The Old Man Character Analysis

Extract

[...] I find it more original than the stereotypical heroes who do not necessarily radiate a particular charm. This is one of the reasons why I greatly appreciate the role of the old man. Finally, the old man represents in a certain way a paternal figure. He seems more present for Agamemnon's family than the king himself. What is even more paradoxical is that Agamemnon assumes this without any shame: 'Old man, you know me well. You know my wife even better. You have known her since her birth. [...]

[...] The play has not yet begun and this protagonist remains anchored in my mind. Especially since all the other names mentioned, I know them All readers who have read the Odyssey or simply the war of Troy know all the others. How not to know Menelaus, Ulysses or even the great hero Achilles? A character who teases my mind already has a place in my literary heart. Another important element that made me choose this character is obviously the expectations I have of him. [...]

[...] Like my daughter. And all my children since their birth.' He is a faithful character who has accompanied this family since the beginning. He seems to be an omniscient character, that is to say, he sees everything that happens with an outside perspective and is therefore more objective. He perfectly fits the stereotype of the wise old man who is clear-sighted and whose words are thoughtful. Thus, his appearance from the beginning of the play marked and caught my attention, I immediately understood that he was much more interesting than he seemed. [...]

[...] The rest of the play then enlightened me on his role and personality. While Agamemnon writes a letter to save Iphigénie, he calls the old man. His first physical description leaves little room for doubt about his state: 'He walks slowly, almost falling with each step.' While this can give the image of a weak character, for my part, I see a fighting character, and above all, I immediately imagined myself playing him I visualized the falls he could make symbolizing his weakness but at the same time, his strength of character in getting up each time to accomplish his mission: delivering the letter to prevent Iphigénie's death. [...]

[...] Sometimes detractors, sometimes allies, these secondary characters are just as important for the tragic unfolding as the main characters. The character who particularly interested me is the old man. His first appearance is made in the announcement of the characters in the first part on Iphigénie. He is the third to appear on stage after the Chorus and Agamemnon, that is to say, central characters to the story. He therefore caught my attention from the beginning: Why does he appear at the beginning? Is he essential to the story to appear so early? [...]