Strength is a key theme throughout the novel. Which characters were truly strong, in your opinion, and which are weak?

Strength is a key theme throughout the novel. What does Clytemnestra think makes someone strong? Do others agree with her? Which characters were truly strong, in your opinion, and which are weak?

I thought Clytemnestra was strong. I thought her father and mother both, ultimately were weak, as was Odysseus. I am on the fence about Helena, who showed moments of both strength and weakness.

I consider strength here as inner strength, to be true to one’s values, self-worth and loved ones, even if that means enduring physical and emotional hardship.

In that sense, Clytemnestra is the primary character with that quality, but to the extent that we get to know them, the characters of Castor, Polydeuces, Timandra, Electra, and Hermione are strong, and even Aegisthus. Though Helen initially appears to be, her “strength” is more about just looking out for herself and not for others or for any value or principle—she abandons Hermione, she ends up going back to Menelaus.

Like Helen, Odysseus is just out for himself, and being clever and manipulative to one’s own advantage is not inner strength. I agree with sweeny that Tyndareus and Leda are not strong either, despite valuing that quality and instilling it in three of their children; Tyndareus betrayed Clytemnestra and allowed Agamemnon to murder his own infant grandson for his own selfish ambition, and Leda just retreated into drink.

Strength really was a key element, but as in real life, there are many types of strength and it depends on the situation. Related to this question, either I had forgotten or I did not know, how much the women trained and fought. I liked that image of women being more than their beauty.

Clytemnestra, of course. But also Timandra and Penelope. Caster, Electra were strong characters. Odysseus too.
Helen was weak as was Paris. Achilles is a complicated character with both strengths and weaknesses

Strength is definitely a theme throughout the novel as it was such an important attribute to either truly process or as many did fake and simply hide behind brutality. Clytemnestra had inner as well as physical strength. She was raised to fight and endure pain, loss, cruelty and be subservient to the men who wanted to own and control her. I would consider most of the women in this story to be strong in ways that we do not consider as typical demonstrations of strength. Clytemnestra is a story of survival in a time of conquests and war.

I would add the definition of strength is a key them. Is it strength of character, physical strength, or strength in number of troops or just generating fear among subjects....

I thought most of the characters were strong. I know others have pointed to the male characters as weak, but I'm not really sure that was the case.

I was disappointed Leda didn't do more to protect her daughter, and I considered her perhaps the weakest character. Helen was also weak, or maybe she was just too immature to make good decisions.

Clytemnestra has an inner strength and resolve to protect her loved ones, and this determination to always defend the weak is the reason why Agamemnon is drawn to her. Menelaus wants Helen for her beauty and because he will eventually become king of Sparta. Agamemnon, on the other hand, lusts after Clytemnestra because he wants to dominate her. He wants power, which is the reason he never had sex with the servants.

Castor and Pollux show strength by protecting their intended brides, and Timandra had the resolve to leave her boring husband to run away with her female lover.

I purposely neglected to mention Tantalus...because although he and Clytemnestra love each other he is a romantic and therefore weak. He's "summoned" to the palace and quickly leaves --- without his sword or knife---and is slaughtered by Agamemnon. He was beguiled by the love he shared with Clytemnestra and his son and he failed to see the menace rampant in the Spartan palace.

I actually think most of the men are portrayed as weak and the women strong. The men see violence as their solution to everything - what they want, their women running away from them, appeasing the gods. Women on the other hand want to take care/protect those they love. When they can't they strategically plan for revenge. I was disappointed in Leda and thought she could have done something to help Clytemnestra when Tantalus was killed.