Sophocles: Electra (Companions to Greek and Roman Tragedy)

Each of the three great Greek tragedians Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides wrote plays featuring the myth of Orestes and his sister Electra seeking vengeance on their mother Clytemnestra for the murder of their father and her husband Agamemnon. The myth was one of long standing for the Greeks, and forms of it would have been familiar to any ancient Greek audience. How each writer approached the myth, what he left in or took out, or altered is a study of great interest.When Sophocles wrote Electra, Aeschylus’s Oresteia trilogy was probably around 40+ years old. There are elements in Sophocles’ Electra which reflect back to the Oresteia, and particularly The Libation Bearers, which tells the tale of Orestes’ return to Argos, his reunion with his sister and the death of Clytemnestra and Aegisthus. It is likely that Euripides’ Electra also pre-dated Sophocles’ Electra.This book is one in the wonderful series of Bristol Classical Press Companions to Greek and Roman Tragedy, and features Sophocles’ Electra specifically. The book opens with a chapter on Sophocles and his Theatre, which tells how Sophocles would have seen his productions, and the forum for which he was writing. Then the story prior to Sophocles is covered. Then the play itself is covered in chapters on:The Action of the PlayStagecraftElecraMatricideThe last chapter follows the reception and production of Electra after Sophocles’ lifetime.A very useful notes section, and a guide to further reading is included, as is a chronology of key events in Athens’ history, and a glossary of unfamiliar Greek terms.These books are a great resource to anyone studying a particular play; they place the play in its context, they give in-depth but not difficult analyses of various aspects of the play and its production, and offer great opportunities for further reading choices. I heartily recommend this series of books which are available for a wide range of Greek and Roman productions, and which are definitely worth investigating for any in-depth study of a play.