What Is Agamemnon's Betrayal In The Odyssey

A grand feast, a loving wife, and glory unlike that which anyone had yet seen. These are the things that Agamemnon had expected when he returned home from the Trojan War. Instead, as the odyssey details, all that Agamemnon received was betrayal at the hands of those he had trusted. These are the tales told to readers, as well as to Odysseus himself, by Agamemnon. A cautionary tale of sorts, one that Odysseus took to his very heart. In the odyssey, the story of Agamemnon and his homecoming affects how Odysseus handles that of his own.

When Agamemnon returned, his homecoming was, supposedly, a grand affair for a triumphant king. When Odysseus made his homecoming he arrived at night, far away from the town. He met Athene who made him "so that no mortal

He was of course killed by Klytaimestra who had left him for Aigisthos. Down in the underworld, Agamemnon still hates her, telling Odysseus that there is "nothing more deadly than a woman who stores in her mind with acts that are of such sort" (11.427-28). He believes that his death could have, and would have, been avoided had Klytaimestra remained loyal, and he is most certainly right. It was only through the willingness of Klytaimestra to marry Aigisthos that allowed the events to follow as they did. This played a large factor in the planning of Odysseus, especially after the words of Agamemnon telling him to "not be too easy with even your own wife" (11.441-42). Using this advice, Odysseus decided that the most important step was to ensure that his wife was still loyal to him. He does this by ensuring that she had not fallen in love with another, and that she was still in love with him (19.124-587). It is the last step Odysseus takes before he finally attacks the suitors. Above all else, ensuring in the faithfulness of Penelope was the main goal of Odysseus before he killed the treacherous