This is a play by Sophocles. It is in GB Volume 5. The newsletter post is here.
Notes
Page 1: Lines 1 - 82:
- The play starts with Paedagogus (an elderly man, who was Orestes’ attendant and tutor when he was a child), Orestes (Agamemnon’s son), and Pylades (Orestes’ friend) having a conversation outside the palace, scheming how to take revenge for Agamemnon’s death.
- Paedagogus says he will go first and inform the King and Queen about Orestes’ death.
- Then they could come in with an urn, claiming it contains Orestes’ ash. Once inside they could get revenge. As they talk, they hear Electra’s cries from inside.
Page2: Lines 82 - 239:
- Electra addresses the sunlight and air, lamenting her father’s death and her constant grief.
- She blames her mother and Aegisthus for her sorrow.
- The Chorus tries to console her saying her sorrow cannot bring back her father from the dead.
- Electra calls for divine retribution but the Chorus asks her to rein in her words.
Page 3: Lines 239 - 366:
- Electra says that her mother mistreats her. She is waiting for her brother Orestes to return and take revenge.
- Chrysothemis, Electra’s sister, enters. She criticizes Electra for her public displays of grief and advises her to be more prudent and obey the current rulers.
- Electra is upset with her sister’s attitude, accuses Chrysothemis of forgetting their father and only thinking of their mother.
Page 4: Lines 366 - 478:
- The argument between the sisters continue. Chrysothemis warns Electra that if she continues her defiance, their mother and Aegisthus might imprison her in a dungeon. Electra doesn’t care though.
- Chrysothemis says she’s been sent by their mother to take funeral offerings to their father’s tomb. Electra is surprised and asks why. Her sister that it is due to a dream that their mother saw.
- Electra tells her sister to not do the offerings but just offer a lock of their hair and pray to their father for help. Chrysothemis goes out to do this.
Page 5: Lines 478 - 614:
- The Chorus says Agamemnon will get justice and talk about the cursed history of the house.
- Clytaemnestra enters and scolds Electra, accusing her of shaming the family by her public lamentations. She then defends her murder of her husband saying it was justice for her daughter Iphigenia, that Agamemnon should have let Menelaus sacrifice his daughter.
- Electra responds pointing our holes in her mother’s logic. Agamemnon had to sacrifice his daughter because Artemis was angry with him due to something he had done in the past (he had shot and killed a stag in the grove of the goddess). Electra says her mother killed her father because of her affair with Aegisthus and that she should be shameful for having kids with him.
- Clytaemnestra is angered and wonders how she could deal with a daughter who insults her in the open.
Page 6: Lines 614 - 735:
- Clytaemnestra threatens her daughter with punishment when Aegisthus returns. She then prays to Apollo for protection of her current status and relationships.
- Paedagogus enters and says that Orestes is dead. This causes Electra great distress.
- When Clytaemnestra asks for more details the elderly man describes the chariot race that Orestes was on and how the accident happened. He makes the description vivid and believable.
Page 7: Lines 735 - 853:
- Clytaemnestra is sad at the new but also is relieved that no one is going to come to seek revenge on her.
- Electra is in utter despair, expresses her anger at her mother’s lack of remorse, and laments the loss of hope of Orestes coming back and getting justice for their father.
- The Chorus sympathizes with Electra.
Page 8: Lines 854 - 968:
- Chrysothemis enters and excitedly tells the news that Orestes is alive based on her discovering a lock of hair similar to hers on the tomb of their father Agamemnon.
- Electra tells Chrysothemis of the messenger’s report of Orestes’ death and this confuses her sister.
- She says, now that Orestes is dead, it is upon them to seek justice. She suggests that they must take up arms and kill Aegisthus, their father’s murderer. They have nothing to lose anyways since they are living like slaves.
Page 9: Lines 968 - 1076:
- Chrysothemis is shocked by her sister urging her to join in the plot to kill their step father. She says Electra’s plan is foolish. They are just women and are weaker than men.
- Both sisters continue arguing about justice, wisdom, and right action. Chrysothemis decides to not help Electra with her plan.
- The Chorus laments about Electra’s lonely struggle and grief.
Page 10: Lines 1077 - 1188:
- Orestes and Pylades enter, claiming to be messengers saying they have news of Orestes’ death and have his ashes in an urn.
- Electra is even more saddened by this and recalls her childhood with her brother.
- Orestes is deeply moved by her words.
Page 11: Lines 1189 - 1291:
- Seeing Electra’s deep despair and sadness, Orestes reveals himself to her saying the ashes are not real.
- Electra is overjoyed but Orestes urges caution to avoid alerting others. Electra is afraid of losing her brother again.
Page 12: Lines 1292 - 1398:
- Orestes asks his sister to contain her joy and avoid unnecessary talk. He asks about the whereabouts of others. Electra says Aegisthus is away but their mother is in the house.
- Paedagogus enters and asks Orestes and Electra to cut short their reunion and act quickly.
- Orestes, Pylades, and the Paedagogus enter the house to begin their plan. Electra remains outside and prays to Apollo and then enters the house.
Page 13: Lines 1399 - 1492:
- Electra hears her mother’s cries from inside and explains to the Chorus about what is happening.
- Orestes and Pylades come out, and confirm Clytaemnestra’s death. Orestes assures Electra that she need not fear their mother’s mistreatment anymore. Orestes and Pylades hide as they see Aegisthus approaching.
- Aegisthus enters and asks Electra about the strangers and the news of Orestes’ death. She says the strangers are inside and have proof of Orestes’ death.
- He wants to see the dead body. Orestes and Pylades bring a shrouded corpse. Aegisthus removes the face-cloth from the corpse and is horrified that it is Clytaemnestra.
Page 14: Lines 1493 - 1510:
- Orestes asks him to go into the house. When Aegisthus asks to be killed in the open, Orestes says that he needs to be slain in the same where his father was killed.
- The play concludes as Orestes is taking Aegisthus inside.