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Wait, my son—no respect for this, my child? The breast you held, drowsing away the hours, soft gums tugging the milk that made you grow? (lines 896–898)

Clytamnestra says these words as Orestes is dragging her towards the body of Aigisthos in order to murder her alongside her lover. After taking on the attributes of a calculating man throughout the Agamemnon and calling for an axe to fight off Orestes, Clytamnestra here reverts to her maternal role in a last ditch attempt to fend off death. While there is a possibility that she is sincere in her wish to return to proper female norms, it is too late now to cross back into that territory. The audience is likely to have looked with disgust upon this emotional gesture, seeing it as a hypocritical act. Not only have we watched Clytamnestra forgoing her female role in favor of taking a strong male position over the household, but we have also learned from Cilissa that Clytamnestra did not, in fact, nurse Orestes at her breast as she claims. In defense of Clytamnestra, one could argue that Cilissa exaggerated her role in Orestes's upbringing in order to further stain Clytamnestra's reputation. However, the audience would have sided with Cilissa in this matter.

We can imagine that the chorus would have rejected this gesture entirely, as they have already told Orestes to consider himself to be Agamemnon's son only. Orestes, however, is deeply moved, and his resolve momentarily weakens. It is at this point that Pylades steps in to remind him of his pledge to Apollo, saying that it is better to make enemies of all men than to anger the gods. These words negate Clytamnestra's act and condemn her to death.

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