Have you ever thought about the way some traits that a child has come from their parents? Clytemnestra, the mother, and Electra, the daughter is similar in many ways. As Marcela said in the Zoom Discussions, "Electra is Clytemnestra Jr" (40). They both have a hunger for power, they both withheld the truth from others, and they both manipulated people. There are other reasons that they are similar, but these are a few. The first way they are similar is they both have a hunger for power. Clytemnestra has a hunger for power when she killed Agamemnon, she saw her children as threats of that power so sent them away. In the book, House of Names by Colm Tóibín, it says, “Once Agamemnon was preparing to enter the palace, we agreed, Electra was to be distracted and confined somewhere until it had all ended. And Orestes was to be removed to a safe place so that he too would not witness what was to transpire” (Tóibín 57-58). Electra has a hunger for power considering she thinks because Orestes was gone the power belonged to her. In the book, on page 232, Electra says that she has “worked and prepared” to have Orestes kill their mother (Tóibín). The second way they are similar is that they both withheld the truth from others. Clytemnestra withheld the truth from Electra when she came home from Agamemnon’s camp where he killed Iphigenia "to appease the goddess Artemis"(The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica) She just went to her room to mourn. In the book, by Colm Tóibín, it says, “Maybe I should have stayed up through the night taking her into my confidence, telling her what happened to us step by step, minute by minute...” (40). She regretted not doing this. She left the task of telling her daughter that her father killed her sister to the other women. Another instance of her lying was when she promised Aegisthus “everything” (Tóibín 45). An example of Electra withholding the truth when she manipulates Orestes to kill Clytemnestra. I have no quote but when you are tasked to kill someone you should know the consequences. The last reason of many I will explain to you is that they both manipulate people. Clytemnestra manipulates Aegisthus and Electra manipulates Orestes. On page 45 of the book, it says that she promises him “everything” (Tóibín). She does this so he will kill the four of Agamemnon’s guards. If he does this the guards can’t spy on her. Electra manipulates Orestes to kill his mother by saying, “Yes. She killed your father with her own hands, she ordered your kidnapping and the taking of Theodotus and Mitros. She ordered the killing of all their families” (Tóibín 231). The “your” she used emphasizes the familial bond of father and son, to make it more personal to him. In conclusion, Clytemnestra and Electra are similar. They both are hungry for power, withhold the truth, and manipulate people. I wonder if it’s a mother and daughter thing. For example, my mom and I both think of the worst possible scenario for every situation. Tell me about your opinions in the comments.
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