Honoring Your Gods

If there is anything in literature that calls attention to the mind of a theology major, it is something to do with God…obviously. So when one of the strongly emphasized messages of an ancient Greek author is to honor the commands of a god no matter what they ask of you, like murdering your own daughter, for example, a theology major jumps on that message and questions the presentation of that it. At least, this theology major does. Through the murder of Iphigeneia by Agamemnon, Aeschylus stresses the importance of a very universal message: honoring one’s own gods, or, for some, God, in all means.

Almost right away at the beginning of the play, Aeschylus presents his message of honoring the gods and their commands. He does this through the Chorus’ recount of the sacrifice of Iphigeneia. The Chorus very dramatically sets up Agamemnon’s dilemma: let down his army and the gods by saving his own daughter or sacrifice his daughter for the good of his army, while betraying his household, but also obeying the gods for they so commanded her sacrifice for the success of Agamemnon and ultimately victory at war. The Chorus speaks of the weary people who longed for good fortune, “and the Achaean people sulked”, and the restless seer who relentlessly spoke of the army’s fate (Agamemnon 188). In the end, Agamemnon must sacrifice his daughter because it is the will of the gods, and he knows that. “For them to urge such sacrifice of innocent blood / angrily, for their wrath is great—it is right. May all be well yet” (Agamemnon 215-216). This very line shows how important it is to Aeschylus that obeying the gods is essential to a well-lived life. No matter what the gods ask of Agamemnon, it is right. Now this sure doesn’t sound hard, to say, “Whatever they will, it shall be done,” but it is necessary to say and live up to despite tough circumstances, especially when the situation is as presented.

What is so interesting about Aeschylus’ message is that he portrays it in a rather peculiar light. The gods have asked one thing of Agamemnon for the success of his army, to sacrifice Iphigeneia. Why would any father, in his right mind, want to sacrifice his own daughter? Agamemnon as leader of the army sees this differently than most fathers would. He sees it as a way to protect his people rather than seeing it as betraying his household. The sacrifice of one for the safety of thousands is altogether not a huge request from the gods. And this is crucial to Agamemnon’s decision, that he recognizes it is all he must do, that this is all the gods ask. Aeschylus makes the situation very tough for the readers, however. We see a father killing his own daughter and think it is disgusting and wrong. We feel sympathy for Iphigeneia because the bonds and love of family are being cut as she is betrayed by her father. We feel even more sickened when we read that after Agamemnon made the decision to sacrifice her, his will was changed and it sounded as if he felt no remorse. “But when necessity’s yoke was put upon him / he changed, and from the heart the breath became bitter / and sacrilegious, utterly infidel, / to warp a will now to be stopped at nothing” (Agamemnon 218-221). The situation becomes worse yet when the Chorus describes the sacrifice. “…she struck the sacrificers with / the eyes’ arrows of pity” (Agamemnon 241). Iphigeneia is a defenseless child. Nothing she can say or do will stop this occurrence. But the situation is resolved, “all will come clear in the next dawn’s sunlight” (Agamemnon 254). Agamemnon did what he had to do and his people were saved for his devotion to the gods.

Upon reading this action in the plot, I myself was disgusted. I kept thinking that there had to be some right to this situation. If Agamemnon was really that devoted to honoring the gods and was right in sacrificing his own daughter, then Aeschylus must have truly meant something through this action. After reading it a second time and discussing this action in class, I suddenly recollected the story of Abraham and Isaac in the Bible. It was just the same. God tested Abraham’s faith by commanding him to sacrifice his own son. “Take your son Isaac, your only one, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. There you shall offer him up as a holocaust on the height that I will point out to you” (Genesis 22: 2). Abraham sent out with Isaac to the top of a mountain and just as he was about to kill his own son an angel stopped him, saying, “Abraham, Abraham! . . . Do not lay your hand on the boy. Do not do the least thing to him. I know now how devoted you are to God, since you did not withhold from me your own beloved son” (Genesis 2: 11-12). It was a test of faith. The only difference between Agamemnon’s orders and Abraham’s, the only difference between the Greek deities and God, is a matter of goodness. Any Christian knows now that God would never demand the sacrifice of a beloved one. At least, a Christian would know not to take it too seriously, not after reading Abraham’s story. But the message of honoring the gods’ commands and trusting in their help is clear and ever-present throughout Agamemnon just as it is here in the Bible.

Now taking it a step further and applying even more in a tangible way to our Faith and way of life, as a theology major would, we can see the effects of obeying the gods or not just as Agamemnon can in his own situation. The greatest example of the devastating effects of disobeying God to a Christian is the example of Adam and Eve and the fall of mankind. This example is perfect for the present situation because like Agamemnon and Abraham, God’s commands are direct and clear. Speaking of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, God says to Adam and Eve, “You shall not eat it or even touch it, lest you die” (Genesis 3: 3). In Agamemnon, he knows what he must do. And Abraham as well knows what he must do, as quoted above. When Adam and Eve disobey God, mankind’s own ‘Pandora’s box’ is opened and suffering, disease, crime, sin is let out into the world. Similarly to the effects of disobeying, we can see the effects of obeying, or rather, the rewards. Though ultimately Agamemnon’s death is a result of the sacrifice because his wrathful wife, Clytaemestra, among other reasons, seeks Agamemnon’s life for killing their daughter, Agamemnon saves his people. Likewise, in obeying God, Abraham was rewarded. “I will bless you abundantly and make your descendants as countless as the stars of the sky and the sands of the seashore; . . . –all this because you obeyed my command” (Genesis 22: 17-18). Through this, Christians see the importance of obeying God, just as Aeschylus said about obeying his own Greek deities.

Confusion filled me when I first read this play. Why would Aeschylus make this sacrifice, this devastating action, seem so important? From Aeschylus’ view, he obviously meant there was something more to it. Obeying the gods is so important. And even then I was biased to my own faith. But then I realized how applicable his message is to my own life as a Christian. Obeying God is essential to receiving the eternal reward of Heaven. It doesn’t matter at all what God asks, it must be done, despite fears or worries or confusion. It is this faith and trust in the Will of God that is so necessary to a good life, as Aeschylus so strongly emphasizes of his own gods, because, if you think about it, would we even have a Savior if Mary had not said, “Let it be done unto me according to thy word” (Luke 1: 38)?