Clytemnestra Chapter 15: Mycenae - Summary and Analysis
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
On her final morning in Sparta, Clytemnestra wakes alone. Helen enters and laments that both sisters have been “sold like cattle” to forge an alliance between Mycenae and Sparta. Clytemnestra leaves with Agamemnon and his soldiers. At the gate, Leda gives her a jeweled knife, a family heirloom with a hidden blade. Clytemnestra recalls the priestess’s prophecy that Leda’s daughters will “twice and thrice wed” and be deserters of lawful husbands, which gives her a grim hope.
The journey to Mycenae takes all day. The citadel appears formidable, with massive limestone walls and the famous Lion Gate. Inside, the city is dense with traders, slaves, and narrow streets. Clytemnestra is led to richly decorated quarters where two slaves wait. She dismisses them despite their fear of Agamemnon’s punishment, asserting her authority.
That night, Agamemnon arrives drunk. He rapes her. During the assault, Clytemnestra fixes her mind on the fresco of a nightingale, recalling the myth of Philomela who took revenge by serving her rapist his own son. Afterward, she escapes to a garden temple of Hera. Staring at the valley, she resolves that Agamemnon will not break her; she will break him.
Key Events
- Helen and Clytemnestra share a last conversation, comparing their arranged marriages to cattle trading.
- Leda gives Clytemnestra a jeweled knife, a gift from her grandmother.
- Clytemnestra leaves Sparta with Agamemnon, recalling the prophecy about her future marriages.
- The party arrives at Mycenae; Clytemnestra observes the Lion Gate and the fortified city.
- Clytemnestra meets her two slaves and dismisses them, claiming authority over them.
- Agamemnon rapes Clytemnestra in her new bedchamber.
- Clytemnestra flees to a garden temple of Hera and decides she will break Agamemnon.
Character Development
- Clytemnestra: Transitions from passive grief to active defiance. She claims authority over the slaves and, after the rape, vows to destroy Agamemnon. Her internal strength hardens.
- Agamemnon: Revealed as manipulative and cruel. He admits he is a “bad man” and deliberately seeks to break Clytemnestra’s will.
- Helen: Shows vulnerability and regret, acknowledging her powerlessness. Her bond with Clytemnestra remains strong.
- Leda: Provides a final, symbolic gift and cryptic reassurance that pain will pass.
- Slaves (Aileen and the older woman): Fearful of Agamemnon’s brutality; Clytemnestra’s protection hints at her emerging leadership.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Marriage as Transaction: Helen explicitly compares their marriages to the sale of livestock, underscoring women’s lack of agency in political alliances.
- Prophecy and Fate: Clytemnestra clings to the priestess’s words about “twice and thrice wed” as a source of hope that her suffering is temporary.
- The Lion Gate and Mycenae: The citadel symbolizes Agamemnon’s power and wealth, yet its impregnable appearance contrasts with Clytemnestra’s determination to undermine it from within.
- The Nightingale Myth: Clytemnestra recalls Philomela’s revenge during the rape, linking her own trauma to a tale of violent retribution.
- Hera as Vengeful Goddess: Clytemnestra finds solace at Hera’s temple, associating the goddess with the wrath she plans to unleash.
- Strength and Subjugation: Agamemnon admits he chose Clytemnestra for her strength, seeking to break her. The chapter ends with her promise to break him instead, reversing the power dynamic.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter marks Clytemnestra’s physical and psychological arrival in Mycenae, the setting for the rest of her story. The rape solidifies her hatred and her resolve to take revenge. Her interaction with the slaves shows her first act of authority in her new role. The gift of the knife foreshadows future violence. The chapter establishes the central conflict: Clytemnestra’s silent war against Agamemnon will drive the narrative.
Study Questions and Answers
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Why does Clytemnestra recall the myth of Philomela during the rape?
Philomela was raped by her sister’s husband and took revenge by killing and serving her attacker’s son. Clytemnestra uses the myth to distance herself from the violation and to imagine a future where she, too, inflicts horrific punishment. -
What is the significance of the jeweled knife Leda gives Clytemnestra?
The knife is beautiful but sharp, symbolizing Clytemnestra’s hidden strength. Leda implies that no one suspects its danger—mirroring how Clytemnestra may appear compliant while planning revenge. -
How does Clytemnestra assert agency in Mycenae on her first day?
She dismisses the slaves despite Agamemnon’s orders, claiming that they now answer to her. This small act of defiance shows she will not be passive, and it alarms the slaves used to Agamemnon’s cruelty.