Clytemnestra

Clytemnestra revisits the well-trodden paths of Greek mythology and history, but with a distinct focus on the character of Clytemnestra rather than the male figures who dominate the original narratives. In Greek mythology, Clytemnestra is known as the wife of Agamemnon, who rules Mycenae. She is also the sister of the infamous Helen of Troy. Clytemnestra’s story is intrinsically linked to the Trojan War and is primarily portrayed through the works of ancient Greek tragedians such as Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides.

In a sharp contrast to the patriarchal focus of the ancient Greek source material, Casati’s novel explores the deeper nuances of Clytemnestra’s life; the tale begins with her upbringing in Sparta and her first marriage to Tantalus, the king of Maeonia, and goes on to describe the tragic loss of her husband and child and her eventual marriage to Agamemnon. While Casati remains true to the details of the original mythology, she challenges the classical characterization of Clytemnestra as a vengeful and murderous figure. Rather than vilifying the character outright, Casati’s narrative seeks to delve into the hidden aspects of Clytemnestra’s psyche, providing a more nuanced understanding of her motivations and actions.

In classical Greek mythology, Clytemnestra is primarily known for her role as the wife of Agamemnon, the commander of the Greek forces in the Trojan War. As the daughter of Leda and Tyndareus, Clytemnestra has experienced a life marked by betrayal, treachery, and murder. The seeds of her eventual vengeance are sown when Agamemnon sacrifices their daughter, Iphigenia, to appease the goddess Artemis and secure favorable winds so that the Greek forces may sail to Troy. This act of sacrifice leaves an indelible mark of grief and rage on Clytemnestra, fundamentally altering her character and setting her on a path of revenge.

During Agamemnon’s absence in the 10-year war, Clytemnestra takes his cousin, Aegisthus, as her lover. When Agamemnon returns from Troy, Clytemnestra and Aegisthus successfully conspire to murder him. However, this act of vengeance does not go unpunished, for her son, Orestes, avenges his father’s death by killing both Aegisthus and Clytemnestra, with the assistance of his sister, Electra. This cycle of revenge and murder encapsulates the tragic essence of Clytemnestra’s character and the overarching themes of Greek tragedy.

Clytemnestra’s depiction in ancient literature varies considerably, with playwrights like Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides presenting different facets of her character. For example, in Aeschylus’s Oresteia trilogy, Clytemnestra is portrayed as a woman driven to murder for multiple reasons: to exact revenge for Iphigenia’s death, to remain true to her love for Aegisthus, and to fulfill the curse on Agamemnon’s family, the House of Atreus. The complexities of her character often result in paradoxical depictions that present her as both a victim of her circumstances and an agent of her own fate.

However, Clytemnestra’s story is not limited to a quest for personal revenge. It also reflects the broader Greek notions of justice, familial duty, and the consequences of one’s actions. Her actions and their repercussions speak to the intricate and often brutal world of Greek mythology, where gods and mortals alike are bound by fate and their own choices. The notion of fate and destiny plays a prominent role in Greek mythology, as characters are often unable to escape their predetermined paths. In such narratives, the concept of “miasma” is a recurring theme. This idea reflects the ancient Greek belief that if a murder remained unavenged, the gods would send a widespread contagion or curse to ravage all those associated with the wrongdoer. This concept was often applied to a specific family, emphasizing the idea that violent actions have far-reaching and often tragic consequences.

In a further extension of this idea, Greek mythology often explores the tension between personal justice and societal norms. For example, Clytemnestra’s act of vengeance is both a personal quest for justice and a transgression against societal and familial expectations. This duality represents a common motif in Greek tragedies, for the characters often grapple with their roles within the family and society. Furthermore, the repercussions of Clytemnestra’s actions illustrate the unforeseen consequences of a single, disastrous choice, for her murder of Agamemnon (or arguably, Agamemnon’s initial murder of her daughter) initiates a chain of events that leads to Clytemnestra’s death at the hands of her son, Orestes. This cycle of revenge and retribution underscores the interconnectedness of actions and consequences and is a common theme throughout Greek mythology.

Set against this rich mythological backdrop, Casati’s novel reimagines Clytemnestra’s story from a feminist perspective, transcending the titular character’s limited role as the vengeful wife of Agamemnon to explore her greater stature as a woman who must navigating a barrage of personal tragedies and find a viable path through the limitations of a patriarchal society. The story therefore examines themes of power, betrayal, and the roles of women in ancient Greek society. By emphasizing and enhancing Clytemnestra’s perspective, Casati deliberately and thoughtfully expands the traditional narrative, which is often dominated by the exploits of male heroes and their comrades.