Overview

Synopsis

Justice and revenge lie at the heart of Sophocles’ Electra, still considered today a remarkable achievement in the canon of Greek tragedy. Based on one of the last episodes in the Mycenae royal family, Electra finds Orestes, son of the murdered King Agamemnon, returning home secretly after being taken out of Mycenae for his own protection. Intent on avenging his father’s murder, Orestes conceives a plan to trick his family into believing that he’s dead so he can take revenge on the killers: his mother, Clytemnestra, and her lover, Aegisthus. Electra has all the elements of classic Greek tragedy, and was considered by some to be a masterpiece. Scholars aren’t sure exactly when it was written, but believe it was near the end of Sophocles’ career, between 420 and 414 BC.

Show Information

Book
Sophocles
Category
Play
Age Guidance
Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
Number of Acts
1
Genres
Drama
Settings
Period, Unit/Single Set
Time & Place
Before a palace in Argos, Ancient Greece.
Cast Size
medium
Orchestra Size
None
Licensor
None/royalty-free
Ideal For
College/University, Regional Theatre, Ensemble Cast, High School, Includes Adult, Young Adult, Mature Adult, Elderly Characters, Medium Cast

Context


Plot


Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Electra

Lead

Female

Non-singer

Aegisthus

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Chrysothemis

Supporting

Female

Non-singer

Clytemnestra

Supporting

Female

Non-singer

Orestes

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Pedagogus

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Pylades

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Chorus of Women

Ensemble

Female

Non-singer

Songs

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A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

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Scenes

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Key Terms

Videos

Quizzes

Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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Quote Analysis

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Guide Written By:

Kevan Dunkelberg

Kevan Dunkelberg

Oklahoma-based drama teacher, actor and playwright