First Chorus The left flank of the Greek armada ended with the twelve trim and fast ships, led byAjaxwhose birthplace isSalamis. It was there, at that meadow, that these three women came before Paris to put an end to their dire contest about which of them was the most beautiful. 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. Agamemnon What? Klytaimestra I am not so insensitive, Agamemnon. Whos done you wrong and what is it that you want? Klytaimestra Thats not what the laws of the custom say. Im coming, my lord Im coming! Here, take him into your arms for the last time. But let me try and persuade you and let her stay inside the tent. Iphigenia in Aulis Summary - eNotes.com Chorus Your words are worthy of you, Achilles and of your mother who is a splendid goddess. I do not envy those in authority." Context:: This line comes near the very beginning of the play. He gains control of the scroll. 290. You are the cause of this miserable conflict between the sons of Atreas and their children! Indicating the skyLook up there! The trilogy won first prize at the City Dionysia at Athens. It is a horrible thing for one to lose a child! Copyright 2000-2023 A. S. Kline, All Rights Reserved. Another, Pallas, was proud of her war spear and the third, Hera, proud of the fact that she shared her bed with Lord Zeus. 350. Ha, ha, ha! 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. Agamemnon Look at you? You had come with me to Argos and stayed with me as my servant. How I wish he never lived at that meadow where all the flowers bloomed: roses and hyacinths, all those flowers that the goddesses plucked. If only I could! Euripides died before completing this late masterpiece and it was prepared for its enthusiastically received first performance by his son or nephew. Agamemnon A king, darling, a General is always worried. CineMan-8 20 April 1999. Where did you catch him? Before the play begins: The background of Iphigeneia at Aulis is the Trojan War. As is common, there is a dowry, here brought by her mother from the household of Agamemnon (lines 612-13). 490. Is it marriage? Klytaimestra Thats what a mob is like! 260. So this is the armada I saw here and about which I had heard back home earlier. Go! Essay Sample Check Writing Quality. Arent you ashamed of yourself? No, he gave you life so that you may understand pain, as well as pleasure. Menelaos Act according to your position, or youll be very sorry, old man! Enter Second Chorus of men and women, Attendants of Klytaimestra, Second Chorus Indicating behind the curtains (Stage Left) 590. Do you hear them, Helen? Too glad to commit the girl to the goddess. London. First Chorus This is the naval force I saw with my own eyes and about which I had heard earlier. Ha! 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.Written between 408, after Orestes, and 406 BC, the year of Euripides' death, the play was first produced the following year in a trilogy . Menelaos Yes, you may well suffer now because I did break your seal and yes, I do know the secret trickery you were concocting! Moderate. Come, my darling daughter, come, Iphigeneia, come and stand near me. Your old father-in-law, Tyndareus, gave me to your wife, Klytaimestra, as part of her dowry, to be her loyal servant. Do not send our daughter here, inAulis, the place whose harbours are well protected from the harsh seas and which juts out towardsColchis. 670. Please refer to our Privacy Policy. Because youre trying to save my girl? You saw the endless ships. But go! If this works out well, then the result will be good for you and your family without my getting mixed up in the affair. Do you not care about me any more? 164. Chorus There they will arrive with their war-whetted spears and shields to wrest Helen from Priams city and bring her back toGreece. Your own father has slaughtered you with his own hand! Iphigenia (1977) - Plot - IMDb Menelaos And what would that be? She gives up the most precious gift she can: her life. My words were brief, blunt and clear. Iphigeneia hands baby Orestes to her mother, Iphigeneia If only I could sing like Orpheus, father! Come, give me your right hand and lets make this the beginning of a blessed marriage! You know the dread that Agamemnon has brought upon us. Come out! You began and ended your speech with fine sentiments. You are indeed a brave, noble person, Iphigeneia and for that reason I want you to be my wife. That is, if my brain doesnt falter and make my tongue trip over its words! Iphigenia in Aulis demonstrates how conflict and choices based around pride can lead to tragic results. Help us, Achilles! Then thats the end, my sweetheart! Let me tell you why I am angry. Klytaimestra But youre saying that I can not mourn your death, my darling! If Im lying to you, madam, then let death come upon me. 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 . You shouldnt go against them! And how can I be certain that this isnt just an idle little story to cheer me up, to ease my dreadful grief for you? CLYTEMNESTRA Now hear me, for my thoughts will I unfold In no obscure and coloured mode of speech. Soldiers, go and tear down Troy! Here comes Agamemnon! Whether they treat me well or appallingly makes no difference to them. See, father? 630. iphigenia in aulis monologue mother listen to me. 543. Looking over the baby. But then, suddenly a miracle happened, my lady! 1121. Current location in this text. Klytaimestra No, I wont. Gluck's 'Iphigenia in Aulis,' Marriage or Murder? : NPR Old man is being too slow for Agamemnon. Agamemnon Yes but first I must make a sacrifice here, inAulis. Chorus Enjoy now the sacrifice of blood and then help the Greek army launch its expedition to the land of the Phrygians, Troy the treacherous! Achilles I did but theyre shouting at me, too! She goes to the door of the tent and opens it so that the servant may hear her. Them and their pine sterns and their shiny bronze prows! Chiron, they cried out, Chiron who knows well the meaning of Apollos words, foretells that youll give Thessaly a son, a boy wholl be its brightest light. And if I tried to run off toArgos, the whole lot of them will come over and destroy the place, raze the whole city to the ground, Cyclopean walls and all! Download Pleiades ancient places geospacial dataset for this text. No, Id rather see the death of a thousand women than that of a single man! So, tell me, my brother: What is all this violent fury? Some of you stand by at the front of the horses to quieten them. Your own baby! You were totally bewildered by the change of your luck! Vile trickery, unworthy of his father, Atreas! During those days you shook the hand of everyone you came across and, whether they wanted it or not, your doors were always wide open and ready to receive everyone. Old Man Because Menelaos took it away from me, my lady. Klytaimestra Ah! Iphigenia in Aulis: A Monologue How should I start? Im not talking like this because Im missing out on this wedding. Called me slave to a wedding bed! Klytaimestra Is it your wish to kill our child? There, alongside of them, ran Achilles, Peleas son, in his full armour. It is the wish of the Heavens. Soldiers who have been gathered together, away from the chores of their homes and are idle have malice and gossip ready at their tongue. This surely is nothing more than drivel spat out of the mouth of a mad old man! Now let go of my letter! Consistently, IPHIGENIA A T A ULIS presents many problems to the literary and textual critic. I know everything! Help my girl. Its been such a long time! Your current position in the text is marked in blue. You write down some words, then you scratch them out and write other words in their place. Klytaimestra You, alone? Forget it, madam! May it be with you always, for helping the unfortunate! Reg. My Pelasgia! On thy knees I hang, A suppliant wreath, this body, which she bore Klytaimestra But what about the marriage? 272. Iphigeneia Damn all these spears of Menelaos! If any barbarian dared to bring his ships against these hed never see his home again. Iphigeneia Pelasgia! Chorus Youre a brave girl, Iphigeneia. Old Man So, my lord, why on earth are you wandering about out here, then? Ah! Im shaking with fear. 86 Boston MFA 6.67. Klytaimestra Darling, no! I would have given it if the Greeks couldnt get to Troy without my doing so. Where is the army going? Achilles Yes. Orpheus, who could charm even the heartless rocks into following him! No! Chorus Come back to us once youve taken from that city her fairest spoils! I know too well that this awful plight is mine and mine alone you have nothing to do with it 980. Have you thought of any of this, or do you just go wandering about the army camp proudly waving about the sceptre of a General? It was written sometime between 408 and 406 BCE (the date of his death) and was first produced in the year following his death, where it won first place at the Athenian City Dionysia contest. 910. He embraces and then steps back to look at her sadly. 231. The Greek fleet is waiting at Aulis, Boeotia, with its ships ready to sail for Troy, but it is unable to depart due to a strange lack of wind. 1020. Klytaimestra So, my sweet darling must face this horrible fate because of the need to bring Helen back? His wifes doing, so, let him kill his wifes daughter. Both of us, darling! This way, I hope, my pain will be lessened a little. Agamemnon It will take place at the most propitious time: When the moon completes its cycle again. Iphigenia at Aulis Review I attended Iphigenia in Aulis at the Getty Villa on Thursday, September 21 at 8:00 PM. Come, take me to the altar of the goddess. If only this town, if only Aulis, had refused to let all these Troy-destined ships enter her harbour! The Greeks were then enabled to set sail. 1171, I would be there, alone, Agamemnon, wailing, crying bitter tears, yelling, Darling Iphigeneia! Iphigeneia How wonderful it is to see you again, daddy! Agamemnon Here, at the harbour, near our beautiful Greek ships. Ill have none of it! The Greek army is getting ready to sail. Our daughter now lives among the gods. 520. Tell me! 919. She swings him, sadly, gently back and forth and leans over him as she speaks to him. I know what you want to do to me Go on! Not mine, thats for sure. Menelaos Brothers must share each others pain. What a terrible shame! The Plot of Iphigeneia at Aulis. A coward. Achilles First, let us try and bring her father back to his senses. Here is the body that your wife has given birth to. Let that stand for me in place of the children and the marriage I could have had. In revenge for Agamemmnon killing one of her sacred stags, the goddess Artemis demands the sacrifice of his eldest daughter . Klytaimestra And were they married in the sea? Difficult. My sacrifice will bring about a victory for the Greeks and secure their safety. Well then, tell me: what will your prayer, your plea to the gods be? First Chorus Their captain was Eurytus. 773. Cacoyannis achieved the impossible. Details. The gods deserted you and they wouldnt give you a favourable wind for our sails. Its good that the children will be spared. You can see it! Thats Sirius, my lord. Rest assured, we are alone. Whether I want to do so or not, I must obey Hellas. Klytaimestra May they be happy there! And I? What shall I say to my wife, then? Let us pray for a good fortune! I beg you, father! Hide browse bar Agamemnon I, with all the Greeks as witnesses shall give Iphigeneia away. Klytaimestra Stop your shouting. He is the very reason you are here! Achilles Not if Ill have anything to say about it! Stop waiting for those indecisive sons of Atreas to tell you what to do. Agamemnon Sisyphus son, Odysseus, knows our whole story. Here comes the king himself, my lady. Let no Greek touch my body with his hand. 1279. Iphigenia - Greek Mythology Link The girl is with the gods! Iphigenia calling into the tent. Why run away? The Greek warriors are waiting for you, anxious to start off for Troy! Achilles! How dare you! The Plot of Iphigeneia at Aulis - The Randolph College Greek Play Iphigeneia Will I go on my own or with mother? There is nothing that I would not do for my darling Iphigeneia. 720. And, do I not also have the right to make my own prayer to the gods about you? Should I exchange the good for bad? Cry! Iphigenia in Aulis by Euripides - Greek Mythology Gluck: Overture to "Iphigenia in Aulis" / Mori - YouTube Achilles Me, too! 550. Awful! Klytaimestra Have you made the pre-natal offerings to the goddess yet? Old Man anxiously takes Klytaimestras hand and kisses it. Come, go into my tent now. Listen to Books & Original Audio Performances : Book Depository Books With Free Delivery Worldwide: Box Office Mojo Find Movie Box Office Data: ComiXology 929. Old Man The army is heading to Troy, my lady. Here, then, I have suffered the greatest misfortune yet I am ashamed to cry just as I am also ashamed to hold back my tears. Chorus How the dance-loving lyre and the enchanting notes of the reedy flute brought the fair haired Muses up from their home, the Pierian Springs, to the top of Mount Pelios! What a sweet joy! Why where do they say the Phrygians live, father? Menelaos And what aboutGreece? If youre wise youll heed them; if not then, have no fear, I know how to settle my own affairs well. Chorus He said your daughter is still alive, my lady! And you, you will carry the honour of my deed wherever you go! Its not Menelaos whos in control here, Iphigeneia. Achilles Whos that? However, when Agamemnon breaks down in tears, Menelaus relents. 1531. This breath that quieted the breezes in the Greek sails! 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! Agamemnon I know well about pity I know well who deserves it and who does not and I -I love my children! 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. Agamemnon I wish I could, my child! How much more time do we need to waste on this expedition toTroy? Agamemnon My child, why are you crying? Chorus And so, the blessed couple were wed by the gods: The nobly born oldest daughter of Nereas and Peleas. Who gave you the right to spy upon my affairs? But, no, instead of that, I have brought her to her slaughter! They will say that even though you werent wedded to her, you were still the poor virgins promised husband. No, I will not shed any tears now. A Monologue from the play Iphigenia in Aulis by Euripides - Actorama Id only be speaking lies and Id be adding disgrace to my miserable Fate! 1211. 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. Old Man He tricked you about the marriage with Achilles, my lady, so that youd be willing to come here. The Internet Classics Archive | Iphigenia At Aulis by Euripides First Chorus And I saw Gerenian Nestor who came from Pylos. And you can see how I, a woman, have come here to the camp of soldiers, tough men, brave and ready for war and violence. Its a meadow full of bright and beautiful flowers. Im not too proud to do so. ("Agamemnon", "Hom. Menelaos Brother, give me your right arm! Menelaos No! Most treacherously wronged by your closest friends. 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. Can you see what the goddess has placed upon her altar? I shall speak clearly for you. Agamemnon Holy Fate and Fortune! I I felt a sharp pain cutting into my heart, my lady and I looked down onto the earth. 43. Klytaimestra Oh, Gods! Let someone go and prepare the sacrificial basket and may the blessed fire burn high with the purifying barley. 1110. Yes, you, daughter of the long-necked swan! Iphigeneias scream of grief is suddenly heard from within the tent. He, madam, hes the cause of all your torment, madam. Please, father! 1410. Checking out the situation carefully. Look! Agamemnon Little girls should not be bothered with such things. She reminds him of how they used to plan her future and tells him how much she wants to live. 730. What does my life have to do with the marriage of Paris and Helen father? Would you like her to plead at your knees? Effie (Sophie Melville) is a hard-nosed . London: J.M. Old Man To stop you By then he had come back to his senses. Klytaimestra Did they? Agamemnon Very soon. 610. Euripides, Iphigenia in Aulis, line 1338 - Perseus Project Shelley Dean Milman. Enough! Agamemnon An eloquent covering of a shameful act! 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. Its going past those seven stars, the Pleiades, my lord straight through the very centre of the heavens. But my brother, using all sorts of arguments, finally persuaded me to commit this dreadful deed! He and no one else! 1180. Agamemnon Where, darling? With his own sword, madam he will make bloody the young girls white neck bloody it with her own blood! They picked up their spears, strapped on their armour, and rushed over here, inAulis, with ships, troops, and a huge number of horses and chariots. Klytaimestra Unfortunate, Achilles, yes, that is true! Chorus They tell me that Cassandra, Apollos priestess is there. "Iphigenia" marks Steele and Lorca's fourth collaboration on a Greek tragedy. Hell be the man wholl take his army of spear-loving Myrmidons and turn Priams city into rubble. Achilles By the goddess Modesty! Menelaos No, they can do nothing if you secretly send her back toArgos. Directing his question to the chorus. He kept pace with the rail and with the wheels of the chariot. This sword will have blood on it even before I leave for Troy! Close suggestions Search Search Gods forbid that I should choose to lose a brother to win a Helen! Klytaimestra You? You already know your fathers intentions, poor love. Pleas or no pleas the result will be the same with me because I have only one thing in mind, now: to save you both from this disaster! Mother, wholl come with me when theyll come and drag me by my hair? IPHIGENIA Had I, my father, the persuasive voice Of Orpheus, and his skill to charm the rocks 20. Now the strength rests with Irreverence and Virtue is now scorned by the mortals. Klytaimestra But tell me, good servant, where did you hear all this? In front of the tent is a small table at which sits Agamemnon. Gather the baskets for the sacrifices, place wreaths on your head. What has brought on all this anxiety? He was her lord. He is writing a letter (on a scroll) an exercise which, it seems, is difficult for him. No, you look after everything outside the household and I shall take care of things within it! Open Document. Dont force me to become evil! Youll be standing right there at the altar. Youd greet anyone and everyone, hoping with this behaviour to gain their approval and thus become their leader. Chorus You, evil Helen! 970. Klytaimestra Elected to commit a murder! And so, the Greeks ordered you to let them board their ships and go back home and to stop wasting their efforts here. 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. Agamemnon Nods, then looks around him. First Chorus This god, this god with the golden hair, lifts his bow and shoots two arrows of passion, one to bring us lifes greatest joy, the other to send us into a whirlwind of confusion. 1400. I will never permit your husband to perform such treacherous deeds! Details. What a hateful, bitter sight is Helen! I envy the man who knows no fame; and I dont envy the man whose life is heavy with the trappings of office. Chorus What an awful, pitiful fate you must endure, child! [1375] Chorus Go, young girl! Faithful, devoted, temperate in nuptial duties, a good keeper of your house. 1191. Death is a dreadful thing! That will be very easy to accomplish. PDF Iphigenia at Aulis Myth, Performance and Reception Come, look up there! Agamemnon Look, the sacrificial ceremony is ready. You groan but you say nothing. Enter a Perseus citation to go to another section or work. Here I am. What an awful burden Helen andTroyhave become for us! She is a loving mother, and when her husband orders to kill their daughter, she bears a deep grudge against hi, and vows to take vengeance . Iphigeneia Youve been so long here in the harbours ofAulis! 620. And may my father work well his right hand upon me at the altar! Klytaimestra Ive come out here looking for my husband. Ive changed, youll say! One of the most performed Greek tragedies, the play explores the breakdown of social norms in times of war and how war breeds inhuman habits in the most human of men. It was there, at that meadow that Pallas Athena and Aphrodite, whose heart was full of cunning, came with Hera and Hermes, Zeus messenger. How I wish he never lived near the gurgling white waters of those springs, the springs where nymphs gathered. Klytaimestra What about the wedding feast after the ceremony? Leave now, Achilles. He is interrupted by Klytaimestras entrance. Klytaimestra So, my darling will not be put to the sword? What a disgraceful behaviour! Achilles The whole army is calling out for. 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. If I try to stop them they will kill us all. 1590, He spoke and he said, Chiefs of the Greek army, can you see this offering? On my part, I wish you all happiness and may you return to the land of your fathers victorious. iphigenia in aulis monologue mother listen to me IPHIGENIA AT AULIS - EURIPIDES | PLAY SUMMARY & ANALYSIS | Sacrifice Unjustly but I must! 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. Me, Leda's daughter, hapless dame, First blooming offspring of her bed. What does the army want? They say that Zeus had transformed himself into a bird and then slept with your mother. Our friend here should certainly be thanked for his efforts but we should be careful not to put his life in jeopardy against the army with no advance in our predicament.