Clitemnestra, a personagem disruptiva de Ésquilo e questões do feminino ateniense

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the construction of the feminine in Agamemnon, by Aeschylus, through the character of Clytemnestra, investigating how her representation challenges the gender roles established in ancient Greek society. The research is based on the understanding of the Greek tragedy as a space for reflection on the social, political, and symbolic structures of the polis, with particular emphasis on the relationships between femininity, power, justice, and patriarchal order. The study seeks to understand how Aeschylus constructs Clytemnestra as a disruptive figure capable of challenging traditional models of femininity associated with domesticity, submission, and male guardianship. In this sense, the research raises central questions regarding the character’s autonomy, her relationship with divine forces and the curse of the House of Atreus, as well as the boundaries between individual responsibility, fate, and divine intervention in the construction of tragic action. The theoretical framework draws on contributions from Jean-Pierre Vernant and Pierre Vidal-Naquet on myth and tragedy, Werner Jaeger on Greek social formation, Fábio de Souza Lessa on representations of the feminine in Athens, and Lisiana Lawson Terra da Silva in the field of gender relations in Aeschylus. The analysis demonstrates that Clytemnestra occupies a singular position within the tragic narrative by assuming discursive, political, and symbolic roles traditionally associated with the masculine sphere, without abandoning her feminine identity. It is concluded that the character is configured as a complex and transgressive figure whose representation problematizes the patriarchal structures of Ancient Greece and reveals tragedy as a privileged space for discussing the relationships between gender, power, and justice.