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A Comparison of a Tragic Hero from Euripides’s Medea and Aeschylus’s Agamemnon

Tragic heroes from Greek tragedies almost always share similar characteristics.

Medea from Euripides’s play Medea and Clytemnestra from Aeschylus’s play

Agamemnon display and share traits common to a tragic hero. They both have a

flaw, hold a high rank or have an extraordinary ability, seek vengeance, and cause their

own downfall anothers suffering. All of these traits are displayed clearly in these

characters and are shown in the textual support.

Both Medea and Clytemnestra had detrimental flaws. Medea was a very

passionate women with a tendency to become easily angered. Her anger from being

wronged by Jason is shown when she wishes “...Jason and his bride/Ground to pieces in

their shattered palace/For the wrong they have declared to do...”(Euripides 6).

Clytemnestras flaw was that she could not see past her own grief, anger, and how her

husband had killed their daughter. Her anger and grief are displayed by her emotional

words, “Like a swan she wailed her last call for her loved one while she

drowned.”(Aeschylus). Both of their flaws were indeed tragic, but more to others than

themselves.

Almost all characters from Greek tragedies have some sort of rank or ability,

Medea and Clytemnestra were no exception. Medea was not only a sorceress, but also a

respected citizen. Medea’s magic skills are portrayed in the play when she makes a

magical powder that is meant to kill the king daughter. Clytemnestra has no special

ability per say, but she had ruled Argos for ten years in her husbands absence. These

characters ranks and abilities were part of their conflict.

Medea and...