Clytemnestra In The Odyssey

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In “The Odyssey,” the depiction of Clytemnestra matches traits of Pandora. Clytemnestra allows the murder of Agamemnon by Aegisthus, thus losing her fidelity to him. Even after Agamemnon returns home from a harsh battle and journey, he is met by a terrible death. While this act would generally allow condemnation of Clytemnestra, it is Aegisthus who takes most of the blame. He alone is attributed to the creation of the plot to murder Agamemnon. Homer writes, “So monstrous was the crime he planned and committed” (Od. 289). As terrible as it may have been for his wife to allow this to occur, she is not given much blame. Her name is actually rarely mentioned in the Odyssey during discussion of the terrible event. This is a result of the fact that …show more content…
295-297)
This was not in worry that she was not faithful, but that the inherent desirability passed on by Pandora would lead to such treachery. When the placement of the guard failed, it naturally followed that this would happen. As expected, Clytemnestra was initially faithful and as Homer puts it, “At first she refused/ The whole sordid affair. She has good sense…” (Od. 293-294). By this interpretation, narrative agency is given to Aegisthus because Clytemnestra’s nature was seductive and attracted a replacement. Similarly, Odysseus faces many similar problems with his wife, Penelope. As Odysseus is trapped on an island in The Odyssey, Penelope deals with suitors who have occupied her home. By the end of the story, Penelope is cherished for her fidelity in keeping the suitors from marrying her. Penelope’s character makes clear the fact that it is not easy to maintain fidelity. The suitors all attempt to marry her and it is through her cunning that she prevents the suitors from marrying her. This quality is one closely associated with Pandora. Indeed, when Penelope son, Telemachus, scolds the suitors, they respond,
“It’s not the suitors
Who are at fault, but your own

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