Chorus Go, young girl! Too glad to commit the girl to the goddess. You ask me what theyve done to me? 1421. Klytaimestra What shall I tell your little sisters? 303. Madam, let this sword of mine bear witness to what Im about to say! Whether they treat me well or appallingly makes no difference to them. Klytaimestra Who then was the heir to the House of Aeacus? 500. Still, by then it is too late. Those worthy of praise find it a hateful thing when they are praised too profusely. They say that Zeus had transformed himself into a bird and then slept with your mother. Euripides seemed to like this approach to duty, as the character who ends up with the ultimate compliment in the end-being whisked away by a goddess-portrays these ideals perfectly. Accomplish your tasks, old man! First Chorus And there I saw the two Ajaxes sitting together: Oeleus son and the son of Telemon, the crown ofSalamisand Protisilaos and Palamides, whose father is Poseidons son. As Iphigeneia approaches her, Agamemnon enters. . Spare my young life, father. Now that Agamemnon has insulted me, dishonoured me so badly, I feel like a like a nobody. Let me hug him tightly against my breast before you do! . Youd greet anyone and everyone, hoping with this behaviour to gain their approval and thus become their leader. Iphigenia in Aulis is an Ancient Greek play written by Euripides. Once the wise old Tyndareus had convinced them all to take these oaths, he allowed his daughter to choose the suitor she liked and Helen allowed herself to be guided by the sweet, lusty sighs of Aphrodite in her heart. "I envy you old man. How could I possibly express my gratitude to you in a modest way? 990. Lets think through this together, my lady. But I will talk: the strong ought to help the weak where they can, even if they have little to do with their plight. Go inside now! There, my lady, there, upon the ground, lay a large animal, a beautiful stag, letting out its last breaths. My armed comrades will be there with me to save your life, to stop your execution. When Agamemnon tries to avoid sacrificing Iphigenia, Menelaus calls Agamemnon a traitor to both Greece and his own brother. Achilles He was elected, all right, but he didnt say no! A black Fate for all three of us! Are you still sleeping my baby? IPHIGENIA IN AULIS Essay Paper (427 words) - Happyessays But let me try and persuade you and let her stay inside the tent. Chorus You, evil Helen! A wise man must keep in his house a good and faithful woman, or else he should never marry! I am here, madam, as I will be in Troy also, to defend with my shield and with my spear my honour as a man and to do my best to glorify the god of war, Ares. Lets not have the common tongues wag against us. 1300. My mother! Menelaos First, look at me in the eye and then Ill tell you! The young heifers that will be sacrificed and that will deliver their abundant dark blood to the goddess Artemis are ready. i. Trans. 691. I know, Im behaving as if I were some god towards you though Im a mere mortal. Where did you catch him? Be careful not to disgrace your ancestors house. Your daughter, my lady, has today seen both death and life! The whole Greek army, Klytaimestra, thats who! Im lost! Menelaos See this? Click anywhere in the Youve done all you could to help your big sister, havent you? Achilles First, plead with him. Its good that the children will be spared. What ruin, what catastrophe youve brought upon me by running off with Helen! Gods forbid that I should choose to lose a brother to win a Helen! You will kill the one whos loved by all so as to save the one whos hated by all! The Plot of Iphigeneia at Aulis - The Randolph College Greek Play Youve murdered Tantalus, my first husband and with even more brutal violence, youve torn my baby from my breast and dashed it hard against the ground! First Chorus Women protect it well by avoiding immoderate love and men by bringing civil order in their city, thus making it great. First Chorus Mortals vary in body as well as in mind but true virtue, which comes from a good upbringing and a good education, always stands out. Would you like her to plead at your knees? Menelaos Leave! Agamemnon Of course you do so long as you dont try to ruin them! Anger and impatience which I must control. 620. 1080. Agamemnon Damn them, indeed as I am damned, Iphigeneia, I and many others! Ive missed you so much. Leaders are but slaves to the common folk. Old Man He tricked you about the marriage with Achilles, my lady, so that youd be willing to come here. I have brought with me your daughter, Iphigeneia and her mother -your wife- Klytaimestra, as well as your young son, Orestes. The Plot of Iphigeneia at Aulis. Summary of Iphigenia in Aulis Prologue The play opens with a prologue which starts with a dubitable, suspiciously non-Euripidean discussion between Agamemnon and a loyal Servant of his, in which the commander of the Greeks under Troy expresses second thoughts over the content of a previously sent letter to his wife Clytemnestra. Miserable, Agamemnon says he has no choice. 58. Iphigeneia The same song, mother, the same words tell both our fates, dear mother and I Ive lost the days sweet light, the sweet light of the suns rays! Agamemnon Achilles is acting in name only and not in deed. The play is co-produced by the Court Theatre of Chicago, directed by Charles Newell, and translated by Nicholas Rudall. And how did you respond to that? 1290. Mother, no! He is the very reason you are here! Most treacherously wronged by your closest friends. Iphigeneia Artemis altar will be my grave. I take your kind welcome and gracious words as signs of a good omen. Calchas. How should I start? She looks around the stage anxiously for a minute. Master! 1130. First Chorus Atreas son, Menelaos, brought with him fromMycenae, the city built by the Cyclopes, one hundred ships and all the sailors to man them. Come, friends, sing with me in praise of the goddess whose temple faces Chalkis, the place where the spears of war are waiting for me in anger! Klytaimestra You, alone? What should I call your deeds to make them also sound lovely? A kiss to remember you by in the underworld, since my words have not convinced you. Klytaimestra Oh, Gods! Come, then, Lord Agamemnon, make a start on the celebrations. Tell me the reason you will give no let me speak on your behalf, because I know what you will say. You havent given birth to me simply for your own sake! . Help us, Achilles! IPHIGENIA Had I, my father, the persuasive voice Of Orpheus, and his skill to charm the rocks To follow me, and soothe whome'er I please With winning words, I would make trial of it; But I have nothing to present thee now Save tears, my only eloquence; and those I can present thee. Difficult. But now? What marriage are you talking about, madam? If the gods are just, then they should reward just men like you. Can you not see these men in full armour? Id rather live a life full of misery than die a heros death! It is unjust that you should be mourning while Im living a life full of joy. She reminds him of how they used to plan her future and tells him how much she wants to live. Chorus There goes the girl with garlands on her hair and holy water upon her head! So now, go on, take them all, take all these lunatics, all these soldiers and lead them on to the expedition. Klytaimestra Dear Achilles! All the women are frightened and turn towards it. Now, you must take with you our newborn son from here and go back home. 80. Klytaimestra A sweet word of love from you? 164. The strength of the minor characters in Agamemnon distinguishes this play from a number of Aeschylus' other works. Iphigenia - Greek Mythology Link Menelaos How else, then, can you, Agamemnon, prove that we are brothers? You felt a great deal of joy when you came in that house, and when you went out of it you felt a wealthy man. Come out here and bring your little brother, Orestes with you. First Chorus Words worthy of Tantalus, Zeus son. I was beaten by all the noise. 900. Helen, wife of Menelaus, king of Sparta, had eloped to Troy with Paris, son of King Priam. I shall serve Greece! Klytaimestra bursts into tears. Returned soldiers emerge as protagonists in Pierre-Michel Tremblay's Au Champ de Mars, Hannah Moscovitch's This Is War, and George F. Walker's Dead Metaphor while Evan Webber and Frank Cox-O'Connell Little Iliad deals with a soldier about to be dispatched to Afghanistan. Chorus And there it was that Dardanos poured the heavenly nectar into the deep golden cups of the gods. 150. Iphigenia in Aulis or Iphigenia at Aulis (Ancient Greek: , romanized: phigneia en Auldi; variously translated, including the Latin Iphigenia in Aulide) is the last of the extant works by the playwright Euripides. An unrelenting curse. How. If only I could! Agamemnon approaches Iphigeneia and tries to console her. If Im right, do the sensible thing and dont kill out darling. Chorus There goes the destroyer of Troy and her people! Your father has gone, my darling and abandoned you to Hades! There is a small oil lamp on the table as well as various writing implements. Come on, wont you beg your father not to kill your big sister? Stuffed full with men and spears. Iphigeneia at Aulis Flashcards | Quizlet Agamemnon Look at you? Where shall I begin? I envy any man whose life passes quietly, unnoticed by fame. In order to appease her and sail on to Troy, Agamemnon was forced to sacrifice his daughter, Iphigenia; the Chorus describes in detail her pitiful cries for mercy as her father's men cut her throat. Family and Duty Theme in Iphigenia at Aulis | LitCharts Menelaos No! 543. He, madam, hes the cause of all your torment, madam. Will he not get furious with you and with your wife if you deprive him of his bride? Iphigenia in Aulis by Euripides - Greek Mythology However, when Agamemnon breaks down in tears, Menelaus relents. Amazon.com: Iphigenia in Aulis: 9781534322158: Euripides, Einhorn Menelaos Who gave me the right? Son of the Nereid, you are marrying my daughter. PDF Cite Share. She turns and looks sadly around her, then up at the sun. Iphigenia at Aulis (the title is sometimes rendered as Iphigenia in Aulis) has been criticised for its melodrama, but its portrayal of the central character's decision to agree to renounce her life for the 'greater good', and Agamemnon's ambivalence about sacrificing his own daughter, make it a curious and satisfying play which repays close analysis . Let our friends here see how happy you make me. Then, the moment you became one, all this nice behaviour changed and you had turned your back on all your friends. Hell be the man wholl take his army of spear-loving Myrmidons and turn Priams city into rubble. Achilles, stay! Come! And, no, I will not murder my children and certainly wont do it so that you can wrongfully enjoy some sort of vengeance exacted from a disgraceful wife, while I waste away in tears day and night because I had committed such a godless crime against them, against my own flesh and blood. Iphigeneia Then I shall be stupid and make you laugh! If I try to stop them they will kill us all. Open navigation menu. Klytaimestra Thats what a mob is like! Iphigenia in Aulis: Third Stasimon - JSTOR AGAMEMNON Old man, come hither and stand before my dwelling. The Watchman, whose . ("Agamemnon", "Hom. Agamemnon Zeus. i. Trans. Klytaimestra Darling, no! Whether I want to do so or not, I must obey Hellas. Let me tell you why I am angry. Its going past those seven stars, the Pleiades, my lord straight through the very centre of the heavens. The Old Man fearfully pokes his head through the flaps of the tent. Give me a big hug! Where is the army going? Iphigenia I am ashamed to face Achilles. Leave! What has brought on all this anxiety? Achilles Alone? Klytaimestra Why? Agamemnon Curse Calchas and his whole horde of glory-loving prophets! Look! Full of joy and yet tears flow from your eyes 650. 480. You have chosen logic and good intentions to that of continuing a war against Fate and against Necessity. Iphigeneia Stop! PDF Iphigenia in Aulis - Labyrinth Awful! 'Iphigenia at Aulis' features new works by J.D. Steele, 40-voice choir For a while, Iphigenia in Splott (a district of Cardiff about 20 minutes' walk from the the theatre) seems like a pretty normal contemporary monologue. Let that stand for me in place of the children and the marriage I could have had. How I pity you! Greece is lucky to have you as one of her daughters I envy her and I envy you because you are lucky to have Greece as your mother. I told her to bring our daughter here so that she may marry Achilles. Now come out of Agamemnons tent. Klytaimestra goes into the tent. I am resolved to die; and this I want to do with honor, dismissing from me what is mean. Youre drowning me in misery. Achilles Yes, many and theyll be lead by Odysseus! Agamemnon, her father will sacrifice her to the goddess Artemis. Euripides - "Greek Dramas" (p251, 1900): Internet Archive Book Images, Translated by George Theodoridis Copyright 2007, all rights reserved - Bacchicstage. Chorus And their call to the Nereid was loud and clear: 1061. My country! IPHIGENIA IN AULIS - Monologue (Clytemnestra) A monologue from the play by Euripides NOTE: This monologue is reprinted from The Plays of Euripides in English, vol. An XML version of this text is available for download, Klytaimestra How can there be a death and not a grave? Among these the problem of the prologue is as clear-cut as it is controversial.2 It may be summarized as follows: (I) Our text opens abruptly with an anapaestic dialogue between Agamem-non and the Retainer (1-48), instead of the usual monologue in trimeters. There is no point. Its not proper for young girls to be in the public eye for too long. His wifes doing, so, let him kill his wifes daughter. Iphigeneia Yes, mother. But my brother, using all sorts of arguments, finally persuaded me to commit this dreadful deed! 210, First Chorus The two horses in the centre, those that took the weight of the yoke, were dappled with spots of white; the two on the outside carried the traces and they had to negotiate the turns on the track. 1318. 450. Not before I tell all the Greeks what it says! Euripides (c.480-c.406 BC) - Iphigenia In Aulis: Translated by George And how is it that you, a woman, is here, where the whole army of the Greek men and their shields is gathered? Pause. The Plays of Euripides, translated by E. P. Coleridge. Remember, father? George Bell and Sons. 1380. I offer my body to my country and to the rest of Greece, willingly. First Chorus Theyre off to bring back Helen, Menelaos wife, whom Paris, the Trojan cowherd, abducted from her home inSparta, a city built by the reed-covered banks of the river, Eurotas. What destruction! Married and single alike? However, when he tries to rally the Greeks against the sacrifice, he discovers that the entirety of the Greek soldiers demand that Agamemnon's wishes be carried out. Chorus Awesome is the power of giving birth! Messenger My dear lady I shall. Clytemnestra hears that Achilles is faithless, whereupon she at once urges Iphigenia to leave Aulis and return home. See that there are no wheel marks on the road. And thats when shell discover my treachery! All this is his own doing. Please lend me your arms, so that I may get down from the seat of this carriage modestly. Figure 2.3: Iphigenia being dragged toward the altar for sacrifice, 91 430-420 BCE. Whos calling through that half-opened door? So, we have all gathered here and here we are still, tied down by the weather! Which one will not wonder if it will be the next one you take to the slaughter? You are the cause of it! This is desperate behaviour, my lord and it leaves no doubt to anyone who sees you, my lord, that youve gone mad! An introduction to a classic play. I dont want anyone to think despicable things about me. It was a lie. Still, its not proper for me to be talking with a woman. Iphigenia decides to sacrifice her life for the glory of Greece. This got me so angry that the very next moment I ordered Talthybius to use his powerful voice and call the army to disband. You already had one and you couldnt control her. 680. Do you hear them, Helen? Calchas will find out for me what it is the goddess will be satisfied with though, I know, it will be something which will bring me misery and a great deal of hard suffering for the rest of Greece. Why? He is the son of the goddess Thetis, and his tutor was Cheiron, the most honourable of all the centaurs. Orpheus, who could charm even the heartless rocks into following him! 27. By the goddess Hera, protector ofArgosand of marriage, I shall not do so! It was upon the forests of Trojan Ida, its woods covered thickly by the shroud of snow where King Priam once abandoned his child boy, Paris. Some of you stand by at the front of the horses to quieten them. Now call her out here so she can follow me to the altar. Klytaimestra Ill certainly try that if thats the last thing I do! No one was ever born to a life free of misery. In revenge for Agamemmnon killing one of her sacred stags, the goddess Artemis demands the sacrifice of his eldest daughter . Why should I, a faithful wife, endure the misery of having my daughter killed while she, a slut, gets to rejoice by having her daughter kept safely at home, in Sparta? Let the Greeks win, mother, not the barbarians. There are times when the gods shun you, reject you, thwart your every effort and there are times, too, when the whining and the moaning of your men crush you! They hate me the most! Is this true or is it yet another one of these tales conjured up by the poets and then spread idly about the world through the ages? Come, my darling daughter, come, Iphigeneia, come and stand near me. I need to tell you things that our daughter should not hear. Achilles I told them that if thats what they thought, then they should not kill my intended wife. It is my name that he will be using as his sword to slaughter Iphigeneia and this awful man will disgrace my body if I let your daughter, who was about to marry me and who has suffered this insufferable fete die because of me. Am I not allowed to manage the affairs of my own home, in my own way, now? Youve persuaded me with wise words. Ive also missed you! Iphigenia in Aulis Wikipedia Republished // WIKI 2 Iphigenia in Aulis on the Stage and in Art | Getty Iris It is Hellas I must obey, darling, not Menelaos.