Clytemnestra

The theme of revenge in Clytemnestra is a central force in the narrative, reflecting the interplay of personal vendettas, cycles of violence, and societal expectations. While this theme illustrates Clytemnestra’s personal journey, it also forms a broader commentary on the gendered perceptions of power and vengeance in ancient Greek society. The opening verse at the beginning of Part 1 highlights the complex double standards that Clytemnestra must face, for it states:

There is no peace for a woman with ambition / No love for a woman with a crown / She loves too much she is lustful / Her power is too strong she is ruthless / She fights for vengeance she is mad / Kings are brilliant mighty godlike / Queens are deadly shameless accursed (1).

This opening verse highlights the fact that ambition and the pursuit of vengeance are perceived differently, depending upon whether a man or a woman is the one seeking power or justice. Kings are lauded for their might and brilliance, while queens who pursue similar goals are condemned. This dichotomy underscores the novel’s exploration of the societal constraints placed on women, particularly those who occupy positions of power. Within this philosophical context, Casati reframes Clytemnestra’s quest for revenge as more than a mere a personal vendetta. Instead, her journey becomes a greater rebellion against the societal norms that seek to vilify and constrain her actions.

Casati’s narrative therefore portrays Clytemnestra as more than a vengeful woman, for her actions are fueled by the many injustices she has endured. This passage highlights the duality of her character, marking her as a figure both revered and feared, and her loyalty to her supporters contrasts with her savagery toward her adversaries. Her vengeance is a means to assert her authority and reestablish her position in a patriarchal society that continuously seeks to undermine her. Furthermore, her love for her daughter Iphigenia, and the agony of the girl’s demise at the hands of her father propels Clytemnestra into a relentless pursuit of vengeance. The novel therefore depicts love as a powerful motivator that can drive individuals to extreme measures, especially when mingled with grief and outrage.

In the context of the novel, violence begets violence, creating an endless cycle of suffering that reflects the narrative patterns of the ancient Greek tragedies, in which characters find themselves caught in a web of fate and prophecy. While Clytemnestra’s actions are a means to assert control and seek justice, her murder of Agamemnon perpetuates this cycle. Significantly, the novel does not offer a straightforward solution to this cycle of violence but instead portrays it as a tragic inevitability, and the characters remain deeply enmeshed in a narrative driven by prophecy and fate. The conclusion therefore suggests that their actions are ultimately part of a larger, predestined scheme. This portrayal aligns with the ethos of Greek tragedy, in which the leading characters are often doomed to fulfill the very destinies they seek to avoid.

The narrative of Clytemnestra thus serves as a reflection on the themes of vengeance, power, and the inescapable nature of fate. Clytemnestra’s struggles are those of a woman who must forge her own bold path within the confines of a patriarchal society. Although she is shackled by a society that denies women the right to pursue the same degree of power as their male counterparts, Clytemnestra becomes a revered leader and a feared avenger, underscoring the novel’s critical examination of the double standards that exist in patriarchal cultures. Moreover, the narrative weaves the themes of love and loss with the relentless cycle of violence, suggesting that the quest for vengeance, while deeply personal, is also a testament to the Greek notion that human life is shaped by fate and prophecy.