Electra finally recognizes him and they plan the death of aegisthus and of their mother, clytemnestra. Based on the conviction that only translators who write poetry themselves can properly recreate the celebrated and timeless tragedies of aeschylus, sophocles, and euripides, the greek tragedy in new translations series offers new translations that go beyond the literal meaning of the greek in order to evoke the poetry of the originals. One of the most pathetic scenes in the ancient drama is that in which sophocles represents the meeting of. I think this interpretation is supported by two key points. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read orestes. The interactions between electra, her sister, clytemnestra, orestes, as well as all of electra s speech re i have to say that i liked sophocles depiction far more, though, particularly the emotional complexity that he gives to electra s character, and the way he portrayed the myth as more or less a family drama. Unlike his sister, orestes is driven in large part by the command of the god, apollo. Her sister, who is more pragmatic, or practical, refuses and begs electra to be wise. Electra is constantly bemoaning her fate and prays for the return of her brother.
Orestes by euripides kindle edition by aeschylus, sophocles, euripides, carson, anne. Electra paperback sophocles oxford university press. Its date is not known, but various stylistic similarities with the philoctetes 409 bc and the oedipus at colonus 401 bc lead scholars to suppose that it was written towards the end of sophocles career. Full text of the electra of sophocles see other formats ii. When she receives word that he is dead, electra laments and fears she will not be able to avenge her father. Orestes if your tears are for any of orestes tribulations, know that this vessel is his bodys home. Drawing on the material of the orestia, euripidess orestes is a strange and disturbing play, condemning all of its heroes for their violence and criminality and culminating in one of the most wildly. Mar 02, 2020 electra is a greek tragedy by sophocles. In nine paperback volumes, the grene and lattimore editions offer the most comprehensive selection of the greek tragedies available in english. It develops as a result of the electra complex that brings the hatred of the mother and the fathers love. Electra by sophocles the 196th greatest fiction book of all. When electra is told of the death of orestes her grief is doubled, but is to be shortlived. In this play, however, the main focus is on orestes read more. Before we can delve into this story, we need a bit of back story.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading electra. Electra giraudoux project gutenberg selfpublishing. Meanwhile, electra continues to mourn the death of her father agamemnon, holding her mother clytemnestra responsible for his murder. Sophocles presents this story as a savage though necessary act of vengeance, vividly depicting electras grief, anger, and exultation. Mar 15, 2018 free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg.
Orestes, play by euripides, performed in 408 bce, that retells the story of the aftermath of orestes matricide. Librivox recording of sophocles electra, translated by lewis campbell. Electra and orestes were shedding blood for blood because of their mothers sins but still everything their mother had put them through isnt a fair enough motive to kill. And round orestes bade them howl and hiss, for that unnatural retribution, just, had it but been from hands less near, in this, thy former realm, i call thee from the dust. Sophocles play dramatizes the aftermath of agamemnons murder by his wife clytemnestra and her lover aegisthus. Electra ebook by sophocles official publisher page simon. Ancient tragedy contents story of orestes aeschylus electra sophocles electra euripides alcestis euripides the cyclops euripides the bacchanals euripides miscellaneous passages. Orestes however, is the reincarnation of agamemnon. Their takes, on the other hand, differ vastly and depending on what type of woman portrayal peaks your interest, you are sure to find an enjoyable read with one of them. Orestes we come bearing his scanty remains in a small urn, as you see.
The story of orestes was the subject of the oresteia of aeschylus agamemnon, choephori, eumenides, of the electra of sophocles, and of the electra, iphigeneia in tauris, iphigenia at aulis in which he appears as an infant carried by clytemnestra and orestes, all of euripides. Electra sophocles play summary greek mythology classical literature ancientadmin 20200424t16. Full text of the electra of sophocles internet archive. Daylight pure, bright sky, earths coverlet, you are longstanding nightfade witnesses to my laments, rent from my chest, so bloodied now with selfstruck blows, while, hated bed, you overhear my nightlong 90 dirge, within this wretched house, for my poor father. Electra is one prominent female figure in ancient greek literature as all three of the renowned tragedians, aeschylus, sophocles, and euripides have written their own respective plays centered around this one woman. Its date is not known, but various stylistic similarities with the philoctetes 409 bc and the oedipus at colonus 401 bc lead scholars to suppose that it was written towards the end of sophocles career set in the city of argos a few years after the trojan war, it recounts the tale of electra and. Electra kindle edition by sophocles, campbell, lewis. Set in the city of argos a few years after the trojan war, electra recounts the tale of electra and the vengeance that. Despite her overwhelming passion for just revenge, electra admits that her own actions are shameful. The interactions between electra, her sister, clytemnestra, orestes, as well as all of electras speech re i have to say that i liked sophocles depiction far more, though, particularly the emotional complexity that he gives to electras character, and the way he portrayed the myth as more or less a family drama. In his dedicatory letters to the duchess of maine, voltaire has the following passage on the greek drama.
We can ask of orestes the same basic question we asked of electra. Their plan is to have the tutor announce that orestes has died in a chariot. In the first scene, he even ignores his sisters cries of woe because hes so concerned with doing what apollo told him to do. When agamemnon, the resident king, returned from the trojan war, his wife clytemnestra and her lover aegisthus murdered him and usurped the throne. The daughter of agamemnon and clytemnestra, electra, smuggled her brother orestes out of town so that he could.
Sophocles presents this story as a savage though necessary act of vengeance, vividly depicting electra s grief, anger, and exultation. Eventually electra and orestes themselves are destroyed by the curse that follows the house of atreus. We should not, i acknowledge, endeavor to imitate what is weak and defective in the ancients. In this innovative rendition of the oresteia, the poet, translator, and essayist anne carson combines three different visionsaischylos agamemnon, sophokles elektra, and euripides orestesgiving birth to a wholly new experience of the classic greek triumvirate of vengeance. His daughter electra is hungry for revenge and longs for the return of her brother orestes to help her achieve her ends. One of the most pathetic scenes in the ancient drama is that in which sophocles represents the meeting of orestes and electra, on his return from phocis. Euripides set the play in a world where courts of law already exist. Presence of verbs that refer to the creation call to life, train, shape. As in aeschylus libation bearers, the action in electra greek elektra follows the return of orestes to kill his mother, clytemnestra, and her lover aegisthus in retribution for their murder of orestes father, agamemnon.
An oresteia ebook by aeschylus 9781429922920 rakuten kobo. Like electra, orestes is so consumed with the task at hand that its essentially come to define his life. Actors can create a free profile as well as directors, casting directors, producers and agentsmanagers. Orestes was produced in 1750, an experiment which intensely interested the literary world and the public. Orestes arrives with his friend pylades, son of strophius, and a pedagogue, i. His whole existence has been about his growing up just so that he could come back to mycenae and get rid of the couple who killed his dad. The theme of agamemnon, orestes and electra is showing that sometimes we are faced with impossible decisions. We are hardly surprised, then, that orestes is so singleminded in. Apr 19, 2001 electra recounts the murders of clytemnestra and aegisthus by clytemnestras son orestes, to avenge their murder of his father agamemnon, commander of the greeks at troy, upon his return home. Electra ebook by sophocles, anne carson, michael shaw. Here, at last, my eyes look for certain, it seems, upon that grievous burden in your hand. Set in the city of argos a few years after the trojan war, electra recounts the tale of electra and the vengeance that she and her brother orestes take on their mother clytemnestra and step father aegisthus for the murder of their father, agamemnon. Wilson, peter now realizing the truth, orestes reveals his identity to his emotional sister. Orestes sophocleous is an actor and producer, known for assassins creed.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading an oresteia. This is probably not my favourite sophoclean play, but then again after reading the ajax and discovering. A basic level guide to some of the best known and loved works of prose, poetry and drama from ancient greece electra by sophocles. A casting calls, auditions resource and talent database. Go to the editions section to read or download ebooks. Their confrontation will represent the plays major contest agon, a merciless struggle between the two women, up to the point when the dramatic action sets orestes plan in motion and at the same time brings about electra s downfall. Their uncle menelaus is too spineless to defend them, and they plot to. Set in the city of argos a few years after the trojan war, electra recounts the tale of electra and the vengeance that she and her brother orestes take on their. Sophocles and euripides versions of electra carry, among many similarities, a central theme of revenge. Electra recounts the murders of clytemnestra and aegisthus by clytemnestras son orestes, to avenge their murder of his father agamemnon, commander of the greeks at troy, upon his return home.
He was killed by his wifes lover, and electra wishes to avenge agamemnon with the help of her twin brother orestes. For aeschylus, the story of electra in the chophoroi 458 b. The characters, electra and orestes, must reunite to avenge their fathers murder. Misfortunately, in both versions the just solution leads the siblings to destroying their own mother. Electra is one of the daughters of agamemnon, the leader of the greeks during the trojan war. When she learns that orestes is dead, she tries to convince her sister chrysothemis to help. Electra by sophocles the 196th greatest fiction book of. The story of orestes was the subject of the oresteia of aeschylus agamemnon, choephori, eumenides, of the electra of sophocles, and of the electra, iphigeneia in tauris, iphigenia at aulis in which he appears as an infant carried by clytemnestra and orestes, all of euripides aeschylus. Giraudouxs play is a rewriting of the myth, taken from an epic passage in homer s odyssey. Orestes arrives with his friend pylades, son of strophius, and a tutor. Orestes isbn 9781627933216 pdf epub voltaire ebook.
Every day electra expects her brother, orestes, to return from exile and act upon their shared desire for revenge. A marvelous singlevolume translation of aeschylus agamemnon, sophocles elektra and euripides orestes. Under the editorship of herbert golder and the late. Their plan is to have the tutor announce that orestes has died in a chariot accident, and that two men really orestes and pylades are arriving shortly to deliver an urn with his remains. In aeschyluss eumenides, orestes goes mad after the deed and is pursued by the erinyes, whose duty it. Sophocles version is presented from the viewpoint of electra, orestes sister, who laments her father, bears witness to her mothers crime, and for. He went to greece to get acquitted from his crimes and be forever free from the furies. Electra ebook by sophocles 9780199878833 rakuten kobo. When orestes arrives at last, her mood shifts from grief to joy, as orestes carries out the bloody vengeance. Set in the city of argos a few years after the trojan war, it recounts the tale of electra and the vengeance that she and her brother orestes take on their mother clytemnestra and step father aegisthus for the murder of their father, agamemnon. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
A comparison of sophocles and euripides versions of electra. Orestes appears in disguise to learn all that is happening around argos and what has become of his sister. Electra, a woman of many temperaments the literary rapport. It had previously been rendered in tragedies by aeschylus, sophocles, and euripides in the 5th century bc. Orestes tried to fix everything by getting rid of the furies and by going to greece. Their plan is to have the tutor announce that orestes has died in a chariot accident, and that two men really orestes and pylades are arriving shortly to deliver an urn with. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Read electra with linked table of contents by sophocles available from rakuten kobo. Book summary in the first act, electras husband has a monolog about electras innocence, her fathers death, and the misfortunate faith. Electra hates her mother, clytemnestra, and she does not hesitate to tell her so. An old man, formerly the paedagogus or attendant of. Electra kindle edition by euripides, murray, gilbert. A bold, iconoclastic new look at one of the great works of greek tragedy in this innovative rendition of the oresteia, the poet, translator, and essayist anne carson combines three different visionsaischylos agamemnon, sophokles elektra, and euripides orestesgiving birth to a wholly new experience of the classic greek triumvirate of vengeance. A bold, iconoclastic new look at one of the great works of greek tragedy.
221 478 54 1018 63 408 633 736 468 58 1282 72 820 949 1527 464 517 883 1226 135 1436 384 1490 562 526 1238 1381 1367 258 1494 184 205 665 1285 427 787