Written around 410 BC or later. It is a tale of vengeance. In Greece at this time the custom of blood-feud or vendetta was expected.
Hypothesis or Argument
Agamemnon on his return from Troy, had been murdered by his wife Clytemnestra and her paramour Aegisthus, who had usurped the Argive throne. Orestes, then a child, had been rescued by his sister, Electra, and sent into Phocis with the one servant who remained faithful to his old master. The son of Agamemnon now returns, being of a full age, accompanied by this same attendant and his friend Pvlades with whom he has already conceived a plan for taking vengeance, on his father's; murderers, in obedience to the command of Apollo.
Orestes had been received in Phocis by Strophius, his father's friend. Another Phocian prince, named Phanoteus, was a friend of Aegisthus.
Dramatis Personae
Hypothesis or Argument
Agamemnon on his return from Troy, had been murdered by his wife Clytemnestra and her paramour Aegisthus, who had usurped the Argive throne. Orestes, then a child, had been rescued by his sister, Electra, and sent into Phocis with the one servant who remained faithful to his old master. The son of Agamemnon now returns, being of a full age, accompanied by this same attendant and his friend Pvlades with whom he has already conceived a plan for taking vengeance, on his father's; murderers, in obedience to the command of Apollo.
Orestes had been received in Phocis by Strophius, his father's friend. Another Phocian prince, named Phanoteus, was a friend of Aegisthus.
Dramatis Personae
Tutor – (Paidagogos), old slave of the royal family of Argos, former tutor to Orestes
Orestes – son of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra
Pylades – cousin and travel companion of Orestes [silent part]
Electra – elder sister of Orestes and Chrysothemis
Chorus of Women [unmarried virgin noble-women?] of Argos [Mycenae]
Chrysothemis – younger sister of Electra, but older than brother Orestes
Clytemnestra – queen of Argos, widow of Agamemnon, mother of Electra, Chrysothemis and Orestes
Aegisthus – cousin of Agamemnon, lover of Clytemnestra
Scene: Before the palace in Argos [Mycenae]
Summary:
Prologue [Lines 1–120]
Enter the Tutor, Orestes and Pylades.
Orestes has returned in secret to Argos, his homeland, after many years in exile. He has returned now to take vengeance against the murderers of his father, Agamemnon, namely his his mother, Clytemnestra and her lover, Aegisthus, but he must seek to do this by cunning. He has been ordered to do this deed and to pour libations on his father's tomb by the Pythian prophetess of the Delphic Oracle. The moment to act has come.
Orestes and his companions have planned to tell Clytemnestra and Aegisthus the story that Orestes has been killed in a chariot race, so that they relax their guard and not suspect any subterfuge.
Exeunt
Parodos [kommos] [Lines 121–250]
Electra from within the palace and after on stage sings a monody bemoaning her hapless lot and lamenting her father's murder by her mother and her mother's paramour, demanding vengeance for it from her brother Orestes.
The Chorus of Argive Women enter echoing Electra's lament, telling her that they are on her side and that she should expect and hope that Orestes will come and avenge her. They tell her to take heart and pray to Zeus for justice.
Electra tells them her rage is a quenchless fire. Electra complains to them how unbearable it is that she is being treated as a slave and servant in her father's palace, now the household of his murderers, having to beg for bread, wear rags; not allowed to go out and being kept unmarried and childless, and how Aegisthus struts up and down in the palace wearing Agamemnon's robes.
First Episode [Lines 251–471]
Electra continues her lament. The Chorus ask her if Aegisthus is present in the palace. He is not. They ask Electra whether she knows if her brother is coming. They tell her they believe in Orestes.
Chrysothemis enters.
Electra accuses her of consorting with the murderers, dishonouring her father. Chrysothemis warns Electra that if she persists in her behaviour that they intend to have her locked up in a dungeon hewn from the rocks where she can chant her evil prayers in the dark; that they intend to do this when Aegisthus returns. Chrysothemis tells Electra that she is on her way to their father's tomb to pour libations to him. She had been asked to do this by their mother, Clytemnestra. Chrysothemis then relates the story of how Clytemnestra had seen a vision in a dream of how Agamemnon had come back to life again planting a sceptre in the hearth of the palace; how a branch had blossomed from the sceptre and cast its shadow over the whole of Argos. Chrysothemis and Electra agree to replace Clytemnestra's impious offerings to Agamemnon with locks from their hair.
Exit Chrysothemis.
First Stasimon [Lines 472–515]
Encouraged by Clytemnestra’s vision, the Argive Chorus of Women foresee vengeance, calling upon the Erinyes and the spirit of Agamemnon.
Second Episode [Lines 516–822]
Clytemnestra enters.
Clytemnestra immediately starts to row with Electra telling her how dare she go out of the palace, and saying to her that if Aegisthus had been at home he would have stopped her from wandering out disgracing the family. Electra accuses Clytemnestra of being impious and being wicked, justifying the murder of Agamemnon by evoking memories of his sacrifice of her sister, Iphigenia, at Aulis. She tells Electra that Menelaus, Agamemnon's brother, whose cause the Trojan War was, had two children equally worthy of being sacrificed in her stead.
Electra replies that Agamemnon had been forced to sacrifice Iphigenia by the goddess Artemis, whereas she, Clytemnestra, had acted on her own free will when she murdered Agamemnon. Then Electra asserts her wish for Orestes to return to avenge their father. Clytemnestra makes her offerings to Apollo and prays for release from her present fears.
The Chorus looks at Clytemnestra saying that no thoughts of justice enter her bosom now
[Line 660] Enter the Tutor [Paidagogus]. He says he has been sent from Phocis as a messenger from Phanoteus. He comes with some sad news: after proving his worth many times over at the Pythian games, Orestes tragically lost his life in the chariot-race. He brings the message; a few other men from Phocis should bring his ashes shortly.
Lyric Dialogue (kommos)[Lines 823–870]
Electra and the Chorus sing together a lament. Though the Argive maidens try to comfort her, Electra is devastated and says that, for her, death cannot come soon enough. She is especially upset at the fact that the murderers of Agamemnon will escape unpunished: now that Orestes is dead, there is no man alive to avenge her father.
Third Episode [Lines 871–1057]
Prologue [Lines 1–120]
Enter the Tutor, Orestes and Pylades.
Orestes has returned in secret to Argos, his homeland, after many years in exile. He has returned now to take vengeance against the murderers of his father, Agamemnon, namely his his mother, Clytemnestra and her lover, Aegisthus, but he must seek to do this by cunning. He has been ordered to do this deed and to pour libations on his father's tomb by the Pythian prophetess of the Delphic Oracle. The moment to act has come.
Orestes and his companions have planned to tell Clytemnestra and Aegisthus the story that Orestes has been killed in a chariot race, so that they relax their guard and not suspect any subterfuge.
Exeunt
Parodos [kommos] [Lines 121–250]
Electra from within the palace and after on stage sings a monody bemoaning her hapless lot and lamenting her father's murder by her mother and her mother's paramour, demanding vengeance for it from her brother Orestes.
The Chorus of Argive Women enter echoing Electra's lament, telling her that they are on her side and that she should expect and hope that Orestes will come and avenge her. They tell her to take heart and pray to Zeus for justice.
Electra tells them her rage is a quenchless fire. Electra complains to them how unbearable it is that she is being treated as a slave and servant in her father's palace, now the household of his murderers, having to beg for bread, wear rags; not allowed to go out and being kept unmarried and childless, and how Aegisthus struts up and down in the palace wearing Agamemnon's robes.
First Episode [Lines 251–471]
Electra continues her lament. The Chorus ask her if Aegisthus is present in the palace. He is not. They ask Electra whether she knows if her brother is coming. They tell her they believe in Orestes.
Chrysothemis enters.
Electra accuses her of consorting with the murderers, dishonouring her father. Chrysothemis warns Electra that if she persists in her behaviour that they intend to have her locked up in a dungeon hewn from the rocks where she can chant her evil prayers in the dark; that they intend to do this when Aegisthus returns. Chrysothemis tells Electra that she is on her way to their father's tomb to pour libations to him. She had been asked to do this by their mother, Clytemnestra. Chrysothemis then relates the story of how Clytemnestra had seen a vision in a dream of how Agamemnon had come back to life again planting a sceptre in the hearth of the palace; how a branch had blossomed from the sceptre and cast its shadow over the whole of Argos. Chrysothemis and Electra agree to replace Clytemnestra's impious offerings to Agamemnon with locks from their hair.
Exit Chrysothemis.
First Stasimon [Lines 472–515]
Encouraged by Clytemnestra’s vision, the Argive Chorus of Women foresee vengeance, calling upon the Erinyes and the spirit of Agamemnon.
Second Episode [Lines 516–822]
Clytemnestra enters.
Clytemnestra immediately starts to row with Electra telling her how dare she go out of the palace, and saying to her that if Aegisthus had been at home he would have stopped her from wandering out disgracing the family. Electra accuses Clytemnestra of being impious and being wicked, justifying the murder of Agamemnon by evoking memories of his sacrifice of her sister, Iphigenia, at Aulis. She tells Electra that Menelaus, Agamemnon's brother, whose cause the Trojan War was, had two children equally worthy of being sacrificed in her stead.
Electra replies that Agamemnon had been forced to sacrifice Iphigenia by the goddess Artemis, whereas she, Clytemnestra, had acted on her own free will when she murdered Agamemnon. Then Electra asserts her wish for Orestes to return to avenge their father. Clytemnestra makes her offerings to Apollo and prays for release from her present fears.
The Chorus looks at Clytemnestra saying that no thoughts of justice enter her bosom now
[Line 660] Enter the Tutor [Paidagogus]. He says he has been sent from Phocis as a messenger from Phanoteus. He comes with some sad news: after proving his worth many times over at the Pythian games, Orestes tragically lost his life in the chariot-race. He brings the message; a few other men from Phocis should bring his ashes shortly.
Lyric Dialogue (kommos)[Lines 823–870]
Electra and the Chorus sing together a lament. Though the Argive maidens try to comfort her, Electra is devastated and says that, for her, death cannot come soon enough. She is especially upset at the fact that the murderers of Agamemnon will escape unpunished: now that Orestes is dead, there is no man alive to avenge her father.
Third Episode [Lines 871–1057]
Chrysothemis enters. She speaks to Electra. She tells Electra that she knows that Orestes has come amongst them, that whilst performing her rituals over their father's grave she had seen a lock of hair, on the mound which she believes in Orestes' hair. Electra does not believe her. She has been told by the Tutor, the messenger from Phocis, who is inside the palace with Clytemnestra, that Orestes has been killed, that it is she who now has to carry out the vendetta, but needs Chrysothemis' assistance to kill Aegisthus, that the people will honour them for their bravery, that it is their duty now to avenge their father. Chrysothemis now warns Electra that they are only women and do not have the necessary physical strength, and begs her to be more reasonable and prudent. The Chorus echo these sentiments. But Electra is determined to carry out the deed. She is very angry with Chrysothemis and dares her to go tell their mother about what she has seen. Chrysothemis says that even Justice has to be patient, to plan carefully before she acts. But Electra is still determined to do the deed. But without Chrysothemis.
Exit Chrysothemis.
Second Stasimon [Lines 1058-1097]
The Chorus sing of the birds in the heaven and tells the spirit of the dead to go down into the underworld and tell the ancestors of the Atridae about the struggles that their descendants Orestes and Electra are facing. How Electra laments the assassination of her father all the time, and how she will only be released from her troubles if the two Furies [Clytemnestra and Aegisthus] are killed.
Fourth Episode [Lines 1098–1383]
Orestes and Pylades arrive at the palace disguised as Phocians. They are bearing an urn supposedly containing Orestes' ashes. Electra begs to be allowed to hold the urn. She laments Orestes'passing. Orestes is so moved by her lament that he reveals his true self to her. To prove who he is he shows her their father's signet ring. Electra is overjoyed, but she is told by Orestes she has to keep his true identity a secret for the moment.
Pedagogus enters, telling them to stop their natural tendency of being overjoyed st seeing one another again as it only puts them in mortal danger.
Orestes and Pylades go into the palace with the Paedagogus, A moment later Electra enters the palace
Third Stasimon [Lines 1384–1397]
The Chorus begin to sing an ode about the fulfillment of revenge.
Exit Chrysothemis.
Second Stasimon [Lines 1058-1097]
The Chorus sing of the birds in the heaven and tells the spirit of the dead to go down into the underworld and tell the ancestors of the Atridae about the struggles that their descendants Orestes and Electra are facing. How Electra laments the assassination of her father all the time, and how she will only be released from her troubles if the two Furies [Clytemnestra and Aegisthus] are killed.
Fourth Episode [Lines 1098–1383]
Orestes and Pylades arrive at the palace disguised as Phocians. They are bearing an urn supposedly containing Orestes' ashes. Electra begs to be allowed to hold the urn. She laments Orestes'passing. Orestes is so moved by her lament that he reveals his true self to her. To prove who he is he shows her their father's signet ring. Electra is overjoyed, but she is told by Orestes she has to keep his true identity a secret for the moment.
Pedagogus enters, telling them to stop their natural tendency of being overjoyed st seeing one another again as it only puts them in mortal danger.
Orestes and Pylades go into the palace with the Paedagogus, A moment later Electra enters the palace
Third Stasimon [Lines 1384–1397]
The Chorus begin to sing an ode about the fulfillment of revenge.
Exodos [Lines 1398–1510]
Electra comes back out of the palace again to stand guard in case Aegisthus should come.
The Chorus Leader asks Electra what's happening. She tells the Chorus that Orestes and Pylades are about to assassinate Clytemnestra.
Screams are heard from inside the palace. Clytemnestra [inside palace] begs Orestes to have pity on her for her life. She is killed. The Chorus sing that the fate which has gripped Electra is coming to an end.
Gabriel Herman
Proceedings of the Cambridge Philological Society No. 46 (2000), pp. 7-27 (21 pages)
Published By: Cambridge University Press
https://www.jstor.org/stable/44696756
Jan Coenraad Kamerbeek (1953). The Plays of Sophocles: The Electra. BRILL. ISBN 90-04-03836-1.
Sophocles, Electra (English Text) - Ian Johnston
Electra comes back out of the palace again to stand guard in case Aegisthus should come.
The Chorus Leader asks Electra what's happening. She tells the Chorus that Orestes and Pylades are about to assassinate Clytemnestra.
Screams are heard from inside the palace. Clytemnestra [inside palace] begs Orestes to have pity on her for her life. She is killed. The Chorus sing that the fate which has gripped Electra is coming to an end.
Orestes and Pylades come out of the palace dripping with blood.. Orestes tells the Chorus what he has done. The Chorus say they have seen Aegisthus coming. Orestes should go back in again to await him.
Orestes and Pylades go back into the palace again
Aegisthus arrives. he wants to know where the "visitors"from Phocis are. Electra says they are inside the palace being entertained by Clytemnestra. She tells him the body of Orestes lies within.
Aegisthus orders the doors of the palace to be flung open. Orestes and Pylades are there standing by a body covered in a shroud. Aegisthus thinks it is Orestes’ body; he uncovers the shroud to discover the body of Clytemnestra. He learns that the visitor from Phocis is Orestes. He is ordered by Orestes into the palace to suffer his own death in the room where Agamemnon was assassinated.
Orestes and Pylades go back into the palace again
Aegisthus arrives. he wants to know where the "visitors"from Phocis are. Electra says they are inside the palace being entertained by Clytemnestra. She tells him the body of Orestes lies within.
Aegisthus orders the doors of the palace to be flung open. Orestes and Pylades are there standing by a body covered in a shroud. Aegisthus thinks it is Orestes’ body; he uncovers the shroud to discover the body of Clytemnestra. He learns that the visitor from Phocis is Orestes. He is ordered by Orestes into the palace to suffer his own death in the room where Agamemnon was assassinated.
Exeunt Aegisthus, Orestes, Pylades and Electra into the palace.
Chorus chants a short ode about how the sufferings of the House of Atreus have come to an end.
They leave the orchestra.
References
Electra (Sophocles play) - Wikipedia
Electra - Wikipedia
Orestes - Wikipedia
Drama for students : presenting analysis, context and criticism on commonly studied dramas Vol. 4 p.83- Sophocles Electra
ELECTRA - SOPHOCLES | PLAY SUMMARY - GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Electra - Course Hero
Electra by Sophocles - GreekMythology.com
Electra by Sophocles - Ancient History Encyclopedia
Sir Richard C. Jebb, Commentary on Sophocles: Electra
Hanna M. Roisman (6 February 2020). Sophocles' Electra. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-005359-8.
Konstan, David. “Sophocles’ Electra as Political Allegory: A Suggestion.” Classical Philology, vol. 103, no. 1, 2008, pp. 77–80. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/590095
NOOTER, SARAH. “Language, Lamentation, and Power in Sophocles' ‘Electra.’” The Classical World, vol. 104, no. 4, 2011, pp. 399–417. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/41303454.
Dolos and Dikê in Sophokles' Elektra - Leona MacLeod - Google Books
The Trial Scene in Iliad XVIII
Author(s): Walter Leaf
Source: The Journal of Hellenic Studies , 1887, Vol. 8 (1887), pp. 122-132
Published by: The Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies
Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/623454
Gabriel Herman
Proceedings of the Cambridge Philological Society No. 46 (2000), pp. 7-27 (21 pages)
Published By: Cambridge University Press
https://www.jstor.org/stable/44696756
George Miller Calhoun (1999). The Growth of Criminal Law in Ancient Greece. The Homeric Age: discusses Blood Feud: The Lawbook Exchange, Ltd. pp. 15–. ISBN 978-1-58477-037-4.
Fiona McHardy (2008). Revenge in Athenian Culture. A&C Black. pp. 9–. ISBN 978-0-7156-3569-8.
The Homicide Courts of Ancient Athens - University of Pennsylvania
Greek Text
Sophocles, Electra - Perseus Digital Library
The Electra of Sophocles : Sophocles - Internet Archive
The Electra of Sophokles. (1901 edition) | Open Library
Jan Coenraad Kamerbeek (1953). The Plays of Sophocles: The Electra. BRILL. ISBN 90-04-03836-1.
Translations
Sophocles. Delphi Complete Works of Sophocles (Illustrated). Electra trans by Lewis Campbell: Delphi Classics. ISBN 978-1-909496-46-0.
The Internet Classics Archive - Electra by Sophocles
Electra ; Antigone ; Philoctetes (1979 edition) | Open Library
The Seven Plays in English Verse by Sophocles - Project Gutenberg
Euripides, Electra - Perseus Digital Library
Sophocles (1957 edition) | Open Library
Tragedies of Sophocles (Jebb 1917)/Electra - Wikisource
Sophocles, Electra (English Text) - Ian Johnston
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