62 pages • 2 hours read
Costanza CasatiA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Clytemnestra receives a series of letters from her siblings and relatives. The first letter is from Polydeuces, expressing his disbelief at the news of Clytemnestra’s despair and refusal to eat or drink. He reflects on their shared understanding of death and pain and emphasizes the importance of Clytemnestra’s resilience, urging her to reclaim her strength and will and reassert her position as a woman of power.
Penelope, writing from Ithaca, shares gossip about Clytemnestra’s situation. She struggles to accept the stories of Odysseus’s involvement in the sacrifice of Iphigenia and expresses her difficulties with balancing her belief in these tales with her efforts to maintain faith in her husband. She also urges Clytemnestra to persevere and manage her anger appropriately, especially toward Odysseus.
Timandra’s letter is filled with anger and a desire for revenge against those responsible for Iphigenia’s death. She acknowledges Clytemnestra’s power and influence, encouraging her to use it to exact revenge. Helen’s letter, written from Troy, provides insight into her own life and the burdens she now carries. She talks about the hatred and blame she faces from the Trojans and her deteriorating relationship with Paris. She also expresses her concern for Clytemnestra’s well-being and state of mind.
Books on Justice & Injustice
View Collection
Books that Feature the Theme of...
View Collection
Challenging Authority
View Collection
Family
View Collection
Fate
View Collection
Hate & Anger
View Collection
Loyalty & Betrayal
View Collection
Mothers
View Collection
Mythology
View Collection
Power
View Collection
Revenge
View Collection
War
View Collection