Source edition
Sophocles, Volume 2. Storr, Francis, editor. London; New York: William Heinemann Ltd.; The Macmillan Company, 1913.
Source data
Perseus Digital Library · CC BY-SA (per Perseus's terms)
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
This Greek tragedy depicts the intense grief and relentless desire for vengeance of Electra, a princess whose father, Agamemnon, was murdered upon his return from the Trojan War. Enduring abuse from her mother Clytemnestra and her mother's lover Aegisthus, Electra clings to the hope that her exiled brother, Orestes, will return to avenge their father. The plot unfolds as Orestes arrives in secret, devising a plan to spread a false report of his own death to gain access to the palace. Devastated by the news, Electra resolves to carry out the vengeance alone despite her sister Chrysothemis's warnings, but her despair turns to joy when Orestes reveals his true identity in a dramatic recognition scene. Together, the siblings execute their deadly plan, killing first Clytemnestra and then Aegisthus. The drama masterfully portrays the psychological tension of the characters as they fulfill their grim duty under the weight of a cursed lineage.