Agamemnon

by

Aeschylus

Menelaus Character Analysis

Does not appear onstage during the play. Agamemnon’s brother and King of Sparta. When Paris runs away to Troy with his wife Helen, he and Agamemnon raise a fleet to conquer Troy. During the play, we learn that a storm has separated Menelaus’ fleet from Agamemnon’s, and that Menelaus’ whereabouts are unknown.
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Menelaus Character Timeline in Agamemnon

The timeline below shows where the character Menelaus appears in Agamemnon. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Lines 1-354
Revenge Theme Icon
War and Its Aftermath Theme Icon
...the Chorus explain that the war is an act of revenge: Agamemnon and his brother Menelaus raised an army from across all the cities of Greece and led it against Troy... (full context)
Lines 355-782
Revenge Theme Icon
War and Its Aftermath Theme Icon
Fate and the Gods Theme Icon
...out of the Trojan prince Paris for the overly prideful act of stealing Helen from Menelaus. At the same time, the Chorus expresses concern that the staggering number of deaths suffered... (full context)
War and Its Aftermath Theme Icon
Fate and the Gods Theme Icon
The Chorus asks what has happened to Menelaus’ half of the Greek fleet. The Herald says that a storm hit them on the... (full context)