Iphigenia's Fate Of Death example essay topic

Euripides' Iphigenia at Aulisby: Danielle Riley There are obviously many obligations at hand in Iphigenia at Aul is. The one however that widely catches my attention is Iphigenia's ending decision to accept her fate. Iphigenia's fate of death is a sacrifice that her father Agamemnon has to uphold to his brother Menelaus. Agamemnon like any father would not willingly offer his child as a sacrifice, however he does so because of his "commander-in-chief" position and the oath he took on behalf of Menelaus. There are similarities and differences to Agamemnon and Iphigenia's fate.

Agamemnon nor Iphigenia eagerly agree to the choices that they end up making, however they both choose to make the worst choice for themselves, but the best choice for their given situation. If Agamemnon had not have chosen to offer Iphigenia as a sacrifice, the outcome of his situation would have been worse. It makes me wonder exactly how much worse. Exactly what would have happened to him? In my opinion, how dare my brother readily accepts to murder my child, his own niece... his flesh and blood as well as mine... for the honor of a woman who doesn't even love him!

That disgusts me, it makes me literally sick to imagine anyone could do such a thing. Some things are sacrificial in the name of honor, but this... come on, this is a bunch of horse shit. This part of the story makes me a little bit madder that I had originally realized. I feel that this father / daughter relationship is extremely bittersweet... the following is a portion of their dialogue. IPHIGENIA All hail, father! thou didst well in bringing me hither to thee.

AGAMEMNON I know not how I am to say yes or no to that, my child. IPHIGENIA Ha! how wildly thou art looking, spite of thy joy at seeing me. AGAMEMNON A man has many cares when he is king and general too. IPHIGENIA Be mine, all mine to-day; turn not unto moody thoughts. AGAMEMNON Why so I am, all thine to-day; I have no other thought. We don't know what Agamemnon's fate would have been had he not been backed into a corner to sacrifice his daughter, however we do know what Iphigenia's fate was.

She had no choice... she indeed was going to die. How she handled this matter is not one that many people would have dealt with in such a dignified manner as she. She knew that she was going to die, but she choose how she died. She did not dare allow herself to be carried away kicking and screaming. When she realized that her fate was not her own, she swallowed her childhood and became an instant rational decision making adult.

Even her own mother was surprised by her choice to accept her fate. Although Iphigenia did choose to marry death, we don't know if she ever really dies.