comments in pink are my notes and opinions from the research that I have found
Highlighted yellow are notes important to my character
Characters
Electra -
Electra is the daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, and the title character of the play. She is furiously angry and bitter about the way her mother has murdered her father and partnered with Aegisthus. She refuses to cease mourning, and is prone to huge, bellowing cries of grief and rage. She is desperate for her brother Orestes to return. Significantly, she trusts nothing and no one, and believes in deeds rather than words - which is perhaps why her own language is so painfully raw and stripped back.
She is the central character of Sophocles' treatment of this story, though interestingly, not of the story itself. The other characters in the play however seem to pale into insignificance when compared with her: for sheer force of will, and force of hatred. In our version of the play we are going to be having 3 Electra's so that they can show the different emotions that she feels. The first Electra will be angry and hold the most anger towards her mother Clytemnestra, Electra 2 is feeling lost and distraught over her brother's death and Electra 3 is at the tipping point and all her feelings are built up and she is at breaking point and Orestes then ends up killing their mother
Agamemnon - Deceased Father
Agamemnon was the husband of Clytemnestra, and the father of Electra and Orestes. He was murdered by Clytemnestra before the play began, and the play documents Orestes' vengeance on his mother for that act. He does not appear in Sophocles' Electra directly, but is still in many ways a key character. Agamemnon is only referred to throughout the play as he is dead - killed by Clytemnestra. He is key to Electra's anger towards Clytemnestra as Electra believed she only killed Agamemnon for the fact he found out about her affair.
Paedagogus - Teacher
A pedagogue - a tutor - as suggested by his name, now old, who looked after Orestes when he was younger.
He narrates the false story of Orestes' death in a chariot race, and, as he and Orestes plan early in the play, no-one recognises him as he now has grey hair. Paedagogus has several key moments, that push the plot out of words and towards action. The character's name will be the Old Man in our play and he has brought Orestes up throughout his life and has been teaching him throughout his life to learn about what it means to avenge the person who killed their father.
Orestes - Vengeful Brother
The son of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, and the brother of Electra and Chrysothemis. Orestes, in other retellings of this same story, is undoubtedly the principal character: certainly in Homer, and also in the Oresteia (a trilogy which, notably, bears his name!). Not so in this play. Electra is very much central to Sophocles' conception of this play, though Orestes is still important.
Moreover, Orestes is important largely because he does not seem the hero we might expect from other versions of the same story. This is an Orestes who is more than prepared to use false words, so long as they get the right outcome: the means, in other words, are absolutely justified by the end. David Grene describes him as "cautious and rather colourless".
Orestes returns to the House of Atreus to revenge his father's murder by killing his mother, and, at the end of this play, kills Clytemnestra and is about to kill her lover, Aegisthus.
Chorus
A group of women of Mycenae, who look onto events, and attempt to advise Electra. The most unusual choral moment in the play comes when Electra interrupts their ode (of only twelve lines) by coming out of the palace, and back onstage to commentate on Orestes' murdering Clytemnestra. We are going to have 4 Chorus members who are going to act as part of Electra's mind and feelings.
Clytemnestra - Mother/Murderer/Wife of Agamemnon then Aegisthus
Clytemnestra is not merely a savage, terrifying woman but one that has a visible human streak. Clytemnestra suffers from nightmares and, when she appears and justifies her killing of Agamemnon (by recourse to the Iphigenia story) she seems somewhat more reasonable than Electra!
Clytemnestra has a central argument in the middle of the play with Electra, whose fury knows no bounds towards her, before she is eventually murdered in her palace by Orestes. When it comes to doing my performance I am going to really show my hate towards Electra as it is her fault that Orestes was taken away. I am a very stern character and have a lot of anger but a lot of it is at Electra's father - who I killed and I want it to be known that I killed him out of revenge of him killing my daughter and not for any other reason. I want to portray her with a really split personality and holds loads of anger to Electra and then trys to win over the Old man to convince him how upset I am over the death of Orestes.
Chrysothemis -Living sister of Electra/Orestes
Sister of Electra and Orestes, daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra. Chrysothemis' role is a similar one to Ismene in Antigone: she advises Electra to be cautious, not to make things worse unnecessarily, and to try and keep her feelings under wraps.
Chrysothemis says at one point in the play that she feels as angry and upset as Electra does - only she doesn't go around making it quite so clear because she wants life to be as bearable as possible. She is, in the apt words of David Grene, 'timid, sensible, and unattractive', and she has disappeared from the play by the time the murder takes place. Through casting we are using 2 sisters and splitting the lines of the one sister between two
Aegisthus - 2nd husband of Clytemnestra
2nd Husband of Clytemnestra, and a descendant of the House of Atreus.
Aegisthus only makes one appearance in this play, late towards the end, where Sophocles establishes him as a bully and a self-regarding tyrant. He taunts and mocks Orestes even when he is about to die, and before that, spends most of his time handing out brisk orders to anyone who will listen. He is not a major character in the play, but important to anyone looking closely at the circumstances which have created Electra
Plot
English Literary Society. 29 July 2011 by Aajiz. Electra Study Guide and Summary. [Online] Accessed from: http://www.eliterarysociety.com/tag/delphic-oracle/ [Accessed: 06/10/14]
English Literary Society. 29 July 2011 by Aajiz. Electra Study Guide and Summary. [Online] Accessed from: http://www.eliterarysociety.com/tag/delphic-oracle/ [Accessed: 06/10/14]
Electra Plot Summary
Before the play begins Clytemnestra murders her husband and Father of her children, Agamemnon.
At the start of the play The Old Man (Orestes’ old tutor) has returned to the royal palace in Mycenae, to avenge the murder of Agamemnon.
Orestes tells the old man that the Delphic oracle has told him how he should be revenged on those who murdered his father. He instructs The Old Man to falsely report his death so that Orestes and Pylades can visit Agamemnon’s grave and return to the palace with an urn (which they will say contains Orestes’ remains) The plan means that no one will be expecting a strike against Clytemnestra and Aegisthus.
A cry is heard from inside the house, and Orestes and The Old Man exit.
Electra enters, making a long prayer to “Holy Light”. She is in constant mourning for her father’s death, hardly sleeps, dresses in unsightly and poor clothes, and refuses to stop calling on the gods to bring vengeance.
The Chorus argue that she should mourn within normal limits, and no more, and Electra rejects their argument. She longs for Orestes to return to avenge her father’s death. It is impossible for her to behave moderately, she says, when she is surrounded by evil.
Chrysothemis, (Electra’s sister) enters with burial offerings. She asks Electra why she is still shouting publicly about her father and her longing for vengeance. Then, Chrysothemis continues, she herself would be openly angry if she had strength. She, however, chooses to be deliberately silent – a decision which Electra then scorns. Chrysothemis argues that Electra’s fury will be the undoing of her, only for Electra to reply that she would welcome death.
Chrysothemis is taking burial offerings from her mother to Agamemnon’s grave. Clytemnestra has sent the offerings after being frightened by a dream in which she saw Agamemnon revived. Electra persuades Chrysothemis not to take Clytemnestra’s offerings to the grave.
The Chorus predict Justice coming and “foreshadowing a just victory”.
Clytemnestra enters, surprised to see Electra walking outside, and an argument ensures between mother and daughter. Clytemnestra says that she was justified in murdering her husband, as he sacrificed her daughter Iphigenia.
Electra then launches into a long speech, which tells another version of Iphigenia’s sacrifice, and interrogates the “eye for an eye” logic that Clytemnestra puts forward. This rant becomes increasingly more personal, with Electra even eventually telling Clytemnestra that she would have Orestes kill her if she could.
Clytemnestra, left alone, makes a prayer to the gods, hoping that all will be well for her.
The Old Man, disguised as a messenger, comes in and tells a long story about Orestes’ supposed death. Electra is devastated, and Clytemnestra torn between being delighted and mournful. Clytemnestra goes into the house with The Old Man.
Electra resolves to bring about her own death: without Orestes, she has nothing to live for.The Chorus try to comfort her.
Chrysothemis enters, having found Orestes’ hair on Agamemnon’s grave, to tell Electra that Orestes has come to the palace. Electra tries and fails to persuade Chrysothemis to help her murder Aegisthus. Electra resolves to do the deed alone.
Orestes enters disguised, and reveals himself to Electra, proving with Agamemnon’s signet ring that he is indeed Orestes. He then goes inside to murder Clytemnestra, and Electra goes inside the house.
The Chorus begin an ode, which is interrupted by Electra running back outside.
Clytemnestra is heard screaming from inside the palace, and Electra shouts encouragement to Orestes from outside.
Orestes enters from the palace, and Electra asks him if all is well. Orestes replies that all is well, if Apollo prophesied well.
Aegisthus approaches, Orestes goes inside, and Electra greets Aegisthus. Bringing on a covered body (Orestes in disguise again), they tell Aegisthus it is the dead Orestes, though when it is uncovered, it is in fact the murdered Clytemnestra. Aegisthus is taken inside the palace to be murdered by Orestes, and – before we see or hear the deed.
The Chorus end the play.
I have a much better understanding of the play as I understand the plots and how each character is involved with the other. I am looking forward to playing Clytemnestra as she is such a powerful and dominating woman that I have never played a character like this before. I feel that this character will help me in my classical acting and help me also understand Greek Theatre.
Themes
Justice
Justice is a word closely related to "judgment" and "judge", and a key question of the play is "who has the right to judge?"
Many characters, Clytemnestra, Orestes, and Electra among them claim that they are acting in the interests of justice. In the end though, with no trial and no divine intervention, Sophocles finally leaves the question of justice with his audience.
Justice is a word closely related to "judgment" and "judge", and a key question of the play is "who has the right to judge?"
Many characters, Clytemnestra, Orestes, and Electra among them claim that they are acting in the interests of justice. In the end though, with no trial and no divine intervention, Sophocles finally leaves the question of justice with his audience.
Cause and effect
The death of Iphigenia (Clytemnestra's Daughter) leads to the death of Agamemnon, which leads to the death of Clytemnestra; as the play ends, it seems the death of Aegisthus will follow. Electra herself has often been read as the product of her unhappy circumstances: someone turned bitter and angry as the result of a horrible situation. It is an interesting theme to trace through the play, examining how one thing happens in a domino effect
Revenge
Electra is deeply concerned with the idea of vengeance, particularly with an examination of "eye for an eye" logic.One murder leads to another, and, by locating the Aegisthus murder just outside of his play, Sophocles creates the impression that the line of deaths might stretch out forever.
Gender
Throughout the play, Sophocles explores the idea of Electra as a woman with a man's heart and a man's fury: like her mother before her, she refuses to behave in the way society expects a woman to behave. Sophocles explores our expectation of men and women, and interrogates the nature of both roles.
Throughout the play, Sophocles explores the idea of Electra as a woman with a man's heart and a man's fury: like her mother before her, she refuses to behave in the way society expects a woman to behave. Sophocles explores our expectation of men and women, and interrogates the nature of both roles.
These themes have made me have a better understanding of justice and how my character Clytemnestra acts in the way she did as an act of Justice and it was the right thing to do.
Revenge is also seen because I act in an act of revenge to kill my husband for killing my daughter however Electra sees it as an eye for an eye and that I should be killed for killing my husband. I can now portray this all into my character now that I have a better understanding of the themes
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