Play Tragedy

Electra
Author First Performed Original Language
Sophocles c. 410 BCE Ancient Greek

MAIN CHARACTERS

Caught in a Years after Agamemnon is murdered by his wife, his daughter Electra is
still grieving his loss. The lust for vengeance takes center stage as
Cycle of Electra demonstrates her allegiance to her father's memory and to her

Revenge brother Orestes, who returns to bring their mother to justice.

Clytemnestra
Queen of Argos; killed by Orestes
for Agamemnon’s death

Agamemnon Aegisthus
King of Argos; killed by his wife for Clytemnestra’s lover; killed
MOTHER
Iphigenia’s death by Orestes

FATHER

Iphigenia Orestes
Killed by Agamemnon as a Returns to avenge
sacrifice to the goddess Artemis his father

SISTER BROTHER

Electra
Intent on avenging
her father

Themes

Revenge Duty Justice

A cycle of vengeance can Obligation to family is True justice is bound to

dominate and destroy lives. paramount—unless it conflicts duty and honor—and is not
with duty to the gods. always easy.

Author
Electra
by the Numbers

5 3
Children born to Agamemnon Ancient Greek tragedies
and Clytemnestra about Electra

SOPHOCLES
c. 496–406 BCE

One of the most recognized

of ancient Greek tragedians,
Sophocles was an innovative
playwright. He was the first to
use sets in Greek theater and 93 1909
to use props symbolically,
including the funeral urn with Percentage of lines for Year composer Richard
which Orestes tests Electra's which Electra is present Strauss's opera Elektra was
loyalty in Electra—one of just onstage first performed
seven of Sophocles's roughly
120 plays to survive.

Motifs

Revenge Deception Mourning

Agamemnon's bloodline has People are not always what Tears, wailing, and symbolic
been tainted for generations, they appear and do not always gestures of mourning abound.
leading to many bloody deeds. speak the truth.

oe for the house forsaken of

friends and filled with murderers!
Clytemnestra, Stasimon 5

Sources: Ancient History Encyclopedia, Antigone, Oedipus the King and

Electra translated by H. D. F. Kitto, A Companion to Sophocles by Kirk
Ormand, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Sophocles Electra: A New Translation and
Commentary by Eric Dugdale, The Electra Plays edited by Peter Meineck

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