62 pages • 2 hours read

Clytemnestra

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2023

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Summary

Background

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1, Chapters 1-5

Part 2, Chapters 6-14

Part 3, Chapters 15-24

Part 4, Chapters 25-29

Part 5, Chapters 30-35

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Tools

Beta

Discussion Questions

Symbols & Motifs

The Lion

In Clytemnestra’s narrative, the lion emerges as a recurring symbol representing power and authority. Often associated with kingship and divine favor in ancient Greece, the lion symbolizes the pinnacle of royal authority and the might of kingship. Agamemnon’s epithet as the “Lion of Mycenae” reinforces his position of supreme power and authority. Clytemnestra’s journey from subjugation under this lion-like authority to her own embodiment of the lion’s qualities represents a key arc in the story. Initially, the lion symbolizes the forces that dominate and restrict her, but as she grows in strength and agency, she begins to take on the attributes of the lion herself, becoming a figure of authority, strength, and ferocity, especially in her quest for revenge.

In the broader context of ancient Greek culture, the lion was also associated with a ferocious and sometimes destructive nature. This duality mirrors the complex themes in Clytemnestra’s story, for like all predators, lions hunt and kill to survive. In the first chapter, entitled “Prey,” Clytemnestra encounters a deer, symbolizing the opposite of the lion and marking the beginning of her journey toward becoming a predator like the lion. The lion symbol thus carries multiple layers of meaning, reflecting the characters’ personal transformations, the dynamics of power and authority, and the undercurrents of violence and retribution.

Songs

The motif of song in the novel, particularly the “Song of Artemis,” serves multiple functions within the narrative and in the context of ancient Greek culture. In the novel, the song symbolizes the themes of divine wrath and fate, reflecting the consequences of challenging the gods. This cautionary tale resonates with Clytemnestra’s life, for her actions and choices mirror the defiance and subsequent punishment detailed in the song. In ancient Greek culture, songs like the “Song of Artemis” were integral to religious and cultural practices and were often used in rituals like sacrifices. These songs conveyed important cultural narratives and moral lessons, weaving mythology into a transmission of societal values.

The novel also explores the idea that songs, while culturally significant, are not always accurate, as is reflected in the novel’s closing lines, “But it doesn’t matter. She was there. She knows songs never tell the truth” (423). This statement reflects a nuanced view on the subjective nature of storytelling and history and explicitly criticizes the original mythology for mischaracterizing the figure of Clytemnestra, for songs and stories often reflect the biases and perspectives of their creators and omit inconvenient nuances. This idea resonates with the novel’s attempt to retell Clytemnestra’s story. While Casati aims to present a more nuanced version of her life, she also acknowledges that, just like the ancient songs, her novel is also a creation shaped by contemporary perspectives. This implicit admission highlights the subjective nature of storytelling, for although ancient songs and modern narratives can both offer insight, they can never fully capture the entire truth.

The River Eurotas

The River Eurotas represents a source of life and stands as a symbol of the beauty and strength of the Spartan heritage. In Spartan culture, the river also represents the Spartan ethos of resilience, purity, and continuity. For example, in Chapter 2, the river serves as a backdrop for the contrasting personalities of Clytemnestra and Helen, symbolizing their connection to Spartan culture and the different ways they choose to embrace their heritage. Clytemnestra’s adventurous and bold nature contrasts with Helen’s natural caution, yet both women embody the same source of cultural strength. The Eurotas therefore underscores the differing paths of the two sisters and represents the flowing, ever-present nature of their culture and lineage.

As a constant and natural presence, the river also mirrors the cycles of life, and the inevitability of fate. For example, after Clytemnestra’s husband and child are killed, the grief of the moment is reflected in the author’s descriptions of the river, for the narrative states, “Soon the Eurotas will overflow and the riverbanks will be muddy for weeks” (155). This foreboding imagery also symbolizes a period of upheaval and transformation. The Eurotas, soon to overflow its banks, is linked to the bereft mother’s inevitable overflow of emotions and actions, and the muddy aftermath of the flood suggests that her imminent choices will have deeply complicated consequences. Throughout the novel, the Eurotas serves as a barometer for the narrative’s mood and the characters’ emotional landscapes. Its changing states––from calm and serene to turbulent and overflowing––echo the Clytemnestra’s journey. As a symbol of nature’s unstoppable force, the river also reflects the inexorable flow of fate.