Iphigeneia Mother, he will sacrifice me for the sake of our country, for Hellas, against his will. It is our custom to bury sacrificial offerings. Stuffed full with men and spears. First Chorus And I saw Gerenian Nestor who came from Pylos. Klytaimestra Thats where they say the centaurs live. We will soon reveal Agamemnons sacrilegious schemes against his very own children! To stop me from coming here or to urge me to do so? 420, The soldiers talk and they ask questions. 1140. But as for you, daughter of Agamemnon! 500. I want no one to lose tears over my grave. You will say that youve killed our daughter so that Menelaos, your brother, can get back his Helen! He and no one else! 1180. This light is the sweetest thing that can fill the eyes! His baby sounds will make no sense but theyll be full of meaning. Dont force me to become evil! 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! 240, First Chorus Their emblem was the goddess, Palas Athena, standing on a chariot pulled by winged horses, an emblem that pleased and encouraged the sailors. 1580. Menelaos Useless when you need them and a curse when you dont. There, alongside of them, ran Achilles, Peleas son, in his full armour. 1290. First Chorus Come, children of Chalkis, let us go and give the Argive Queen our gentle and firm hand to help her step down safely from her carriage and let us look welcoming towards Agamemnons glorious daughter lest she be afraid of having arrived here at this place and at this time; and let us also make sure that the Argive women feel no distress or concern for being strangers in a strange place. Its covered with a cloak. Daughter of Tyndareus! You are, indeed, a noble soul and you leave me speechless and unable to argue against your views. Here she is but Ill do the talking for both of us. Old Man That womans there. I accepted my fortune and youll admit that I have always been a good wife to you. 666 words. No! If your pleas work and they save the girls life, then my intervention will not be necessary. MENELAOS (Agamemnons brother, King ofSparta), IPHIGENIA (Daughter of Agamemnon and Klytaimestra), ACHILLES (Chief of the Myrmidons, an army), SECOND CHORUS (Men and women ofArgos, attendants to Klytaimestra and Iphigeneia). The moment we got there with your daughter all the Greek soldiers gathered around us. 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. If the oracle has given me some say into your daughters fate then I pass that say over to you. 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. Things that should best be kept away from a brides ear. I shall give it to her for the sake of Greece. Iphigeneia If only it were possible to take me with you, father. Help us for that reason and help us, too, because if my daughter is killed on the altar that would be a bad omen for your future marital prospects, an omen you should try and avoid. IPHIGENIA A T A ULIS presents many problems to the literary and textual critic. 58. And thats why the whole ofGreecerose up in arms with great fervour. Ive changed because of my love for my mothers son. Consistently, And Im very pleased to see you, too! Iphigenia's mother Clytemnestra is also determined to save her. Old Man You should not have opened this letter! All of us? Klytaimestra But who on earth would dare touch you, Achilles? Enter a Perseus citation to go to another section or work. Agamemnon Here, at the harbour, near our beautiful Greek ships. But then, suddenly a miracle happened, my lady! Her expedition to Troy and its destruction depends upon me. Iphigeneia Wish them joy for me and take good care of my little brother, Orestes for me. They cry when they wish and speak their mind freely, something which a leader cannot do: its undignified, its an insult to the splendour of his position and his whole life is controlled by it. The single men have left their houses empty and uncared for and the married ones have left their wives and children behind. First Chorus The left flank of the Greek armada ended with the twelve trim and fast ships, led byAjaxwhose birthplace isSalamis. With what face shall I receive hers? All of us we all heard the awful thud of the striking sword but when we looked up, we could not see the girl anywhere! 1590, He spoke and he said, Chiefs of the Greek army, can you see this offering? To let this man succeed in this deed, to let him use my name as his bloody sword, would be to make me the worst of all the Greeks a worthless man, one more cowardly than Menelaos, as if I were not the son of Peleas but that of some evil demon. 880. Can you see what the goddess has placed upon her altar? You, Agamemnon, are doing what countless others have also done in public life: While theyre in power they put up enormous efforts to keep it but then, when the public makes a stupid decision sometimes understandably so because the leader is too weak to lead the State- these public figures fall all in a heap and they disgrace themselves! 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. The barbarian blood of the sons of Atreas, of your husband, madam and that of his brother, if either of them snatches your daughter from my hands! Up there is my final argument. Then Achilles, Peleas son, took the golden basket and the holy water in his hands and ran around the goddess altar, chanting 1570. It is a bitter thing for a father to take, a father who has worked hard but who must send his daughters away away to another household. Agamemnon He lives in Phthia, by the river Apidanus. Gods forbid that I should choose to lose a brother to win a Helen! Iphigenia I am ashamed to face Achilles. Agamemnon Achilles is acting in name only and not in deed. And I beg you also for my mothers sake, the woman who laboured to bring me to life, the woman who is being tortured even now. In his frenzy, he rushed about the whole ofGreece, calling upon everyone to remember Tyndareus solemn oath and to help him, since he was the wronged husband. Klytaimestra Ah! And tell me another thing, Agamemnon: when you return home, when you come back to Argos, will you have the gall to put your arms around any of your children? I dont want anyone to think despicable things about me. It is what a mother must do! Which one will it be? Only the two choruses are now present. On thy knees I hang, A suppliant wreath, this body, which she bore Come, then, father, turn to me and give me a final kiss. George Bell and Sons. Let them all see which one should be sacrificed. I was not going to slaughter my own daughter, old man! He was the one responsible for that job. There is no need! My life, mummy, my life has been saved! This sword will have blood on it even before I leave for Troy! Now the strength rests with Irreverence and Virtue is now scorned by the mortals. Dont suppose for one minute that Ill be asking them to treat you well. She looks around the stage anxiously for a minute. Where is the leader of the Greek army? What horror! If I try to stop them they will kill us all. Happy noises of incoming royal procession, including horses and chariot are heard within, Stage Left. Agamemnon We are brothers when we are doing what is reasonable, not when we do what is madness. Rolls her hand gently through her own hair. Old Man How can you say such a thing, my lord? Not mine, thats for sure. Youre drowning me in misery. No mother, no father. Gather the baskets for the sacrifices, place wreaths on your head. 1250. Chiron, the wise teacher, was entrusted by a wiser parent! Iphigeneia Make your worries go away, daddy. Youve persuaded me with wise words. If the gods are just, then they should reward just men like you. It seems Im eagerly preparing for an imaginary wedding! Agamemnon Yes, dear because our separation will be a long one. Achilles By the goddess Modesty! You just cant imagine Calchas joy, madam! Agamemnon Calchas will reveal his oracles to the men. Achilles I do, my lady and I can see its a horrible thing for you to endure. Im angry because King Agamemnon has insulted me so gravely. A kiss to remember you by in the underworld, since my words have not convinced you. Chorus He is the Trojan Ganymede, the loving delight of Zeus bed! Iphigeneia Shall we set up choruses around it, daddy? Weddings are blessed things but still very tough on the hearts of the brides parents. Yet it is right that she should come with her sweet daughter to give her away as a bride. Next to these were the Athenian ships -sixty of them, and these were captained by Theseus son. Please dont get angry with me. Iphigeneias scream of grief is suddenly heard from within the tent. Chorus Youre a brave girl, Iphigeneia. Do you not want to fight for her? But listen to me, Iphigeneia. Sweet daughter! And I? Helen fell in love with him and he fell in love with Helen. Iphigenia O mother that bore me! Oh, my sweet daughter! I wrap its limbs around your knees and beg you: Please father, do not cut off my life short. Menelaos If you dont let go of it I shall crack your skull open with this staff! Rather, its the fact that you need a good woman one to fill your arms with and, in order to get her, youve lost your wits and your manners! Last Updated on July 14, 2022, by eNotes Editorial. For use by any theatrical, educational or cinematic organisation, however, including a non-commercial one, permission must be sought. I shall think of nothing else but you from now on. Youre the one, after all, who, even though the gods have helped you rid yourself of a bad wife, there you are, still intent on getting her back! Iphigeneia Damn all these spears of Menelaos! Effie (Sophie Melville) is a hard-nosed . Can you see this stag, this animal that walks about in the mountains? Can you not see these men in full armour? Has my husband gone insane? Iphigeneia I am ashamed because my marriage has turned out to be such a dismal failure. I also feel ashamed Iturns towards the tent. Ah, heres your father, go to him, darling! Do you think Im some slave of yours? Ultimately, Euripides uses Iphigenia at Aulis to argue that the ancient Greek impulse to revere one's lineage or parentage while effectively ignoring the duty one has to one's living, breathing family is one which creates sadness, discord, anger, and even the impulse for revenge. The strength of the minor characters in Agamemnon distinguishes this play from a number of Aeschylus' other works. Iphigeneia Oh, Im so happy youve brought me here to see you. Come, go into my tent now. I know hes around here somewhere. I have tried desperately to send Klytaimestra away from here but Ive failed. The girl is with the gods! First Chorus I, too, feel pity for you if it is at all proper for a foreigner to feel pity for the plight of kings. First Chorus What an awful thing it is for brothers whose views differ to come to insults! Be careful of one thing, Menelaos: Be careful when youre walking among the men not to let Klytaimestra find out anything about the sacrifice; at least not until after Ive sent my daughter to Hades. I shall do as you say. Stay here. 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. 450. Chorus And the weeping and wailing of Priams daughters and of his wife will be bitter and piercing. Old Man To stop you By then he had come back to his senses. Clytemnestra It is the goddess' son you see, child, for whom you came here. Well! CLYTEMNESTRA: Now hear me, for my thoughts will I unfold In no obscure and coloured mode of speech. I have my army, the famous Myrmidons, wasting their time hanging about the quiet waters ofEpirus, getting angrier and more impatient by the minute. Here, take it now and carry it over toArgos. And then, if his prophesies are found to be false, he vanishes! They will reach the silvery eddies of the Simois river that runs through Apollos stronghold, the rocky plains ofTroy. Iphigeneia Separation? The whole place glitters with the bronze armour of the warriors. Do you not care about me any more? The world beneath the earth is a world of nothing. I can see you there now: a nobleman becoming a brother-in-law to a nobleman, to the divine Achilles, the son of Thetis the Nereid. How much more time do we need to waste on this expedition toTroy? 560. Euripides - "Greek Dramas" (p251, 1900): Internet Archive Book Images, Translated by George Theodoridis Copyright 2007, all rights reserved - Bacchicstage. Tell me! i. Trans. I need to tell you things that our daughter should not hear. How can I endure your death? Od. Soldiers, go and tear down Troy! Klytaimestra Will anyone come to take her away? What does the army want? Ive missed you so much. Iphigeneia Are you sending me to live with another family, daddy? No! Agamemnon I would, but some god has made both you andGreeceinsane! Who gave you the right to spy upon my affairs? Klytaimestra I hear you, I hear you! And, they should also swear that they would attack and destroy the land of the wrongdoer by the force of arms, whether his land is Greek or foreign. Come and hear my news! Agamemnon! 471. First Chorus The right wing of this naval force was taken up by the fifty swift ships of the war-loving Myrmidons from Phthia. Here is the body that your wife has given birth to. Achilles Yes, many and theyll be lead by Odysseus! How should I start? Next to him was Nireas, first among the Greeks in beauty. Now that Agamemnon has insulted me, dishonoured me so badly, I feel like a like a nobody. Agamemnon Are you, darling? Very difficult. Madam, let this sword of mine bear witness to what Im about to say! Agamemmnon's fleet is stranded by bad weather in the bay of Aulis and his troops are growing mutinous. My hair! Agamemnon No, the wedding was held in the sacred valleys of Pelion, where Cheiron lives. What a hateful, bitter sight is Helen! Iphigenia at Aulis seems to have been constructed in a society in which it was ideal to put nation and family ahead of oneself. With his own sword, madam he will make bloody the young girls white neck bloody it with her own blood! Old Man Dying for my master will be a glorious thing. Chorus With what joy the Muses pounded the earth with their gold-sandaled feet as they climbed the mountain side to get to the wedding! To the lowly and weak mortals, the fortunate always appear like gods. Let someone go and prepare the sacrificial basket and may the blessed fire burn high with the purifying barley. She leads her mother into the tent and returns to centre stage. Please, father! (A father's conduct here I blame), A joyless victim bred; When o'er the strand of Aulis, in the pride. Stop waiting for those indecisive sons of Atreas to tell you what to do. Menelaos Brother, give me your right arm! Menelaos I was waiting to see if your daughter would leaveArgosto come to the army camp. What a disgraceful behaviour! A coward. Achilles, stay! Ah! Achilles The whole army is calling out for. 1031. Then, without anyone forcing you, totally of your accord and dont claim it wasnt- you had sent a letter to your wife to bring Iphigenia here, in the pretence that shed be marrying Achilles. What about your own soldiers, Achilles, what about your Myrmidons? Achilles I did but theyre shouting at me, too! This breath that quieted the breezes in the Greek sails! It is improper for tears to be shed during holy rites. Shhhh listen to me! Old Man In all other things, no, my lady. Make sure this golden hair god stays far away from my bed chamber! Whats with this flushed face of yours? Figure 2.1: A possible sacrifice (Iphigenia or Polyxena). That light, this light all around us, will cut all other arguments to pieces. 910. All right, youve stopped me Im waiting. Help us, Achilles! 370. 1171, I would be there, alone, Agamemnon, wailing, crying bitter tears, yelling, Darling Iphigeneia! Klytaimestra But youre saying that I can not mourn your death, my darling! Come, tell me, share your story with me. 919. Your own baby! Klytaimestra May joy be with you for ever, Achilles. Klytaimestra Stop your shouting. Old Man Both of you have pitiable fates, my lady! They first worked. Let our friends here see how happy you make me. I would have given it for the sake of my fellow soldiers. When I first thought you were going to be my son-in-law, I had high hopes vain hopes as it turned out but hopes nevertheless. Let no Greek touch my body with his hand. Chorus What joyful news that messenger has brought you, my lady! Agamemnon I have failed miserably! He kept pace with the rail and with the wheels of the chariot. An unrelenting curse. Please dont be offended now! It is Hellas I must obey, darling, not Menelaos. It was a lie. By your chin, Achilles, by your right hand and by your mother, stand by us! Not from any birds, not from the sea and not from any of the winds that rule over the waters between us andEpirus Total silence! 1350. Second Chorus They are the offspring of a great and most fortunate family. How much suffering, how much pain has Helen, Tyndareus daughter, brought upon us, upon the children of Danaus! 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. 110. She will be saved if you will it. Tell me the reason you will give no let me speak on your behalf, because I know what you will say. Well, old man, Ive reconsidered all those dreadful decisions Ive made back then and wrote another letter in which I am correcting them. Then, the moment you became one, all this nice behaviour changed and you had turned your back on all your friends. Brighter Bayside > Blog > Uncategorized > iphigenia in aulis monologue mother listen to me. As is common, there is a dowry, here brought by her mother from the household of Agamemnon (lines 612-13). Chorus That is, if what they say about you being Ledas daughter is true. But I have no such skill. Im giving you my tears! Iphigenia's father is Agamemnon and his brother is King Menelaus. Darling, darling little brother! What do you think I and the rest of your family will feel towards you? Whatever do you mean? Achilles Yes, it would have been some gods blessing had I married you, daughter of Agamemnon! Tell me what is this secret thats worrying you so much. And may my father work well his right hand upon me at the altar! Chorus Even though you were not raised among the sounds of the shepherds flute, even though you were raised, instead, by your mothers side, raised to be adorned one day as a bride to one of Iachus descendants, you, my young girl, will be dragged down like a spotted deer, or like a young heifer is dragged down from some rocky mountains cave, dragged down there to the goddess altar. Now, that was the first of my complaints against your character. Klytaimestra So, my sweet darling must face this horrible fate because of the need to bring Helen back? Iphigenia was sacrificed in the Boeotian harbor of Aulis, opposite the island of Euboea, or as others say, was saved at the last moment by Artemis, who substituted for her a deer or a bull at the altar, and transported her to Tauris where she later, having met his brother Orestes 2, was brought by him back home. What an awful burden Helen andTroyhave become for us! The returned soldier has been a central figure in the first wave of Canadian plays to deal with the War in Afghanistan. Chorus Awesome is the power of giving birth! On thy knees I hang, A suppliant wreath, this body, which she bore First Chorus Once there, a maddened gaze of love from each of you had sent you both into Eros confusion and sent Greece to Troy with strife-searching ships and spears. They want me to. The Plays of Euripides, translated by E. P. Coleridge. Agamemnon And when you come across some fork in the road, check it carefully. 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. You know very well how humble you were during the days you wanted to be the leader of the Trojan expedition. Under no circumstances should any of this work be used as part of a collage, which includes the work of other writers or translators. 1191. Im leaving for another world! Summary. 1531. Youll go to a place where youll forget about your father. She has accepted this offering gladly and has granted us a safe journey for our expedition against Troy. Klytaimestra And leave my darling behind? 570. First Chorus Words that will not shame your ancestors. Finally, my old friend, he came upon the answer. Achilles They jeered at me! This is very dangerous indeed, my lord! Im lost! 180. 330. Agamemnon Zeus himself gave her to him. Over the centuries other hands have contributed to the text we now have but even so for the most part it shows Euripides at his finest. The sun should rise slowly until full daylight is reached just before line 164. Finally, he picks up the scroll and gets up and moves away from the table. The young heifers that will be sacrificed and that will deliver their abundant dark blood to the goddess Artemis are ready. 389. Iphigeneia How wonderful it is to see you again, daddy! I am resolved to die; and this I want to do with honor, dismissing from me what is mean. Dawns light is already being taken over by the fire of the Suns brilliant chariot! Chorus Alas! 43. Iphigeneia Youll come right back after youre done withTroy, wont you? Written between 408, after Orestes, and 406 BC, the year of Euripides' death, the play was first produced the following year in a trilogy . He is the son of the goddess Thetis, and his tutor was Cheiron, the most honourable of all the centaurs. Agamemnon Yes, so you see what sort of a man your future son-in-law is! Conditions and Exceptions apply. My friend, neither kill nor be killed because of me. Thats Achilles, my darling. Now, Ill tell you everything Ive written in this folded scroll because you are a true and loyal servant to my house and to my wife. It is unjust that you should be mourning while Im living a life full of joy. He has abandoned me to deal with this dreadful calamity all on my own! That would be bad for both of us. He was her lord. Calchas gave you the answer and you jumped with joy when he told you that the Greeks would be able to sail forTroyonly after you had sacrificed your daughter to Artemis. Give her your arms and bring her down safely. I was the first to play on your knees, the first one of your children to enjoy your love and the first one to give you a childs love. Old Man Old age! 402. Pleasure, my old friend, is a dubious thing, an unstable thing; and as for all the trappings of office, all the power that goes with it, sure they might look sweet from the distance but once you get them, they become unbearable pains! London: J.M. The whole thing is a game played by the heavens! Klytaimestra And the feast for us women? 480. Klytaimestra She stretches her right hand 830. By the goddess Hera, protector ofArgosand of marriage, I shall not do so! Klytaimestra The whole of the Greek army? You became a nobody. He is afraid of his own soldiers. Sadly, softly so that she wont hear him. He walks slowly about the stage for a moment, anxiously searching the starry sky. 700. Achilles But, dont worry, Ill certainly make it hard for him! You, too, Menelaos, get everything ready for this joyous occasion and lets hear the flutes sing and the dancers pound the earth with their feet. Chorus There goes the girl with garlands on her hair and holy water upon her head! What shall I do now? you asked me. Promise me, mummy! After all, what is it exactly that I want? Iphigeneia I am a fortunate girl, mother. Paristook it and carried her off back to his own home, in Ida, a place where the cows graze in luxurious pastures. 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. He managed to film a Greek tragedy to screen without losing its effectiveness and importance. I just couldnt get through to them! All these troubles he has caused! 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. Tears of pity came into my eyes just now, when I saw your own tears roll from yours. What an awful Fate the gods have delivered to you! Hell be the man wholl take his army of spear-loving Myrmidons and turn Priams city into rubble. Oh! First Chorus It is wise to be modest because modesty gives you the rare gift of circumspection, the ability to judge what is right, what is your duty; an ability that will give you respect and will remain with you for ever. Come, disband the army and leaveAulismy brother and stop your tears and mine! You had come with me to Argos and stayed with me as my servant. Iphigenia is told that she must prepare for her new life, and that she will be quite alone, far from her parents and home (666, 669). Intelligence, brother, can turn any man into a head of State. Iphegenia at Aulis) was left unfinished at Euripides' death in 406 BCE, and so the beginning and the ending especially are mutilated and choppy.Completed by someone else, it along with The Bacchae and the lost Alcmaeon formed a trio produced in Athens which won Euripides a fifth albeit posthumous first prize.. Agamemnon recounts the recent history of Helen's suitors . What a wonderful excuse! Rest assured, we are alone. Chorus Go, young girl! Klytaimestra Thats what a mob is like! Klytaimestra Yes. Of all of my children, you, Iphigeneia, have always loved your father the most! The second, Iphigenia at Aulis, so vastly different as to highlight the playwright's Protean invention, centres on the ultimate dysfunctional family, that of Agamemnon, as natural emotion is. 1410. All of you! Achilles I know, I have a bloated pride, madam but I can assure you, I feel the pain of misfortune and the joy of success with a wise temper, a moderate temper; because I also know that those with a moderate temper lead a wiser life. IPHIGENIA IN AULIS A monologue from the play by Euripides NOTE: This monologue is reprinted from The Plays of Euripides in English, vol. Where shall I go to find your hand, to ask you to help me in my hour of despair? Hell grab her by her blond hair, if he has to and. They fuse into one. I can see that youre angry at your husband but I think youre wrong about that. Achilles They want to stone me to death, Klytaimestra! Agamemnon What you must do is not leave your other daughters alone, back at the house. 440. My daughters life hangs on your will. Klytaimestra And you will abandon your mother like this? Klytaimestra Our other daughters are looked after well and they are safe in their quarters. I no longer want to be your enemy. Come, son of a goddess! The only other Greeks who know about this are Calchas, Odysseus and Menelaos. I wrote a letter to my wife, Klytaimestra.
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