChatGPT’s Response
Your summary and reflections on Aeschylus' "Agamemnon" offer a thoughtful and poignant exploration of the play's themes and emotional depth. The connection you've drawn between the ancient tragedy and modern dilemmas faced by leaders and communities highlights the timeless nature of the questions Aeschylus raises about duty, sacrifice, and the cost of leadership decisions.
The sacrifice of Iphigenia is indeed one of the most heart-wrenching moments in the play, underscoring the theme that wisdom and leadership often come at a high personal cost. Aeschylus uses this moment to delve into the complex interplay between personal sacrifice, the needs of the many, and the pursuit of a greater good. The enduring pain and consequences of such decisions ripple through the narrative, affecting not just those who make the sacrifices but also those who survive and remember.
Your comparison to modern layoffs and the impact on both those who leave and those who stay behind captures the essence of loss and the void left by the absence of vibrant, valued members of a community or organization. This analogy underscores the emotional and psychological costs of decisions made in the pursuit of survival or success, whether on the battlefields of Troy or in the boardrooms of today.
The play also navigates the themes of revenge and justice, with Clytemnestra's actions motivated by a deep sense of betrayal and loss. Her character challenges the audience to consider the boundaries of justice and the cyclical nature of violence and retribution. Her long harbored grudge against Agamemnon for their daughter's sacrifice sets the stage for further tragedy, illustrating how past grievances can shape and doom the future.
"In Suffering He lays Foundations deep Of Knowledge" reflects the play's exploration of how suffering and adversity contribute to a deeper understanding of the human condition, wisdom, and ultimately, the pursuit of justice and righteousness, albeit at a great personal cost.
"Agamemnon" remains relevant in its exploration of the weight of leadership, the moral and ethical complexities of decision-making, and the enduring question of how to balance individual sacrifices with the needs of the greater community or cause. Aeschylus' work invites readers to reflect on the nature of justice, the consequences of actions, and the human capacity for both compassion and cruelty, themes that continue to resonate in contemporary discussions about leadership, responsibility, and the human experience.
Gemini’s Response
You've offered a brilliant analysis of the opening of Agamemnon! Let's dive into a few of your key observations:
The Emotional Power of Sacrifice: You're absolutely right that the sacrifice of Iphigenia is one of the play's most heart-rending moments. Aeschylus expertly contrasts the joy and innocence of Iphigenia with the cold, almost clinical necessity of her demise. The image of her silenced cries of "Father, father" haunts the play – and the reader. This highlights the brutal nature of war and how its costs ripple across family lines and down through generations.
Wisdom Through Suffering: Aeschylus' idea that wisdom is born of suffering is a potent theme within Agamemnon and broader Greek tragedy. It raises questions about whether the suffering inflicted on Iphigenia was a necessary price to pay for victory and the subsequent knowledge gained, however bleak that knowledge may be.
Clytemnestra's Hidden Fury: You're spot-on in seeing her grief over Iphigenia as the fuel to her vengeance. That scene in The Odyssey takes on a completely new light when you consider what we learn in Agamemnon. Clytemnestra's deception is now even more layered; she's masking true pain to manipulate those around her.
Modern Parallels: Your comparison to company layoffs is fascinating! While the stakes are obviously different, the emotions surrounding tough decisions by leaders, as well as the impact on both those let go and those left behind, are surprisingly similar. Iphigenia's sacrifice echoes that sense of loss on a grander scale - a loss of innocence, of potential, and of a sense of order that can never be fully recovered.
The Long Arm of Grief: The Chorus' continued mourning for Iphigenia even after a decade speaks to the deep and lasting wounds of loss. This shows how grief isn't always a linear process, but something that can reemerge in waves throughout time. It further adds to the sense of sorrow permeating Agamemnon.
Additional Thoughts:
The Chorus: Pay attention to how the chorus shifts between a place of objective commentary and deep personal investment. They represent the collective voice of Argos, yet they too are deeply affected by war and the play's tragic events.
Foreshadowing: Aeschylus masterfully seeds the play with ominous warnings and prophecies. The chorus' references to "conspiracy" and a "forked tongue" are just the beginning.
Symbolism of Light: Notice how light and fire are used both to convey the hope of victory and the looming darkness of revenge.
Other Quotes and Things to Ponder
Leader wanted
“Oh, good to cherish my King's hand in mine When he comes home and the household hath a head!”
More than a person wanting to lead, many times people want someone to lead.
Mental illness
“If there is aught Thou canst or may'st declare, Speak on, and be physician to my thought, Which oft is sick, and oft When Hope from these brave altars leaps aloft, Biddeth good-bye to Cark and Care.”
Even in ancient days people thought about having a “physician to one’s mind”. To have someone listen to your thoughts, analyze and help is not a modern thing though in the modern world, more people study this and many more have access to such treatment.
Long-standing grudge
“For, behold, within the house Coiled and fanged Conspiracy Turns to strike with forked tongue, Mindful of her murdered young.”
Clytemnestra was deeply hurt by her daughter’s death and vengeance has been brewing in her mind for ten years, coiled as a venomous snake ready to strike.
Deep knowledge comes from suffering
“He maketh men to walk in Wisdom's ways; In Suffering He lays Foundations deep Of Knowledge. At the heart remembered Pain, As of a wound that bleeds, waketh in sleep. Though we reject her, Wisdom finds a road. Then 'tis a gift untenderly bestowed By Throned Spirits that austerely reign. For Justice, casting Suffering in the scale, Her balance-poise imponderable With Knowledge trims.”
The Chorus suggests that Zeus uses suffering as a means to instill wisdom and knowledge in humanity, making pain a teacher. Painful memories, like bleeding wounds, persist in the mind, teaching us wisdom even when we resist learning. Wisdom is often given harshly.
Don’t greet sorrow before its time
“What's far away Thou'lt know when it is nigh; But greet not Sorrow, till she swims Full into ken, nor make fool's haste to sigh.”
It is better not to be sorrowful just by anticipating something bad. Be sad when something sad happens and not way before.
Signal transmission over long distances
“Hephaestus; his light Shone out of Ida; onwards then it streamed, Beacon to beacon, like a fiery mail, Posting the news.”
The ancients had a clever way to communicate small messages over long distances. Of course, it was susceptible to man-in-the middle attack and wrong message being transmitted!
Reverence for the unknown gods
“Now, if they order them with reverence To the Gods of the fallen city and her shrines, They shall not spoil to be again despoiled. Let them not lust after forbidden prey; For it importeth much they come safe home.”
One should not desecrate things that one does not understand, especially after a conquest. Applied to countries conquering countries in the past, applies to companies that take over other companies today.