After that, Paris, the man who, according to the legend, judged the three goddesses, Hera, Aphrodite and Athena, for their beauty, arrived atSparta. Achilles Whos that? Im coming, my lord Im coming! Klytaimestra But who on earth would dare touch you, Achilles? That light, this light all around us, will cut all other arguments to pieces. Summary. Whether I do it or I dont, the consequences for me will be the same. Ah, heres your father, go to him, darling! He is afraid of his own soldiers. First Chorus And I saw Gerenian Nestor who came from Pylos. Menelaos Brother, give me your right arm! She turns and looks sadly around her, then up at the sun. Directing his question to the chorus.
670. 100. Old Man Yes, tell me so that what I say to your wife agrees with what youve written in there. As is common, there is a dowry, here brought by her mother from the household of Agamemnon (lines 612-13). She goes over to her mother and takes baby Orestes in her arms. Words escape me! The whole Greek army, Klytaimestra, thats who!
'Iphigenia at Aulis' features new works by J.D. Steele, 40-voice choir Ive missed you so much. Dont waste time kissing my hand. Otherwise why should we bother being just? Come out! The Aenians brought twelve ships, captained by their king, Gouneus; and beside them were moored the lords ofEliswhom everyone called Epeians. Should I exchange the good for bad? Orpheus, who could charm even the heartless rocks into following him!
Iphigenia in Aulis Summary - eNotes.com Agamemnon I envy you, old man! I can see that youre angry at your husband but I think youre wrong about that. Ill have none of it! Klytaimestra The whole of the Greek army? Do you not care about me any more? PDF Cite Share. That I could never do!
Gluck's 'Iphigenia in Aulis,' Marriage or Murder? : NPR Agamemnon My child, why are you crying? After all, what is it exactly that I want? On thy knees I hang, A suppliant wreath, this body, which she bore Agamemnon Youll be able to see the sacrifice. Leaders are but slaves to the common folk. Klytaimestra I am not so insensitive, Agamemnon. And then, if his prophesies are found to be false, he vanishes! You used to ask me, I wonder, my darling, will I get to see you married one day, married and settled happily in your husbands home, your life ever blossoming, making me proud of you? And Id touch your chin, my father, hang from your beard, father, like Im doing now and say, and what about you, father, will I get to see you, father, an old man, visiting me at my house, ready for me to repay you for your hard work in raising me?, No, you dont remember these words, father. 303. Thats Achilles, my darling. I was a very good house keeper for you. Youll be back inArgos, taking care of our other daughters. Those with dignity are respected, those without are shamed, though defending ones dignity is not always possible. Achilles I did but theyre shouting at me, too! Agamemnon An eloquent covering of a shameful act! The true leader of a city and of an army is not merely brave but intelligent. No! 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 . You will kill the one whos loved by all so as to save the one whos hated by all! i. Trans. Klytaimestra Oh, no, child! In the beginning of the play, Agamemnon . Whether they treat me well or appallingly makes no difference to them. IPHIGENIA IN AULIS Essay Summary A monologue from the play by Euripides NOTE: This monologue is reprinted from The Plays of Euripides in English, vol. I accepted my fortune and youll admit that I have always been a good wife to you. What horror! Up there is my final argument. What shocking news of disaster is this? Klytaimestra Odysseus? Achilles You must grab her and not let go of her. 1010. Oh, your poor cheeks, your poor beautiful, golden hair, your youthful breasts! Look at him for the last time. 890, Old Man He had sent me off to bring you a letter, madam about the first message. Klytaimestra And leave my darling behind? Achilles Not if Ill have anything to say about it! The Iphigenia at Aulis Community Note includes chapter-by-chapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you. When is the wedding? Klytaimestra But what about the marriage? We cant go on fighting against Necessity! Achilles What do you mean, madam? Agamemnon approaches Iphigeneia and tries to console her. Achilles No, Iphigeneia! Old Man That womans there. Menelaos Leave! The first one to call you father, the first one you called daughter. Daughter of Tyndareus! 880. This last one, Helen, had received the most famous, the greatest sons of the whole ofHellasas her suitors ferocious threats of murder were uttered by those who had missed out on her. What a terrible shame! Chorus Joyous notes were sung to the glory of Peleas, son of Aeacus and Thetis, there, upon Mount Pelion, the woody realm of the Centaurs. Consistently, Dent & Sons, 1920. i. Trans. See what troubles the gods have thrown at me, the poor wretch? Where shall I begin? Word Count: 1230. And Ill list them all, if you dont start getting angry or begin to deny them. Chorus Let Agamemnon place a crown upon the head of Greece and let him be crowned in turn! I envy the man with the quiet life, the safe life. Agamemnon My thoughts exactly, my darling. Calchas. 1400. Klytaimestra A sweet word of love from you? Agamemnon Neither. 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! He goes to the tent and shouts through its door. Iphigeneia Separation? Youve come to your death you and me also! Tell me! Commentary. Leave now, Achilles. Achilles What? First Chorus There you were, Paris: a man brought up to be a cowherd, looking after the grazing, white cows of Ida with their heavy udders, playing Asian tunes in your reedy pipes, airs much like those Trojan songs from Mount Olympus when, suddenly, you had to judge between three goddesses; and it was this judging that has sent you to Helens ivory palace in Hellas. I wrote a letter to my wife, Klytaimestra. New troubles are now added upon those Im already suffering. He writes a few words, then scratches them out and begins again. 950. Agamemnon I praise you, Menelaos for these unexpected words, proper words, words truly worthy of you. Figure 2.2: Black-figure lekythos showing Iphigenia 89 led to the altar, c. 470 BCE. Me, father! Exit Achilles. So now, go on, take them all, take all these lunatics, all these soldiers and lead them on to the expedition. Can you not see these men in full armour? But as for you, daughter of Agamemnon! In early youth, when first my soul, in love, Held father, mother, brethren fondly twin'd, A group of tender germs, in union sweet, We sprang in beauty from the parent stem, And heavenward grew. The lustral water, the barley, everything is ready for the holy flame. Tyndareus, her father was in a dreadful dilemma: should he allow her daughter to marry or not? 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. 1100. Listen to me! Iphigeneia Whats wrong, daddy? Cheiron, the centaur did, so that the child might be brought up not knowing the behaviour of evil men. Menelaos Not if he dies first. Agamemnon and I have separate properties. Iphigeneia hugs her mother. Klytaimestra Whats wrong? Accept it and let our spears sack the tall towers of Troy!. Gather the baskets for the sacrifices, place wreaths on your head. Why? Agamemnon No, the wedding was held in the sacred valleys of Pelion, where Cheiron lives. The suitors should all swear a solemn oath, by giving their right hand and by making sacred sacrifices, that each and every one of them would defend the man who won Helens hand in marriage, no matter who that would be and to come to his aid in case someone stole her from their home and thus deprived that man of his legal conjugal bed. Go inside now! I I felt a sharp pain cutting into my heart, my lady and I looked down onto the earth. And how did you respond to that? I was given as a gift to her father, Tyndareus. Its young Orestes, a baby still. 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! Agamemnon Here, Menelaos. What would be the best action for him to take? Dont become an evil man! Were working on it right now. With him also was his close friend, Adrastus, their commander, ready to exact vengeance forHellas sake, against the woman who fled her husbands halls so as to marry a barbarian. She looks around the stage anxiously for a minute. Think again, Iphigeneia! Do you think Im some slave of yours? Things that should best be kept away from a brides ear. Will he not get furious with you and with your wife if you deprive him of his bride? They live at a place, darling, where I wish Paris, Priams son, never lived! Oh! It was there, at that meadow that Pallas Athena and Aphrodite, whose heart was full of cunning, came with Hera and Hermes, Zeus messenger. Begging you by his silence. Of all of my children, you, Iphigeneia, have always loved your father the most! Last Updated on July 14, 2022, by eNotes Editorial. . Klytaimestra Why? You talk about my ambition. Youve raised me to be the shining light of Greece. First Chorus Women protect it well by avoiding immoderate love and men by bringing civil order in their city, thus making it great. You both know the size of the army gathered here. Ive tried all manner of subtle tricks to get my closest friends to agree with me and there, too, Ive failed. Come on, Orestes, even babies know when theres trouble around! The choruses "Que d'attraits" and "Non, jamais, jamais aux regards" are full of grace. You are the cause of it! Agamemnon There! I know too well that this awful plight is mine and mine alone you have nothing to do with it 980. Here comes Agamemnon! I would have given it for the sake of my fellow soldiers. I shall speak clearly for 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 and Clytemnestra come to Aulis, and are received with acclamations by the Greeks. Details. If any barbarian dared to bring his ships against these hed never see his home again. Theyre all just sitting idly around by the shore. Agamemnon It will take place after I make the sacrifice. Od. And Im very pleased to see you, too! It was your name, Achilles that has brought us to this misfortune, so protect it now. How I cry for you! The Plays of Euripides, translated by E. P. Coleridge. Make sure this golden hair god stays far away from my bed chamber! Master! 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. 560. Agamemnon Sure, that I can certainly do secretly but theres something else, brother; something I cannot hide. Forget it, madam! The world beneath the earth is a world of nothing. Checking out the situation carefully. [1340] Open the tent-door to me, servants, that I may hide myself Clytemnestra Why seek to escape, my child? What was the point of bringing us up here for a marriage that.
Iphigenia at Aulis | The Mercurian See this letter, this contemptible letter with the contemptible message inside it? Achilles! I would have given it if the Greeks couldnt get to Troy without my doing so. Old Man To stop you By then he had come back to his senses. Dance around the temple of the blessed goddess! iphigenia in aulis monologue mother listen to me. Can you see what the goddess has placed upon her altar? Go! Click anywhere in the Old Man And you know, too that I was part of your dowry when you married King Agamemnon. Your Fate and mine and hers, too! With his own sword, madam he will make bloody the young girls white neck bloody it with her own blood! Achilles Yes, it would have been some gods blessing had I married you, daughter of Agamemnon! Both you and I, whether we want to or not, must help Hellas stand free Hellas men cannot have their wives stolen from their beds. Eloquence, brother, begets hatred! 1380. To the lowly and weak mortals, the fortunate always appear like gods. Well then, tell me: what will your prayer, your plea to the gods be? Chorus There they will arrive with their war-whetted spears and shields to wrest Helen from Priams city and bring her back toGreece. 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 .
PDF STUDY GUIDE - Court Theatre She was the Queen of the gods. Well! It was a lie. You mean, the son of Sisyphus? Weddings are blessed things but still very tough on the hearts of the brides parents. Who is this exquisite looking woman I see here? Achilles He was elected, all right, but he didnt say no! How I pity you! Happy to be at your sisters wedding. Come, son of the goddess, lend us a hand, help us, or else we are doomed! Iphigeneia Of course. As for the other sort, the bad ones, they are everywhere! Achilles My lady, I have never proposed to your daughter Atreas sons have never talked to me about a marriage! Horses can panic if theres no one to soothe them. Help us because our plight needs your help. Menelaos Listen to me, Agamemnon! 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. Dance, girls, dance around Artemis altar! The fleet of the war-loving Taphians, with its foaming oars, was commanded by their king, Phyleus son, Meges who had left the Echinae, islands that are far too unwelcoming for sailors. That! If you cannot persuade him then come back to me. How could I ever speak the truth now? An unrelenting curse. I do not envy those in authority." Context:: This line comes near the very beginning of the play. Chorus What an awful, pitiful fate you must endure, child! We are a free people, whereas they are slaves. Ive changed, youll say! Agamemnon I have failed miserably! 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! Is it a good wife youre after? Youre the son of a god and I am a mere mortal! Where shall I go to find your hand, to ask you to help me in my hour of despair? Now go! Klytaimestra A cold hope, that one, Achilles. What a price to pay for the sake of saving a slut! Look here, father!
Amazon.com: Iphigenia in Aulis: 9781534322158: Euripides, Einhorn Come, look up there! What a wonderful excuse! Agamemnon And still something is holding back the expedition. IPHIGENIA IN AULIS A monologue from the play by Euripides NOTE: This monologue is reprinted from The Plays of Euripides in English, vol. He and no one else! 1180. Klytaimestra How can there be a death and not a grave? Iphigeneia Hands Orestes back to her mother. Come and hear my news! Accept the pure blood from this girls lovely neck! Agamemnon Call on me when you want me to do something reasonable, not when you want to ruin me. . 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. line to jump to another position: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 United States License, Pleiades ancient places geospacial dataset for this text, http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0006.tlg018.perseus-eng1:1374-1401, http://data.perseus.org/texts/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0006.tlg018.perseus-eng1, http://data.perseus.org/texts/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0006.tlg018, http://data.perseus.org/catalog/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0006.tlg018.perseus-eng1. 810, Achilles, they say. They will say that even though you werent wedded to her, you were still the poor virgins promised husband. I also saw the Boetian fleet, fifty in number, led by Leitus, a mortal, born of the Earth. 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. (A father's conduct here I blame), A joyless victim bred; When o'er the strand of Aulis, in the pride. See, father? Attic tragedies were performed in Athens about the 5th century BC. We will soon reveal Agamemnons sacrilegious schemes against his very own children! If I could use such a voice and have everyone charmed, have them convinced to agree with me and follow me, then I would use that voice. Hes gone mad only so far as your daughter and you are concerned. 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. What star could that be, that one, gliding across the sky up there? Christoph Willibald Gluck: Overture to "Iphigenia in Aulis" (orch. Its a meadow full of bright and beautiful flowers. My friend, neither kill nor be killed because of me. London: J.M. I shall do as you say. I have brought this bride here with strong hopes for a wonderful marriage. What ruin, what catastrophe youve brought upon me by running off with Helen! Arent you ashamed of yourself? 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. Where is the leader of the Greek army? Still, if I fail? The most interesting alteration for me is that at the end of the play it seems that Artemis had replaced Iphigenia with a deer. Achilles Alone? Fate gave me nothing to be proud of. 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. The circumstances are too dire now for modesty and for polite coyness! Then, you arrived here, inAulis, with the whole of the Greek army and immediately you lost every virtue you had. Theyd love to go precisely because they are mad. 1590, He spoke and he said, Chiefs of the Greek army, can you see this offering? 660. Ah, but this impudence of yours will miss its mark! We your children and I- will give you the return that an evil man deserves.
How to pronounce iphigenia in aulis | HowToPronounce.com He has used my name without my permission! She was falsely called your future wife. The plain truth. 1460. 1600. A wise man must keep in his house a good and faithful woman, or else he should never marry! The sacrifice of Iphigenia would be covered by Euripides in 'Iphigenia at Aulis' and in this version Agamemnon has second thoughts. Tell me, Agamemnon: Tell me what will you say to someone who asks you why youve killed your daughter? I have tried desperately to send Klytaimestra away from here but Ive failed. Gone are the harsh words, suddenly! Agamemnon Yes, dear because our separation will be a long one. The whole of Greece. Be a leader! Old Man anxiously takes Klytaimestras hand and kisses it. What pain should I mention first or second, or last?
iphigenia in aulis monologue mother listen to me No, youve brought me to life so that the whole of Greece may rejoice! What did you say? Ah! 1580. This is something I wont tolerate. Klytaimestra And you will abandon your mother like this? Achilles I do, my lady and I can see its a horrible thing for you to endure. 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. Just before Dawn. . Too glad to commit the girl to the goddess. I envy any man whose life passes quietly, unnoticed by fame. Shelley Dean Milman. Agamemnon A thought just occurred to me, a thought which might frighten you, Menelaos! The play is co-produced by the Court Theatre of Chicago, directed by Charles Newell, and translated by Nicholas Rudall. Iphigeneia Yes, mother, please let me run to him before you do. Come, take me to the altar of the goddess. This masterful play is masterfully adapted for the screen and brought to life by a wonderful cast. 751. 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. The altar of Zeus daughter. So, we have all gathered here and here we are still, tied down by the weather! Iphigeneia hands baby Orestes to her mother, Iphigeneia If only I could sing like Orpheus, father! Agamemnon Look at you? Why are you leaving? ("Agamemnon", "Hom. Agamemnon Zeus himself gave her to him. Help my girl. Have no fear, the pain will soften with custom and with the passage of time. Chorus He said your daughter is still alive, my lady! Whos done you wrong and what is it that you want? Old man, come out here! And others, is there going to be a wedding? Yet others again, did the king call his daughter here because hes missed her? Then there were others who said, the girl will be presented to the goddess Artemis, protector ofAulis, before the wedding. Menelaos First, look at me in the eye and then Ill tell you! Shelley Dean Milman. A teller of truth one time and a teller of lies one thousand times if hes lucky! For a moment a great deal of shouting by men is heard behind the curtains. Helen fell in love with him and he fell in love with Helen. So this is the armada I saw here and about which I had heard back home earlier. Run! There is no need! Horrible Fate, what a dreadful yoke youve locked me into! Klytaimestra Did they? Godless! You are the cause of this miserable conflict between the sons of Atreas and their children! The only voice I have, father, my only skill, is in my tears and, here, father, Im giving them to you! Iphigeneia Dont leave home, daddy. What a lusty fervour the whole ofGreecehas stirred up for this expedition! How I wish he never lived near the gurgling white waters of those springs, the springs where nymphs gathered. 440. Chorus There goes the girl wholl soon stain the altar of the murderous goddess with the gushing blood of her beautiful throat! Sweet daughter! It is what a mother must do! Iphigeneia No, mother. Effie (Sophie Melville) is a hard-nosed . What an awful Fate the gods have delivered to you! Chorus Go, young girl! I swear by my mother, the goddess Thetis, that I shall fight the Greeks to save you! A kiss to remember you by in the underworld, since my words have not convinced you. For such a young girl you are so intelligent! Chorus Agamemnon, son of Atreas, begin now your journey to Troy and may it be a happy one! 570. Our daughter now lives among the gods. Tell us whats wrong! From Kahil (1990). What is all this loud brawling in front of my tent? Exit Agamemnon. Old Man That? Iphigenia At Aulis By Euripides Written 410 B.C.E Dramatis Personae Agamemnon Attendant, an old man Chorus of Women of Chalcis Menelaus Clytaemnestra Iphigenia Achilles Scene The sea-coast at Aulis. The barbarians will no longer abduct them and carry them off from our wealthy shores, once Helens abduction by Paris has been avenged. He sends all sorts of winds to sailors: winds to make them happy to lift their sails and plunge into the sea, winds to make them sad because they must furl their sails; and winds that make other sailors crazy because theyre forced to move too slowly. 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. Here are the two of us, ones a baby, the other a grown up girl, a brother and a sister, both your children, begging you, by your beard, pleading with you. My Pelasgia! 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. The girl deserves better still, may the gods be with us! You locked yourself up indoors and became totally unapproachable to everyone. 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. If the oracle has given me some say into your daughters fate then I pass that say over to you. . You havent given birth to me simply for your own sake! Pronunciation of iphigenia in aulis with 1 audio pronunciations. As she imagines Agamemnon killing Iphigenia, Clytemnestra. Or else let Menelaos kill Hermione, his own daughter. 530. Achilles Yes, it might be just that. Iphigeneia Make your worries go away, daddy. Now come out of Agamemnons tent. Did they not side with you? Those two had hair the colour of fire and were spotted from below the ankles of their great hooves. She goes to her death, so her father won't have to carry the guilt of. Chorus Hell be able to confirm the messengers words. Its obvious that theres no escaping my death; so now, I want to die nobly. Achilles First, plead with him. You groan but you say nothing. Ah! One of his servants go and tell him that Achilles, Peleas son is here, waiting for him, at the entrance of his tent! 1340. Agamemnon So you broke its seal and read its contents? For a mere woman? Menelaos Useless when you need them and a curse when you dont. She takes the baby Orestes from Iphigeneias hands. How could I possibly express my gratitude to you in a modest way? This way, I hope, my pain will be lessened a little. 272. Holy Spirit of mine! Clytemnestra It is the goddess' son you see, child, for whom you came here. The looks your face took up at that suggestion! Iphigeneia But there is no loss, mummy! Give me your hand, my dear child. 700. Old Man Yes, my lady and so, I am more loyal to you than I am to your husband. What an awful burden Helen andTroyhave become for us! 785, Chorus Do you hear them, Helen? You know the dread that Agamemnon has brought upon us. Cacoyannis achieved the impossible. Chorus And there it was that Dardanos poured the heavenly nectar into the deep golden cups of the gods. Help us! You saw the endless ships. This is the first English edition with commentary of the play since 1891. Menelaus appears to be the caring brother. Its good that the children will be spared. 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. 762. You have betrayed your own brother! You have been wronged, madam. Shhhh listen to me! Achilles They were the worst of them all! Do you think that I, son of Atreas the fearless, will be afraid to raise my eyes and look at you in the eye? Lets think through this together, my lady. Agamemnon And you shouldnt be hanging around here, among all the soldiers! Klytaimestra And is that where hell take our daughter? George Bell and Sons. Just before Iphigenia in Aulis begins . 860. 821. By your chin, Achilles, by your right hand and by your mother, stand by us! 620. I was beaten by all the noise. It is our custom to bury sacrificial offerings. All the women are frightened and turn towards it. Are we not all wasting our time here, by the banks ofEpirus? Old Man Your very reprimand shows the extent of my virtue! Leave! He married her and they had a son, Aeacus who became King of the island Oenone. She swings him, sadly, gently back and forth and leans over him as she speaks to him. I need to tell you things that our daughter should not hear. It is Hellas I must obey, darling, not Menelaos. This is desperate behaviour, my lord and it leaves no doubt to anyone who sees you, my lord, that youve gone mad!