Please read Aeschylus' Agamemnon (pp. 37-76 of Levi Lind's Ten Greek Plays in Contemporary Translation).Directors sometimes encourage their actors to choose one special line and to center their whole performance on building to and building off that line. Assume you are asked to play one of the characters in Agamemnon or to be a member of the chorus. What line would you choose for your "special" line? How would you build up to or build off that line? Why would you choose that particular line?
By the way, the first part of next class will be devoted to a discussion of the major themes in Prometheus Bound. If you have not read that play already, please be sure to have that play too read before Tuesday's class.
The line that I picked is: " There is proof indeed---unless God has cheated us."
ReplyDeleteThis line is said by Clytemnestra when she is talking to Leader about men taking the Priam's city. I like this line becuase it shows Clytemnestra's stong personality and it kind of seems that she demand people listen to her. I think you can build up to this line because I think that before this line or conversation she is having, everything seems to be calm and normal. But with this things start to heat up and there is a change of tone after this. You could also build of off this line as well.
-Alicyn Even
"I tell you to honor me as a man, not god." -Agamemnon
ReplyDeleteI would build up and off of this line by presenting Agamemnon as just that, a man. While he may be regal and dressed as a king, I would show his fatigue and weakness, being drained after a decade of war. I would also show mental fatigue, because he made some very difficult decisions and the feud with Achilles was incredibly demanding. The choice to sacrifice his daughter was not an easy one. This would shine Clytemnestra in a bad light, killing a weak and tired king, rather than a tyrant.
"He has lost his stolen goods and with consummate ruin Mowed down the whole country and his father's house. The sons of Priam have paid their account with interest."
ReplyDeleteI would build of this line because eventually every pays for what they did. I would build off of this line because eventually Agaemennon pays for his wrong doings just as Troy has. He is killed by Clytemnestra because Agaemennon killed Iphigeneia. Clytemnestra also will face her doom though when Orestes comes to avenge his father's death. This is a bad cycle and it all builds off of the line I picked above.
The line I chose was a chorus line that said "For the heart of man is hardened by infatuation, a faulty adviser, the first link of sorrow. Whatever the cause, he brought himself to slay his daughter, an offering to promote the voyage to a war for a runaway wife." I choose this line because it is a pretty key point to the whole play. Agamemnon killed his own daughter in order to bring about the Thracian winds to fight a war for a bride who didn't want to be there. This basically describes how much problems Agamemnon caused and all the wrongs he had done, all for the lack of love from a bride. I would build off this because it is fairly early in the play, yet it describes a crucial moment where Agamemnon has some faults that may play a major role. Although the chorus just keeps the play moving, I think this part could be emphasized for effect.
ReplyDelete"Your tongue's as brutal as your body" says Hephaestus. I like this quote especially because it is a great insult. Also, it seems to exemplify Aeschylus' great writing in a small section as well as show Hephaestus' loyalty to Zeus. Even during the beginning of the play as he reluctantly chains Prometheus to the rocks, the audience visibly sees Hephaestus' loyalty.
ReplyDelete"War is not woman's part, nor war of words." This is a quote by Agamemnon when he was arguing with Clytemnestra. It sets adds to the character and gives a main attribute such as telling women how they are supposed to talk and what type of business they are supposed to be involved in.
ReplyDeleteJoe Adam
the line i have chosen is "Do not pray for the portion of death Weighed down by these things, do not turn Your anger on Helen as destroyer of men, One woman destroyer of many Lives of Greek men, A hurt that cannot be healed." I feel that this is a great line and piece of advice given in this play to help the people deal with what happened to them. I feel it helps them not throw the blame on just one person wrongfully but makes them really look at the issue of what is going on.
ReplyDelete"I marvel at thy tongue's audacity,
ReplyDeleteTo vaunt thus loudly o'er a husband slain."
This line is spoken by the chorus leader about Clytemnestra. I chose this line because I think it shows how Clytemnestra is truely not sorry for her actions. I think this shows a great deal of insight into her character and how bold she is.
-Brianna Hamil
"First I shall make salutation to the gods, who sent me a far journey and have brought me back. Any May my victory not leave my side."
ReplyDeleteI chose this line because it shows a great deal of detail about the character of Agamemnon. Its during his opening monologue and it demonstrates that he is humble and filled with pride. I believe this line really sets up the character of Agamemnon and transforms him from a flat to a round character.
R. Casey Oberle
"Help me! I'm hit a deadly blow. I'm hit again a second blow."
ReplyDeleteThis was said by Agamemnon when his wife attacks and kills him. I chose this line because it is a major transition point in the story. Agamemnon is no longer the leader and is replaced by his wife and his cousin.
p. 59 (Agamemnon)- "Great shame it is to ruin my house and spoil the wealth of costly weavings with my feet" I would build off this by making harder for the gods to punish me than to favor me, because I would be shameful for my wrong doings; and the reason I chose this line is because even thought Agamemnon is a selfish man he still does not want anything to happen to his people.
ReplyDelete"I tell you you shall not override my judgement" would be the line I would tell anyone playing Agamemnon to focus in on. Agamemnon is very head strong and believes that it should always be his way. This is obvious throughout the play, so using a line exactly like this to hone in on personality characteristics you should have, along with posture, facial expressions and tones of voice would let you be able to capture much more, if not all, of Agamemnon's personality.
ReplyDelete- Jefferson Gunderson
Pg. 50 "Yes. In your phrase, death would now be a gratification." This line is spoke by the leader of the chorus and I believe it is an influential line that is still in the beginning of the play. Even though the line is not spoken by a very influential character the line shows great character in the plight of the people and how they fell about the return of their King Agamemnon.
ReplyDeleteBaker Haar
I would choose Cassandra's line "No, no, but to a god-hated, but to an accomplice In much kin-killing, murdering nooses, man-shambles, a floor asperged with blood." I would choose this line because it is the beginning of Cassandra's major role in the play. I would build off this line by showing the craze she is sent into when no one believes she is going to be murdered.
ReplyDeleteRobbi Kannas