Clytemnestra Character Analysis in Iphigenia at Aulis

Agamemnon’s wife, queen of Mycenae, and mother to Iphigeneia and Orestes. Like several other characters in the play, such as Achilles, the Clytemnestra presented in Iphigeneia at Aulis is very different than the version of Clytemnestra who appears in later Greek myths. The play is in many ways Clytemnestra’s origin story: watching her husband lie and betray her, willingly sacrifice their eldest daughter, and prioritize the pursuit of pride and glory for Greece over the safety of their own family will eventually push Clytemnestra into rage, vengeance, and even madness. Throughout the play, however, Clytemnestra is too shocked and devastated to even be truly angry about having been led to Aulis under false pretenses; her focus, as a mother, is on saving Iphigeneia’s life rather than exacting revenge on Agamemnon. A devoted parent who puts her children’s wellbeing above her own at all times—unlike her selfish, prideful husband—Clytemnestra has no drive toward the pride and stoicism her husband and his brother Menelaos claim to value. She is willing to prostrate herself before the great warrior Achilles, to beg for the help of the old man who has been her slave for years, and to tempt the rage of the gods, the Grecian armies, and the legions of men at her husband’s command rather than give up what is “most dear” to her: her daughter. In the end, Clytemnestra’s pleas for sanity and nonviolence are drowned out even by Iphigeneia, who willingly marches to her death at the altar in hopes that her sacrifice will allow Greece to win the Trojan War. Clytemnestra is devastated by her daughter’s choice—and even when a messenger reports that Iphigeneia has been spared by Artemis and brought up to heaven, Clytemnestra remains stoic, quiet, and simmering with a rage that foreshadows the bloody revenge she’ll exact later on in her own personal narrative.

Clytemnestra Quotes in Iphigenia at Aulis

The Iphigenia at Aulis quotes below are all either spoken by Clytemnestra or refer to Clytemnestra . For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

War, Sacrifice, Pride, and Glory Theme Icon

THE OLD MAN: Atreus did not
sire you, Agamemnon, into a world
of pure happiness. You must expect
to suffer as well as rejoice,
since you're a man.
And the gods will see to that, whether
you like it or not.

Related Characters: The Old Man (speaker), Clytemnestra , Agamemnon

Page Number and Citation: Lines 33-40

Explanation and Analysis:

In this passage, spoken by the old man (a longtime servant of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra) Euripides explores more deeply the role that fate and choice play in the lives of all Ancient Greeks. Commoners like the old man, as well as nobles like Agamemnon, all believe that the gods “see to” their fates and decides their destinies, “whether [they] like it or not.” As the play unfolds, Euripides will examine the ways in which almost all of his characters feel completely helpless in the face of the signs and messages they receive from the gods and their oracles—and the ways Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consecte

CLYTEMNESTRA: Son of a goddess, I, a mortal,
am not ashamed to clasp your knees. What good
would pride do me now? What matters more to me
than my daughter's life?

Related Characters: Clytemnestra (speaker), Achilles, Iphigeneia , Agamemnon

Page Number and Citation: Lines 1231-1234

Explanation and Analysis:

In this passage, Clytemnestra has just learned from her servant that her husband, Agamemnon, plans to sacrifice their daughter Iphigeneia to the goddess Artemis. Agamemnon has lured Clytemnestra and Iphigeneia to Aulis under false pretenses by promising Iphigeneia’s marriage to the warrior Achilles. Buckling under the tragic weight of what she’s learned, Clytemnestra falls to her knees and clasps Achilles’s legs, begging him to help her spare her daughter’s life. This passage is significant because it shows how Clytemnestra understands her role as a woman—she must rely on a man to help her—and her relationships to the concepts of duty, Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaq

ACHILLES: Pride rises up in me
and draws me on. But I have learned
to curb my grief in adversity, and my joy
in triumph.
Mortals who have learned this
can hope to live by reason.

Related Characters: Achilles (speaker), Clytemnestra , Iphigeneia , Agamemnon

Page Number and Citation: Lines 1265-1270

Explanation and Analysis:

In this passage, Achilles has just learned of the fact that Agamemnon has, without his permission, used Achilles’s name behind his back in order to lure Iphigeneia to Aulis by claiming she was to be married to the great warrior. Achilles is offended that his name would be used without his consent and he is angered by Agamemnon’s betrayal of his own child—yet here, Achilles declares his intent to “curb” his wild emotions and stay calm. Achilles is a great warrior and the son of a goddess; he has the respect of his fellow men and all the armies who Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut a

ACHILLES: I will be watching, in the right place.
You will not have to be stared at
hunting through the troops to find me. Do nothing
that would disgrace your fathers.
Tyndareos should not suffer shame.
He was a great man in Greece.

Related Characters: Achilles (speaker), Clytemnestra , Agamemnon , Iphigeneia

Page Number and Citation: Lines 1408-1413

Explanation and Analysis:

After Clytemnestra begs Achilles to help her convince Agamemnon—through reason or through force—to spare Iphigeneia’s life, Achilles suggests that Clytemnestra should attempt to talk to Agamemnon first and reason with him. In this passage, Achilles promises to stay nearby while Clytemnestra confronts her treasonous husband—but although he has sworn to help Clytemnestra, his speech toward her is still tinged with reminders that this is a man’s world and that Clytemnestra’s primary role within it is to “do nothing / that would disgrace [her fore]fathers.” Achilles is careful to remind Clytemnestra to stay in her place and not enter the tent Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error.

CHORUS: But you, Iphigeneia, on your
lovely hair the Argives will set
a wreath, as on the brows
of a spotted heifer, led down
from caves in the mountains
to the sacrifice,
and the knife will open the throat
and let the blood of a girl.
And you were not
brought up to the sound of the shepherd's pipe
and the cries of the herdsmen,
but nurtured by your mother
to be a bride for one of great Inachos’ sons.
Oh where is the noble face
of modesty, or the strength of virtue, now
that blasphemy is in power
and men have put justice
behind them, and there is no law but lawlessness,
and none join in fear of the gods?

Related Characters: Chorus of Chalkidian Women (speaker), Iphigeneia , Clytemnestra , Artemis, Achilles

Page Number and Citation: Lines 1455-1473

Explanation and Analysis:

Here, the chorus of Chalkidian women, which has been commenting upon the action throughout the duration of the play, steps forward to lament Iphigeneia’s cruel fate as a sacrifice to the goddess Artemis. The women’s speech engages with many of the play’s major thematic ideas. Their words are florid and their speech is reverent, which makes it seem at first as if they are describing Iphigeneia’s march to glory as she heads to the sacrificial altar—but parsing their language further reveals that they are comparing Iphigeneia to a cow that is to be sacrificed, lamenting that “the blood of a Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore i

AGAMEMNON: Oh immovable law of heaven! Oh my
anguish, my relentless fate!

CLYTEMNESTRA: Yours? Mine. Hers. No relenting for any of us.

Related Characters: Agamemnon (speaker), Clytemnestra (speaker), Iphigeneia , Artemis

Page Number and Citation: 1526-1528

Explanation and Analysis:

In this passage, Clytemnestra confronts her husband, Agamemnon, about his deceit of her and their daughter Iphigeneia and about his plans to sacrifice Iphigeneia to the goddess Artemis. Faced with his deceptions and cruelties against his own family, Agamemnon curses his “relentless fate” and declares the “immovable law of heaven” responsible for his suffering and loss of control over his own life. Clytemnestra stoically and shortly points out that Agamemnon is not the only one who suffers at the hands of fate—she and Iphigeneia, too, are unable to control their circumstances. Clytemnestra’s statement also implies that as women, she and Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium r

IPHIGENEIA: And now you want to kill me. Oh, in the name
of Pelops, of your father
Atreus, of my mother, suffering here
again as at my birth, do not let it happen.

Related Characters: Iphigeneia (speaker), Agamemnon , Clytemnestra

Page Number and Citation: Lines 1653-1656

Explanation and Analysis:

In this passage, as Iphigeneia begs her father, Agamemnon, outright to spare her life, she uses a rhetorical strategy that she knows (or at least hopes) will appeal to her father’s worldview. Iphigenia knows that Agamemnon means to sacrifice her in order to secure Greece’s glory in the coming war against Troy, but she attempts here to show her father that in killing her, he may actually do the opposite of bringing glory onto their house’s name. She begs him “in the name” of his father and grandfather, Atreus and Pelops, to let her live. This passage demonstrates that Iphigeneia Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibu

IPHIGENEIA: It is hard to hold out against the inevitable. […]
Now mother, listen to the conclusion
that I have reached. I have made up my mind to die.
I want to come to it
with glory. […]
You brought me into the world for the sake
of everyone in my country.

Related Characters: Iphigeneia (speaker), Clytemnestra

Page Number and Citation: Lines 1839-1864

Explanation and Analysis:

Up until this point, Iphigeneia has been railing against her fate and those who have influenced it, begging her father to spare her, and lamenting the cruelty women face in a world dominated by men. Here, however, Iphigeneia makes a quick decision to stop “hold[ing] out against the inevitable” and give her life for Greece. She wants to die in “glory” and she has decided to reframe her entire conception of her life and its purpose in order to convince herself to continue on the path toward exaltation and fame. In reality, Iphigeneia is resigning herself to a terrible fate Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae volupt

IPHIGENEIA: If it means that one man can see the sunlight
what are the lives of thousands of women
in the balance? And if Artemis
demands the offering of my body,
I am a mortal: who am I
to oppose the goddess? It is not to be
considered. I give my life to Greece.

Related Characters: Iphigeneia (speaker), Clytemnestra , Achilles, Artemis, Agamemnon

Page Number and Citation: Lines 1880-1886

Explanation and Analysis:

As Iphigeneia continues her lengthy speech about her decision to willingly offer herself up as a sacrifice to Artemis, she speaks about the role of women’s lives in a world of men. Iphigeneia’s conclusions in this passage can be viewed two ways: they can be taken literally at face value, or they can be seen as her desperately satirizing a world which forces her to place her own life at a lesser value than the lives of the men around her. Either way, there doesn’t seem to be any doubt that Euripides is using this passage to highlight the unfairness Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque

MESSENGER: And the miracle happened. Everyone
distinctly heard the sound of the knife
striking, but no one could see
the girl. She had vanished.
The priest cried out, and the whole army
echoed him, seeing
what some god had sent, a thing
nobody could have prophesied. There it was,
we could see it, but we could scarcely
believe it: a deer
lay there gasping, a large
beautiful animal, and its blood ran
streaming over the altar of the goddess.

Related Characters: A Messenger (speaker), Clytemnestra , Iphigeneia , Agamemnon , Kalchas, Artemis

Related Symbols: The Deer

Page Number and Citation: Lines 2121-2133

Explanation and Analysis:

Toward the end of the play, after Iphigeneia has gone willingly to meet her father at the sacrificial altar, a messenger returns to Clytemnestra to relay to her a miraculous piece of news. As the messenger describes Iphigeneia’s salvation at the altar, Euripides employs a deus ex machina, or unlikely last-minute solution to an impossible problem. Artemis replaces Iphigeneia with a deer at the very moment of sacrifice—and because deer are the animals sacred to Artemis, and because Artemis stalled the winds in Aulis after Agamemnon offended her by killing one on his way to the port, her gift of Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut a

Clytemnestra Character Timeline in Iphigenia at Aulis

The timeline below shows where the character Clytemnestra appears in Iphigenia at Aulis. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...it. The old man reminds Agamemnon that he’s known him for years—he is Agamemnon’s wife, Clytemnestra’s, slave and he was even in their wedding party. (full context)

The Roles of Women in the World of Men Theme Icon

Agamemnon reflects on his family’s history. His wife, Clytemnestra, is the daughter of Leda and Tyndareos. Clytemnestra’s sister Helen is now the catalyst behind... (full context)

...his own daughter—but Menelaos begged his brother for help. Agamemnon has sent a letter to Clytemnestra asking her to send Iphigeneia to Aulis under false pretenses. He is claiming that the... (full context)

...Agamemnon to read the new letter aloud. Agamemnon reads the simple letter aloud: it asks Clytemnestra to keep Iphigeneia at home. The old man asks if Achilles will be angry if... (full context)

...help him, a messenger enters and announces that Iphigeneia has arrived along with her mother, Clytemnestra, and her younger brother, Orestes. The messenger says he knows Agamemnon will be happy at... (full context)

Clytemnestra, Iphigeneia, and Orestes, escorted by a chorus of attendants, arrive in a chariot. The chorus... (full context)

...of attendants removes the gifts comprising Iphigeneia’s dowry from the chariot and carries them inside, Clytemnestra gives a speech in which she fawns over her children. She tells the sleeping infant... (full context)

Agamemnon turns to face his wife, Clytemnestra. He begs her forgiveness for his show of grief over Iphigeneia’s “marriage.” Clytemnestra tells Agamemnon... (full context)

Clytemnestra asks if Agamemnon has made the required sacrifice to the gods on Iphigeneia’s behalf, and... (full context)

Agamemnon laments having failed to send Clytemnestra away—now, she will be a direct witness to his terrible deceit. He goes off to... (full context)

Clytemnestra exits the tent and introduces herself, greeting Achilles warmly. Achilles, however, is disgusted to see... (full context)

Suddenly, a voice from inside calls to both Clytemnestra and Achilles—it is the old man. He asks if anyone is outside with them. They... (full context)

The old man laments the terrible fate that Iphigeneia and Clytemnestra now face but he also expresses sympathy for the “monstrous decision” Agamemnon has been forced... (full context)

Clytemnestra falls to her knees, grasps Achilles’s legs, and begs the “son of a goddess” to... (full context)

...of anger, he has learned “to curb [his] grief in adversity.” He promises to help Clytemnestra—he will not let Iphigeneia be slaughtered by her father. If Iphigeneia were to die now,... (full context)

Clytemnestra thanks Achilles for his loyalty and kindness. She admits that while she is ashamed to... (full context)

Achilles tells Clytemnestra he has a plan. He suggests she go to Agamemnon herself, tell him she’s learned... (full context)

Clytemnestra comes out from the tent and declares that she cannot find her husband. Iphigeneia has... (full context)

Agamemnon asks Iphigeneia why she is crying and obscuring herself from his gaze. Clytemnestra steps forward to explain but then she declares that she “cannot think where to start... (full context)

Clytemnestra rails against Agamemnon. She reminds him that he killed her first husband, Tantalos, and the... (full context)

Iphigeneia then takes Orestes back from Clytemnestra and presents him to Agamemnon, begging the child to cry. She hopes that with his... (full context)

Clytemnestra angrily chastises her husband for running away from the daughter he has decided to give... (full context)

Iphigeneia calls out: she can see a group of men approaching. Clytemnestra looks into the distance and sees Achilles drawing near. Iphigeneia tries to hurry inside. When... (full context)

...for Iphigeneia’s sacrifice and Achilles’s own death for his part in trying to save her. Clytemnestra is scandalized to learn that the Greeks would’ve rebelled against one of their proudest soldiers,... (full context)

As the shouting draws nearer, Achilles staunchly promises to protect Clytemnestra and Iphigeneia to his last breath—even if thousands of men, led by the powerful Odysseus,... (full context)

Iphigeneia turns to the weeping Clytemnestra, begging her not to shed any more tears. She asks her mother for a favor.... (full context)

Clytemnestra hands Orestes to Iphigeneia and tells her to say goodbye to her brother. Iphigeneia embraces... (full context)

Clytemnestra offers to lead Iphigeneia to the altar, but Iphigeneia insists Clytemnestra stay behind—she would rather... (full context)

...is looking forward to her journey to a new home. She exits with her attendant. Clytemnestra, carrying Orestes, goes into Agamemnon’s tent. (full context)

A messenger enters and calls for Clytemnestra to come out and receive a message. Clytemnestra exits the tent, carrying Orestes and “shaking... (full context)

...sail upon. The messenger reports that Iphigeneia has been “taken up into heaven,” and thus Clytemnestra’s grief should be quieted and her hatred of her husband should come to an end.... (full context)

...are ready to sail for Troy at last. Agamemnon confirms the messenger’s tale and bids Clytemnestra return home with Orestes. He promises to write her from Troy but warns her that... (full context)

Clytemnestra Character Analysis

Clytemnestra Quotes in Iphigenia at Aulis

Iphigeneia at Aulis Quotes

Clytemnestra Character Timeline in Iphigenia at Aulis