Most of the characters make decisions that are morally questionable. Were there specific moments that made you think differently about any of them?

This story does not have obvious good characters and bad characters; all of them make decisions that are morally questionable. Were there specific moments that made you think differently about any of the characters? Were there some you found unforgiveable? Did any of the characters elicit more sympathy from you than the others?

My feelings changed about Clytemnestra’s father Tyndareus when he was part of the plot to kill her first husband and child. I agree with Clytemnestra that this made him a weaker ruler and he never reestablished himself in my opinion. I feel the same about how he made Helen accept Meneleus’ proposal.

Some actions that are morally questionable now were simply the standards of the day, such as choosing husbands for daughters or using violence to settle petty differences, even going to all-out war over an unfaithful wife. Tyndareus crossed a line with Clytemnestra over the killing of her husband and son and broke her faith when he required her to marry Agamemnon. Agamemnon was already a brute, but sacrificing Ephigenia went too far and would have been truly unforgivable. Cynisca throughout the book showed she didn’t respect even the questionable morals of the day.

I thought that Clytemnestra's act of vengeance against Cynisca was an early example of her capacity for exacting justice against those who had hurt her or her family. It let us know how far she would go and how crafty she was in planning it.

Most of the decisions made by the characters were morally questionable in today's society - murder, infidelity, vengeance, violence. They lived at a time when disposal was easy (think criminals and babies who were sick being pitched into a pit) and not objected to at all. Life was not necessarily valued and their gods acted the same way.

It was a different time with a different ethic. Their morals are not our morals. Who are we to judge an entire way of life that existed many centuries ago.

I agree with mceacd. It was unbelievable that fathers would kill and betray their daughters in the way that Tyndareus and Agamemnon did. It is difficult to think a father would do such heinous acts with no concern for their daughters just to increase their power.