Years later, Electra waits for the return of her exiled brother Orestes so they can seek revenge against their mother. Sometimes it can end up there. Those joys are nothing more than a forlorn hope. She will come; she will be killed. You must forgive me. Or did he kill My child to help his brother Menelaus? Kill! The way the content is organized, Electra is the plays protagonist, and she is the sister of. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. While the story is the same, the manner in which the duo meets their demise varies. Electra (Sophocles play In short, it would perfectly just for Orestes to return and kill his mother to avenge his father. "[9]:9 Though at other times he seems to accept the premise of the Electra complex. Unfortunately, his participation in these Greek theatre competitions did not prove to be very successful with only four victories; a fifth came posthumously for Iphigenia in Aulis. At the end of the play, Clytemnestra's deified brothers Castor and Pollux (Polydeuces in the play) appear and tell them they must cleanse their souls of their crime. She listens excitedly to the sounds of Orestes killing Clytemnestra. In the first act, Electra's husband has a monolog about Electra's innocence, her father's death, and the misfortunate faith. Youd better think About it carefully. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. Your sullen soul keeps breeding wars Which cannot be won. he was a son of Neptune Why did Achilles stop helping the Greek side during the Trojan War? Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. $24.99 Agamemnon, Elektras father, goes to fight in the Trojan war. Want 100 or more? Electra tells all about the hatred she feels for her mother Clytemnestra for killing her father Agamemnon and remarrying. What admission could be more shameful than that, / Whether or not justice was on your side? Justice matters very little when revenge involves killing, Electra implies. Electra - Greek Mythology 06 Jul 2023. Electra | daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra Electra is the ideal Greek woman, and also a person to whom we would never entrust the power of judging someone else's fate. They have come to exact revenge for the murder of Agamemnon, Orestes's father, as instructed by an oracle of Apollo. [17], American poet Sylvia Plath (19321963) acknowledged that the poem Daddy (1962) is about a woman, afflicted with an unresolved Electra complex, who conflates her dead father and derelict husband in dealing with having been emotionally abandoned. Together Electra and Orestes plot their revenge. Ask Artemis, the hunter Goddess, why she becalmed the fleet at Aulis, As none of the winds would blow. In conflating father and husband as one man, Sylvia Plath indicates their emotional equality in her life; the unresolved Electra complex.[19]. Electra Character Analysis in Electra | LitCharts WebBook Summary. Dont you see? Finally, in Euripides' story, Orestes and Plyades arrive at Electra's home and are soon identified by an old servant. See the difference for yourself. It tells the tale of Electra and her brother, Orestes, as they take their revenge on their mother, Clytemnestra, for her murder of their father, Agamemnon. She will come, of course, when she hears about the birth. When he sees Electra, he tells her that he has been at Agamemnon's tomb where he found a lock of hair. We contribute a share of our revenue to remove carbon from the atmosphere and we offset our team's carbon footprint. Electra She responds, By being just as daring as once his enemies were (208). ", "Gods, grant us vengeance for our father's death! WebStudy with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like Zeus took the form of a ____________ when attempting to lure Europa away from her home, At the end of their lives, Cadmus and Harmonia were transformed into, Sagas and more. Please wait while we process your payment. We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. Orestes tells of her brother's concern for her: Your brother's life and father's death both bite your heart. (202), Oil Bottle with Tragic MaskThe Trustees of the British Museum (Copyright). To the left the famous temple of Hera. She is dead. [14], Some purported examples of the Electra complex in literature come from psychoanalytic literary criticism and archetypal literary criticism, which flourished in the mid-twentieth century. Electra seems to act more as a foil for Clytamnestra than as an independent character. [12], In both sexes, defense mechanisms provide transitory resolutions of the conflicts between the drives of the Id and the drives of the ego. Ellen Although he preferred a life of seclusion, alone with his books, he was married and had three sons, one of whom became a minor playwright. Electra complex - Wikipedia The lesson we learn from her is that a good woman is a silent woman who stays out of sight whenever possible. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. Author Florence Rush has accused the female Oedipus complex of being a tool to cover up sexual abuse of children by their parents, particularly by their fathers. Subject: Plagiarism scanner Do the Check Writing help Ask for Help Read my essay Go to Read Electra, a Play by Sophocles Paedagogous introduce Orestes to his fathers city and urge him to take action for the injustice of his fathers death. By claiming revenge and justice, Clytemnestra was able to do what otherwise would be considered a crime. It retells the classic myth concerning the plotting of Electra and her brother Orestes to kill their mother and her lover. Heracles, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. Renews July 12, 2023 After Agamemnons murder, Electra sends an infant Orestes to live with an old slave in Phocis. Justice determined / His death; I wasnt alone, Clytemnestra says. O Lord Apollo, graciously hear their prayers And mine besides. ", "Father, I see your face day and night", "Aegisthus will never sit on my father's throne! But, as in all Greek tragedy, right and wrong are complicated. Electra Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. The shame of your present wretched state, Is all of your own making. Mmm . on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% Instant downloads of all 1748 LitChart PDFs Iphigenias birth Never cost him the pains of labour that I went through.Very well. But they enjoyed no right To kill a daughter of mine. No other paymentFor all Ive suffered could be enough for me. (200), She feels she has wasted her life in a peasant's hut. My father, as Ive been told, was out on a hunt In Artemis sacred grove, when his footfall startled A dappled stag from its covert. Jeremy Clarkson Survives Most Dangerous Stunt Ever, 2012-2023, 2paragraphs Productions, LLC. Electra holds that the sacrifice was necessary, and that, regardless of this detail, Clytemnestra murdered Agamemnon out of lust for Aegisthus. Moreover, stories such as Cinderella have two maternal figures, the stepmother (society) and the fairy godmother; stepmother represents the girl's feelings towards mother; the fairy godmother teaches the girl that her mother loves her, thus, to have mother's love, the girl must emulate the good Cinderella, not the wicked stepsisters. Dont have an account? He then took hold of the staffHe used to carry and now Aegisthus wields, And planted it on the hearth. How can you come near them? Not knowing he is outside his sister's home, he hopes to find his sister. So now, Lycean Apollo, with what I have, I pray, beseech and supplicate your godhead. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms. Aegisthus asks Electra where the Phocians with news of Orestes's death have gone, and she points inside the house. TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. (218). The old man tells Orestes that he must kill his mother and her lover Aegisthus who lives in fear of Orestes' return. Together Electra and Orestes plot their revenge. Request a complete Study Guide for this title! Due to her rage and fear of Shortly, Clytemnestra cries out. The pair succeeded, but for committing matricide the siblings were tormented by the Furies: living embodiments of guilt and punishment. WebWhen Orestes was twenty, the Oracle of Delphi ordered him to return home and avenge his father's death. So much I learnedFrom someone present when she revealed her dream To the god of the Sun. He replaced it with the Oedipus complex theory, which allowed Freud to dismiss women's stories of childhood abuse as imaginary, writing "I was able to recognize in this phantasy of being seduced by the father the typical Oedipus complex in women. He is eager to pass knowledge on to his students. Electra was reunited with Orestes years later and goaded him into taking revenge for their father by killing Clytemnestra and Aegisthus. What admission could be more shameful than that,Whether or not justice was on your side? Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. WebWho helped Electra in a plot to kill her mother? In doing so, she highlights her mother's socially dangerous tendencies, and shows us how far Clytamnestra has strayed from her proper position in society. [210] My mother, married to another man, lives in a bed stained with his blood. for a group? Im well aware of that And wont pretend to deny it. The song is a combination of the Electra complex and Oedipus complex in "a nonbinary psychosexual narrative".[20]. Suppliant Women. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. Your own experience should tell you that. He demands that the doors and gates of the palace be opened, so that the citizens can see what he thinks is Orestes's corpse. The shame of your present wretched state, Is all of your own making. Speaking of his mother's lover Aegisthus, he tells Plyades: He killed my father - he and my destructive mother. In other words, revenge is so expected in Greek society that Clytemnestra and Aegisthus fear even an infant. The scepter grew branches from which leaves grew and overshadowed the land. Mourn again for the wasted dead, mourn for the living outlaw somewhere prisoned in foreign lands, passing from one laborer's hearth to the next though born of a glorious sire. (including. Hence, women and men who are fixated in the Electra and Oedipal stages of their psychosexual development might be considered "father-fixated" and "mother-fixated". She has been sent to make an offering at Agamemnon's grave by Clytemnestra, who is terrified by a dream she had the night before that Agamemnon, the husband she murdered, returned and planted his scepter in the floor of the house. Yes, women, if Electra had any sense at all,She wouldnt have thrown all caution to the winds Before giving tongue. In Greek mythology, Electra (or Elektra) was a Mycenean princess. Elektra is defeated by Kirigi. Youve successfully purchased a group discount. In the course of her psychosexual development, the complex is the girl's phallic stage; a boy's analogous experience is the Oedipus complex. In that case, didnt he owe me some satisfaction? Aegisthus asks Electra where the Phocians with news of Orestes's death have gone, and she points inside the house. All that is clear. She is unable to independently construct a prayer to her father's tomb and to the gods, and must as the chorus for assistance. She chastises Electra for mourning in the streets, and the two have an argument about Agamemnon's murder. The idea of the Electra complex is not widely used by mental health professionals today. We want people all over the world to learn about history. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. We cant cross-question her. | She then beseeches Orestes to pity her, his mother, and then she cries out in pain as she receives Orestes's first blow. This sprouted upAnd grew to a leafy branch which overshadowedThe whole of Mycenae. These visions that came to me last night,These doubtful dreams, Lycean Lord,If they boded good, grant them fulfilment;If evil, let them rebound on my foes.If any by craft would steal the wealth That I now enjoy, let it not be.Vouchsafe me always to live as I am,With life unharmed, to govern the house Of Atreus sons and all this realm.To dwell in prosperous joy with the friends I love, who presently share my home.And with those of my children who bear No malice against me nor cause me pain.These prayers, Lycean Apollo, graciously hear And grant us our humble requests. No, Orestes, for gods sake, Dont give him the chance to argue with you. When Clytemnestra arrives, she is murdered, too. Electra: Full Play Summary | SparkNotes Sigmund Freud instead proposed that girls and boys resolved their complexes differentlyshe via penis envy, he via castration anxiety; and that unsuccessful resolutions might lead to neurosis. When a girl's initial sexual attachment to her mother ends upon discovering that shethe daughterhas no penis, she then transfers her libidinal desire (sexual attachment) to her father and increases sexual competition with her mother. As Electra and Orestes rejoice, the Dioscuri (Castor and Polydeuces) appear above the house. You havent the strength To conquer your foes. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. Shameful ways are learned by shameful example. Link/cite this page Orestes and Plyades find Aegisthus out hunting and kill him, taking his body to Electra's home. Electra. So long as I still had word that our brother Orestes Was alive and well, I went on hoping that he Would one day come to avenge his fathers murder. Miasma haunts those of the deceased's family unless that wrongful death is avenged, hence Electra's determination that Clytemnestra die for the king's murder. It was written quite late in Euripides career, some time in the 410s BCE , There is little empirical evidence for it, as the theory's predictions do not match scientific observations of child development. The World History Encyclopedia logo is a registered trademark. He relates how young Orestes was snatched away and grew up in the land of Phocis (194). Pylades, Orestes, and the Old Man, Orestes's keeper, arrive at Mycenae at daybreak. And I am living in a peasants home, wasting my soul up on the mountain tops, in exile from my fathers house. Purchasing Electra admits she would not know her brother if she saw him but she knows someone who would, the man who saved him from death, Agamemnon's tutor. WebFollowing her death, Stick resurrected her and trained her in Kimagure, which grants the practitioner precognition and the ability to resurrect the dead. You need to be sensible now. Classicist Edith Hamilton in her book The Greek Way agreed when she wrote that he was the saddest of the poets, a poet of the world's grief. Our latest articles delivered to your inbox, once a week: Numerous educational institutions recommend us, including Oxford University. Here you are again, holding forthAt the palace gateway! The Trustees of the British Museum (Copyright). Myth Module 3 Flashcards | Quizlet She says: Of all Greek women, you were the only one I know to hug yourself with pleasure when Troy's fortunes rose, but when they sank to cloud your face in sympathy you wanted Agamemnon never to come home. Electra So long as I still had word that our brother Orestes Was alive and well, I went on hoping that he Would one day come to avenge his fathers murder. At the age of 25, Electra suffered two major losses in her life. The placeWe have reached you may call Mycenae, rich in gold,And here the palace of Atreus, rich in blood. So why, why court such senseless anguish? Elektra (character In Sophocles' version, a second sister, Chrysothemis, enters the picture but she refuses to be part of any plot. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1748 titles we cover. Electra is to marry Plyades and leave her home while Orestes (who is being pursued by the Furies) must face a trial; he suffers a fate similar to that in Aeschylus' Oresteia. Electra Orestes turned to the servants and told them I have only paid my father's killer back in blood (230). After war and betrayal, Orestes, with Elektras urging, kills their mother. "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." CLYTEMNESTRA: Why should I feel any concern for her When she has hurled these insults against her mother? Agamemnon killed her daughter; therefore, Clytemnestra had the right, perhaps the duty, to kill him. Electra sends the old farmer to find her father's servant. They say she saw our father beside her again,Restored to life. You say you killed my father. WebElectra mourns excessively and inappropriately, defies Aegisthus, disrespects her mother, and most importantly, she believes herself capable of revenge. Thats how it occurred. Electra World History Publishing is a non-profit company registered in the United Kingdom. He says that Aegisthus is often in the meadow where he grazes his horses and, with only a few servants, he will be there sacrificing a bull for a feast. Both Electra and her brother, Orestes, swear to avenge the murder of their father, Agamemnon, even though he was killed by their mother, Clytemnestra, and her husband, Aegisthus. Webthe last panel before it switches to Naoya shows Maki's mom crying, "No," a few times and then blood spatter on the wall. You'll also receive an email with the link. Now answer this question. WebElectra was the daughter of King Agamemnon and Queen Clytemnestra of Mycenae in Greek mythology. They say she saw our father beside her again,Restored to life. As they speak, Orestes and Plyades exit the house and join them. Freud never made clear his view of the applicability of the Oedipus complex to girls or women. Her husband was her substitute father, psychosexually apparent when she addresses him (the husband) as the "vampire father" haunting her since his death. Wed love to have you back! She had an older brother named Orestez. Free trial is available to new customers only. Electra's mother, Queen Clytemnestra, WebThe term Electra Complex dates back to stories with the Greek mythological character Electra, who teamed up with her brother Orestes to kill her mother and stepfather as an act of revenge for the death of her real father. Then, however, Freud became uncomfortable with the implication of widespread sexual abuse that this theory implied. Elektra and Abby then escape and hide in a hedge maze, but Abby is captured by snakes dispatched by Tattoo. The story of the murder of Clytemnestra and Aegisthus was written about in three different plays: Aeschylus' Libation Bearers (part of his Oresteia), Sophocles' Electra, and Euripedes' Electra. [Orestes] stretched up, balanced on the balls of his feet, and snatched a blow to his spine. I put it to you, it wasnt justice that drove You to kill him. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1748 titles we cover. I never had a man do something like that for me before. A woman of noble birth could not act otherwise. Orestes asks the chorus where he might find the house of Aegisthus. Yes, I did. Despite the obvious acceptance of revenge as a form of justice in Greek society, Sophocles questions if revenge really is all that just, and points out that it is easily abused and misinterpreted. In August 1998, her sister Debbie died of a heart attack. This sighing offers no release from sufferings chains. Psychoanalytic literary critics have claimed to discover the Electra complex in fairy tales and other historic sources. Yes, I did. Your group members can use the joining link below to redeem their group membership. A daughter of King Agamemnon, Iphigenia was put on the sacrificial altar by her father, to appease the goddess Artemis. In August 1998, her sister Debbi Electra's younger brother, Orestes, was safely out of reach of the two (as he was Agamemnon's heir and would have been killed by them), but for years Electra herself was subjected to constant abuse at the hands of her mother and Aegisthus. LitCharts Teacher Editions. Carmen Electra Talks About Mothers Miscarriage - 2paragraphs When she sees the troubles that haunt her fathers houseNot fading away but growing day and night. Psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Carl Jung coined the term Electra complex. CHORUS. This included tricking her so he could sacrifice their eldest daughter, Iphigenia, to Artemis, as compensation for killing the goddess's sacred deer and to allow the Greeks to sail to Troy in order to retrieve Helen, Menelaus's wife and Clytemnestra's twin sister. Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. CHORUS: But how, how will dirges and prayers Help to summon your father back, Up from the Lake of Death which none escapes? "Killed her mother to avenge her father's wrongful death. She is far too weak, ruled as she is by her emotions rather than her logic. Perhaps her anger ultimately stems from her realization that she will never achieve the same kind of bond with Orestes that her mother has, for she is not their equal. Ill give you the answer. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. This father of yours whom youre always lamenting Committed the most barbaric crime: he sacrificed Your sister to the gods. Abby arrives and Electra by Euripides As far as Electra is concerned, Clytemnestras claim to justice is on shaky ground. Youre not a man, but a woman. No, you were seduced by the evil man Who is now your partner. You'll be billed after your free trial ends. After this angry altercation, Clytemnestra, standing beside an altar, prays to Apollo for wealth, longevity, and, in guarded terms, for the death of her son, Orestes, so that he might not return and disrupt her life. But SuperSummary Study Guides available only to subscribers provide so much more! Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. Electra, also spelt Elektra , is one of the most popular mythological characters in tragedies. ELECTRA: I swear, yes, I swear, Artemis be my strength,Ill never stoop to fear my old foes again. Electra's mother, Queen Clytemnestra, hated Agamemnon for several past cases of abuse against her. Similarly, Clytemnestra tells Electra that her murder of Agamemnon was likewise just. It is assumed that Orestes will grow up to avenge his fathers death, and Electra sends him away to save her brothers life. LitCharts Teacher Editions. The almost comic banter of the cook and the two servants is a much needed lessening of the tension which Hofmannsthal has created. You can view our. The chorus, which is comprised of the virgins of the palace, attempt to console Electra, but Electra, bemoaning the oppression she suffers at her mother's hands, her deep sorrow at her father's death, and her longing for Orestes' return, proves inconsolable. Her mothers arrival, with a friend Shallan didnt recognize, to confront her father. Orestes, Pylades, and the old slave enter the palace, leaving, him to remove it himself, since the body underneath actually belongs to Aegisthus. Thus, the play suggests, there is little wisdom in continuing its vicious cycles. Dont you believe shed stoop to anything? Carmen Electra Talks About Mothers Miscarriage This prompted a chain of events that led to several deaths. Only the pain of growing Old without the blessings of love or marriage. ", *Grabbed by Dante* "Father, is it you?" Their star is rising daily,While our fortunes are ebbing away to nothing.Who could plot to murder a man as strong As Aegisthus and then emerge from the fray unscathed? Without a penis, the girl cannot sexually possess her mother, as the infantile id demands. A SuperSummary Study Guide a modern alternative to Sparknotes & CliffsNotes provides so much more, including chapter-by-chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and important quotes. They exit, leaving Electra alone at home. What was she punishing? Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. $18.74/subscription + tax, Save 25% 20% Electra emerges from inside the palace gates, pouring forth her grief in a mournful address to the heavens and praying to the deities to help her exact revenge for her father's death. Electra Summary | SuperSummary From the chorus's standpoint, Electra is a commendable girl who knows her place in society and who supports rather than threatens the proper male order. The play Libation Bearers was written by one of the greatest of Greek literature has influenced not only its Roman neighbors to World History Encyclopedia is an Amazon Associate and earns a commission on qualifying book purchases. Sign up for our free weekly email newsletter! Electra sends word to her mother that she has given birth and wishes Clytemnestra to see the baby. Meanwhile, Orestes and Plyades find Aegisthus hunting and kill him, returning to Electra's home with the body. WebLines 18602008 Summary Once Orestes, Pylades, and the Old Man have entered into the house, Electrawho is outside the palace gates to make sure that Aegisthus does not approach unobservedurges the chorus to be silent so that they might hear Clytemnestra's cries coming from inside. Shall grace our world no more; She chose the true but bitter part,With never-falling skill, He treasures But, as in all Greek tragedy, right and wrong are complicated. Realizing he is speaking to his sister, Orestes eases her distress: I have come to bring you a spoken message from your brother (201) He tells her that her brother is alive. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. (one code per order). Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. The term Electra Complex dates back to stories with the Greek Your constant pretext is simply this: I killed Your father. Electra sends word to her mother that she has given birth and wishes Clytemnestra to see the baby. If murder judges and calls for murder, I will kill you - and your son Orestes will kill you - for Father. Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! Our publication has been reviewed for educational use by Common Sense Education, Internet Scout (University of Wisconsin), Merlot (California State University), OER Commons and the School Library Journal. From here, some years ago, when your father was murdered,Your sister Electra handed you into my care.I carried you off, I saved your life, and thenI brought you up as my own, until you reached Your prime of manhood, to avenge your fathers murder. Subscribe now. Discount, Discount Code WebLines 1-85 As Orestes, Pylades, and an old slave arrive before the palace of Mycenae, the old slave points to the city and tells the story of how Orestes left it long ago. -Graham S. The timeline below shows where the character Electra appears in. According to Greek mythology, Electra was the daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra. Elektra (2005 film) - Wikipedia WebShe listens excitedly to the sounds of Orestes killing Clytemnestra. [22], Some feminist authors reexamine or appropriate Freud's ideas to make their points about the sexism in the female Oedipus complex.