
Electra
by Sophocles
'Electra' Summary
Orestes arrives with his friend Pylades, son of Strophius, and a pedagogue, i.e. tutor (an old attendant of Orestes, who took him from Electra to Strophius). Their plan is to have the tutor announce that Orestes has died in a chariot race, and that two men (really Orestes and Pylades) are arriving shortly to deliver an urn with his remains. Meanwhile, Electra continues to mourn the death of her father Agamemnon, holding her mother Clytemnestra responsible for his murder. When Electra is told of the death of Orestes her grief is doubled, but is to be short-lived.
After a choral ode Orestes arrives, carrying the urn supposedly containing his ashes. He does not recognize Electra, nor she him. He gives her the urn and she delivers a moving lament over it, unaware that her brother is in fact standing alive next to her. Now realizing the truth, Orestes reveals his identity to his emotional sister. She is overjoyed that he is alive, but in their excitement they nearly reveal his identity, and the tutor comes out from the palace to urge them on. Orestes and Pylades enter the house and slay Clytemnestra. As Aegisthus returns home, they quickly put her corpse under a sheet and present it to him as the body of Orestes. He lifts the veil to discover who it really is, and Orestes then reveals himself. They escort Aegisthus off set to be killed at the hearth, the same location Agamemnon was slain. The play ends here, before the death of Aegisthus is announced.
Book Details
Authors

Sophocles
Greece
Sophocles, a towering figure in ancient Greek literature, was a renowned tragedian whose plays continue to captivate audiences today. Born around 497/496 BC in Athens, he lived a long and illustrious...
Books by SophoclesDownload eBooks
Listen/Download Audiobook
Related books

Suppliant Maidens (Morshead Translation) by Aeschylus
The Suppliants, by Aeschylus, is a Greek tragedy that tells the story of the Danaids, fifty daughters fleeing a forced marriage to their Egyptian cous...

Shakespeare Monologues Collection vol. 16 by William Shakespeare
This is the sixteenth collection of monologues from Shakespeare's plays. Our readers have chosen their favourite monologues from Shakespeare's famous...

Life And Adventures Of Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens
The action takes place in London, with excursions to Devon, Yorkshire, and Portsmouth, as we follow the adventures of the eponymous hero. Nicholas is...

Electra (Murray Translation) by Euripides
Euripides' *Electra* is a powerful and moving reimagining of the classic Greek myth. It delves into the complex themes of revenge, family, and the inf...

The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe
The Tragical History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus, commonly referred to simply as Doctor Faustus, is an Elizabethan tragedy by Christopher...

Apocrypha by Plato (Πλάτων)
The Apocrypha of Plato is a collection of texts attributed to the ancient Greek philosopher Plato, but their authorship is disputed. These works, incl...

Four-Pools Mystery by Jean Webster
In The Four Pools Mystery the tyrannical plantation owner is deemed responsible for his own murder because of his mistreatment of the former slaves wh...

Freimaurer by August von Kotzebue
August von Kotzebue's play "Freimaurer" explores the pervasive curiosity surrounding the secret rituals and practices of Freemasonry. Through a serie...

Shakespeare Monologues Collection vol. 06 by William Shakespeare
This is the sixth collection of monologues from Shakespeare’s plays. Containing 20 parts. William Shakespeare (April 26, 1564 – April 23, 1616) remai...

Othello (Novelle) by Wilhelm Hauff
Wilhelm Hauff's "Othello (Novelle)" is a reimagining of Shakespeare's tragedy, weaving a tale of murder, a vengeful ghost, and forbidden love. Set aga...
Reviews for Electra
No reviews posted or approved, yet...