Looking at Agamemnon

Description

Agamemnon is the first of the three plays within the Oresteia trilogy and is considered to be one of Aeschylus' greatest works. This collection of 12 essays, written by prominent international academics, brings together a wide range of topics surrounding Agamemnon from its relationship with ancient myth and ritual to its modern reception. There is a diverse array of discussion on the salient themes of murder, choice and divine agency. Other essays also offer new approaches to understanding the notions of wealth and the natural world which imbue the play, as well as a study of the philosophical and moral questions of choice and revenge. Arguments are contextualized in terms of performance, history and society, discussing what the play meant to ancient audiences and how it is now received in the modern theatre. Intended for readers ranging from school students and undergraduates to teachers and those interested in drama (including practitioners), this volume includes a performer-friendly and accessible English translation by David Stuttard Cover page Halftitle page Series page Title page Copyright page Contents Contributors Foreword Introduction: Agamemnon in Context David Stuttard The myth of Agamemnon and the House of Atreus The Oresteia Life of Aeschylus Staging Agamemnon Translating Agamemnon Notes 1 Eating Children Is Bad for You: The Off spring of the Past in Aeschylus’ Agamemnon Edith Hall The infancy of humankind The Erinyes and the family curse The off spring of the past Eating children The imagery of reproduction Natural law and jungle law Notes 2 Agamemnon at Aulis: Hard Choice or No Choice? Alan H. Sommerstein Notes 3 The Homecoming of Agamemnon Alex F. Garvie Notes 4 Clytemnestra and Cassandra Hanna M. Roisman The Cassandra scene How do the two women engage? Myth and image commonalities Thematic commonalities Conclusion Notes 5 Ritual in Agamemnon Richard Seaford Note 6 Let the Good Prevail Sophie Mills Notes 7 Agency in Agamemnon Robert Garland Notes 8 Wealth and Injustice in Agamemnon Michael Carroll Notes 9 ‘There is the sea – who can drain it dry? ’Natural and Unnatural Cycles in Agamemnon Rush Rehm The fire speech: Bridging the gap The war at Troy: Triumphant illusions Blessings, curses, and open borders Notes 10 Similes and Other Likenesses in Aeschylus’ Agamemnon Anna Uhlig Notes 11 Agamemnon , Warfare and Its Aftermath Isabelle Torrance Human sacrifice Ordinary soldiers Slavery and rape Looking at modern warfare through Agamemnon Notes 12 Revenge for Murder Seen through Modern Eyes: Recent Reception of Aeschylus’ Oresteia Betine van Zyl Smit Berkoff’s Agamemnon Molora Agamemnon’s Return Notes Aeschylus’ Agamemnon translated by David Stuttard The Characters of the Drama Bibliography Index