She leads her mother into the tent and returns to centre stage. In revenge for Agamemmnon killing one of her sacred stags, the goddess Artemis demands the sacrifice of his eldest daughter . Why are you leaving? You have chosen logic and good intentions to that of continuing a war against Fate and against Necessity. 670. Iphigenia in Aulis by Euripides 4,589 ratings, 4.04 average rating, 210 reviews Open Preview Iphigenia in Aulis Quotes Showing 1-25 of 25 "He loves power. A goddess, mother, the goddess Artemis has called for my body. Whats with this flushed face of yours? Husband, I know the prospective grooms name but I know little about his family or his country. She has flown away to the Heavens! Well! How much suffering, how much pain has Helen, Tyndareus daughter, brought upon us, upon the children of Danaus! 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. Klytaimestra Yes! Which one will it be? But I have no such skill. 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. Consistently, Miserable, Agamemnon says he has no choice. You locked yourself up indoors and became totally unapproachable to everyone. His wifes doing, so, let him kill his wifes daughter. Agamemnon And if she has already left the safety of her home and if you chance to meet her retinue on the road, send them back again take the reins from their hands and hasten the horses towards the shrines of the Cyclopes. It all starts at the wedding of Peleus and Thetis (Achilles' parents) Thetis is divine, so they invite all the gods and goddesses, except Strife. Accept it and let our spears sack the tall towers of Troy!. He alone did it, he, alone, with his very own hand! IPHIGENIA Had I, my father, the persuasive voice Of Orpheus, and his skill to charm the rocks Thats Sirius, my lord. Go inside now! Ive missed you so much. With what face shall I receive hers? You just cant imagine Calchas joy, madam! 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. What destruction! Achilles Weighty words, old man! You have declared the girl to be the bride of a goddess son, yet you bring her here to be a sacrificial offering for the benefit of the Greeks! And then am I mad if I had changed my mind about something which I later realised I was wrong? What about your own soldiers, Achilles, what about your Myrmidons? I was given as a gift to her father, Tyndareus. No, he gave you life so that you may understand pain, as well as pleasure. Or else let Menelaos kill Hermione, his own daughter. 1200. You already know your fathers intentions, poor love. Klytaimestra Im not surprised you dont recognise me. I could not. 900. Klytaimestra You? Otherwise why should we bother being just? This man has forcefully and unjustly ripped your letter from my hands, my lord! Old Man He tricked you about the marriage with Achilles, my lady, so that youd be willing to come here. Ill now stand by you and so I advise you not to kill your daughter or put my own interests before yours. PDF Cite Share. 1171, I would be there, alone, Agamemnon, wailing, crying bitter tears, yelling, Darling Iphigeneia! I know hes around here somewhere. 378. Menelaos How else, then, can you, Agamemnon, prove that we are brothers? 471. 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. Enter Iphigeneia holding the baby in her arms. I know too well that this awful plight is mine and mine alone you have nothing to do with it 980. Just answer my question! options are on the right side and top of the page. That is, if my brain doesnt falter and make my tongue trip over its words! This is a dreadful thing for me to do but it is just as dreadful not to do it. Believe me, madam: Agamemnon will not slaughter her! Look at him for the last time. 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? Ask me, what is it? Indeed no! Youve persuaded me with wise words. What is all this loud brawling in front of my tent? Klytaimestra Have you made the pre-natal offerings to the goddess yet? 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? Iphigenia in Aulis is an Ancient Greek play written by Euripides. Klytaimestra Ive come out here looking for my husband. Second Chorus Look there: our Lords daughter, Iphigeneia, our princess; and there, his wife and Tyndareus daughter, our Lady, Klytaimestra! CineMan-8 20 April 1999. It has burdened me with lack of sleep and with overactive eyes. 1040. So angry were my twin brothers, the Dioscuri, that they came charging down from Zeus side on their glistening horses to fight you but you went begging to my old father, Tyndareus and he, not only saved you but made me your wife! Oh, my girl! What is it that I need to hear alone, out here? Your old father-in-law, Tyndareus, gave me to your wife, Klytaimestra, as part of her dowry, to be her loyal servant. I do not envy those in authority." Context:: This line comes near the very beginning of the play. 773. Exit Achilles. He and no one else! 1180. Old Man Because Menelaos took it away from me, my lady. Sadly, softly so that she wont hear him. Agamemnon Thank goodness youre out here, Ledas daughter. Iphigeneia Come, now, mother, dont make me lose heart! Klytaimestra You? Klytaimestra Our other daughters are looked after well and they are safe in their quarters. No, its not me whos gone mad, brother but you. Achilles Then listen to me carefully, madam so that well achieve our aim. Agamemnon Can you not see him standing in the midst of all the Greeks, telling them all about Calchas prophesies and all about how Ive promised to sacrifice my daughter to Artemis but then went back on my word? She leans before him and embraces his knees. 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. Iphigeneia Looking into the distance behind curtains. You say youre happy to see me but your face looks worried! Klytaimestra Oh, no, child! You shouldnt go against them! Ah, but this impudence of yours will miss its mark! Then seiz'd and sever'd me from those I lov'd, And wrench'd with iron grasp the beauteous bands. Please lend me your arms, so that I may get down from the seat of this carriage modestly. Come, disband the army and leaveAulismy brother and stop your tears and mine! Not unless I obey the priests demand, not unless I sacrifice you. Old Man But, surely, my lord, surely it is there, in the trappings of office and power, that we find pleasure! You will kill the one whos loved by all so as to save the one whos hated by all! Up there is my final argument. 1090. How can you prove that you and I have the same father? So you will sacrifice your daughter! I am too ashamed to tell you this pitiful story of mine. I had put a wedding wreath on her head and brought her here to be your wife. There will be no grave. Introduction. 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. What a shocking thing that would be! Such is "Iphigenia" (1977), by Greek director Mikhali (Michael) Cacoyannis, based on Euripedes' tragedy, "Iphigenia in Aulis." "Iphigenia" relates the story of an incident that took place just prior to the Trojan War. Which of your children will dare even look at you? Do you think that I, son of Atreas the fearless, will be afraid to raise my eyes and look at you in the eye? This masterful play is masterfully adapted for the screen and brought to life by a wonderful cast. Come, tell me, share your story with me. Klytaimestra Will anyone come to take her away? That will be very easy to accomplish. First Chorus We saw him, racing in full armour upon the shells of the shore, in a contest against a chariot pulled by a team of four horses, a contest out of which he came victorious. Step gently down, onto the earth. Raise a hymn now to the goddess Artemis, Zeus daughter, for the sad honour she has asked me to endure and let the women of Argos, the daughters of Danaus, hold a silence of reverence. Agamemnon Thank you, friend. iphigenia in aulis monologue mother listen to meemerald sea vessel mcdermott. My hair! What was the point of bringing us up here for a marriage that. Is it a good wife youre after? A sensible man usually speaks to others with respect. Old man is being too slow for Agamemnon. Unjustly but I must! Menelaos Leave! My Mycenae! It is Hellas I must obey, darling, not Menelaos. 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. What a dreadful thing to say! What is a prophet? Am I not allowed to manage the affairs of my own home, in my own way, now? 1318. I hate such relationships; they bring bitter pain to all. Iphigeneia How wonderful it is to see you again, daddy! A dreadful sickness! Whos done you wrong and what is it that you want? Be a leader! No tomb, no tombstone! Agamemnon Asopus, the river god, had a daughter,Aegina. Iphigeneia Mother, Im too ashamed to face Achilles. I shall go to the priest. Now, that was the first of my complaints against your character. The play is co-produced by the Court Theatre of Chicago, directed by Charles Newell, and translated by Nicholas Rudall. Death is a dreadful thing! Go away old man! Agamemnon Achilles is acting in name only and not in deed. Ah! Hes gone out a while ago and Iphigeneia, in the meantime, has heard how her father is planning to kill her. Chorus There they will arrive with their war-whetted spears and shields to wrest Helen from Priams city and bring her back toGreece. Achilles They jeered at me! Happy to be at your sisters wedding. 1590, He spoke and he said, Chiefs of the Greek army, can you see this offering? The Greek army is getting ready to sail. Agamemnon My old friend, Thestius daughter, Leda, had three daughters: Phoebe, Klytaimestra (my wife) and Helen. This way, I hope, my pain will be lessened a little. You will be away from me for a very long time. Pause. Why all this violence? 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. Shelley Dean Milman. iphigenia in aulis monologue mother listen to me 04.07.2022 04.07.2022 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! You know the dread that Agamemnon has brought upon us. Chorus Go, young girl! 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. First Chorus Ships fromPhocisand Locris were also there in similar numbers and their captain was Oileus whose city is the famous Thronium. He announced that if we did make that offering to the goddess, we would be able to sail away and we would succeed in sacking the Phrygian capital,Troy; otherwise we would fail. Iphigeneia hands baby Orestes to her mother, Iphigeneia If only I could sing like Orpheus, father! Go! Or else, we might as well call Mount Sipylus, the Asian city where his barbarous ancestors came from a great city and wipe out of our mind the name of Phthia! 370. If this works out well, then the result will be good for you and your family without my getting mixed up in the affair. Let me tell you why I am angry. Agamemnon So you broke its seal and read its contents? Chorus And so, the blessed couple were wed by the gods: The nobly born oldest daughter of Nereas and Peleas. 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. Chorus There, upon the citys towers and round about its high walls, the Trojan folk will stand when the warriors with their bronze shields bring their ships closer, over the rivers waters, after their long journey over the ocean. What should I call them? How can I insult all those countless brave warriors and their shields, all those myriads of men, clasping hard at the oars men with courage enough to attack our enemy and die for our country, to clear her name? If only I could! He managed to film a Greek tragedy to screen without losing its effectiveness and importance. Aided and abetted by 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. How I pity you! My curiosity. She was falsely called your future wife. Old Man To stop you By then he had come back to his senses. First Chorus Our husbands told us they are all gathered here, under the helm of Agamemnon and his fair haired brother, Menelaos, noblemen both, preparing to launch an expedition againstTroy. Klytaimestra Thats where they say the centaurs live. I offer my neck quietly and with no fear for the knife. 1550, Thats what she said and every man there was amazed at the bravery and the virtue of the young girl. 720. 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. Sacrifice me. He has abandoned me to deal with this dreadful calamity all on my own! Hide browse bar It is a madness I cannot control. Go! And then theres also this: what right do I have to love my life so much? I would have given it to serve the greater good of our soldiers. I dont want anyone to think despicable things about me. Dont waste time kissing my hand. Klytaimestra What would you like me to do? Its a natural thing for men with decent hearts to do the decent thing. 1110. Rather, I have an amazing story to tell you about your daughter. 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. A nanny is holding the baby Orestes in her arms. I will never permit your husband to perform such treacherous deeds! What a weak little helper you are, my tiny brother! What an awful Fate the gods have delivered to you! Chorus Hell be able to confirm the messengers words. Chorus Youre a brave girl, Iphigeneia. The play was set in the small amphitheater at the Getty Villa. No, thats not a good idea, Klytaimestra Ill hold you tight, by your clothes, Iphigeneia No, mother. Chorus And they will surround the cityPergamum, all about its stone towers with murderous war-men wholl smash the heads of the Trojans, cut through their necks and tear their city down to its foundations. Whatever do you mean? Helen, wife of Menelaus, king of Sparta, had eloped to Troy with Paris, son of King Priam. Klytaimestra Well? See what troubles the gods have thrown at me, the poor wretch? In it I spoke of Achilles high rank, his bravery, his honour and told her that the man refused to sail with us unless one of our daughters became his wife and went to live at his house, in Phthia. 1421. However, it is considered to be not an authentic part of the original text. 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. I have tried desperately to send Klytaimestra away from here but Ive failed. You already had one and you couldnt control her. Can you see this stag, this animal that walks about in the mountains? 1160. I just couldnt get through to them! You havent given birth to me simply for your own sake! Iphigenia hoped for but now lacks, and which the chorus explicitly offers as a measure of Iphigenia's cruel fate: she should not be a sacrificial animal but a bride for kings (1085 ff.). November 1, 2021 . After all, what is it exactly that I want? He, too, loves glory. 730. On thy knees I hang, A suppliant wreath, this body, which she bore 940. Achilles You must grab her and not let go of her. Iphigeneia Yes, mother, please let me run to him before you do. It is, in fact, at that time when his friends should be able to rely on him because it is at that time, the time when things are going well with him, that he can help them the most. Forget it, madam! 1211. Iphigenia O mother that bore me! IPHIGENIA A T A ULIS presents many problems to the literary and textual critic. Effie (Sophie Melville) is a hard-nosed . Agamemnon and I have separate properties. Theyd love to go precisely because they are mad. It is unjust that your children should die while mine still enjoy the sunlight. Agamemnon An eloquent covering of a shameful act! What you mustnt do is run around wildly about the camp among the soldiers. The Plot of Iphigeneia at Aulis. Leave! The Plays of Euripides, translated by E. P. Coleridge. The single men have left their houses empty and uncared for and the married ones have left their wives and children behind. i. Trans. Now go! Promise me, mummy! The play provides some backstory to the more well-known classical tales of the Trojan War. But I will talk: the strong ought to help the weak where they can, even if they have little to do with their plight. Because, even though it would be improper for a little girl to plead at a mans knees, she will put aside her sense of modesty and do it, if you wish. Your wit is truly far greater than mine. We shall make the wedding celebrations another time., Old Man But how will Achilles take this? Download Pleiades ancient places geospacial dataset for this text. That light, this light all around us, will cut all other arguments to pieces. But wholl carry the bridal torch? Klytaimestra What was the second message? Should I exchange the good for bad? 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 . Klytaimestra And you will abandon your mother like this? Believe me, I wont be exaggerating. Next to him was Nireas, first among the Greeks in beauty. I wrote a letter to my wife, Klytaimestra. Klytaimestra who was married to whom? Iphigeneia She runs her fingers gently through her mothers hair. Old Man Menelaos! You have betrayed your own brother! I have brought this bride here with strong hopes for a wonderful marriage. 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 . When Agamemnon tries to avoid sacrificing Iphigenia, Menelaus calls Agamemnon a traitor to both Greece and his own brother. The goddess son. These ships, too, were adorned with emblems at their high sterns, this time of Cadmus, holding a golden serpent in his hands. Agamemnon, her father will sacrifice her to the goddess Artemis. Ive changed my mind, brother. Euripides, Iphigenia in Tauris 390). What horror! I see. 1380. He said that it must be done if the expedition is ever to make it to, Klytaimestra Expedition? Reg. What does the army want? 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. And how is it that you, a woman, is here, where the whole army of the Greek men and their shields is gathered? AGAMEMNON Old man, come hither and stand before my dwelling. Clytemnestra hears that Achilles is faithless, whereupon she at once urges Iphigenia to leave Aulis and return home. Your fathers holy water is waiting for you! You ask me what theyve done to me? Just before Dawn. I was not going to slaughter my own daughter, old man! Menelaos is carrying a staff and has nearly finished reading Agamemnons letter which he has torn from the Old Mans hands. I offer my body to my country and to the rest of Greece, willingly. Agamemnon Here, Menelaos. 490. Chorus There goes the girl with garlands on her hair and holy water upon her head! I shall serve Greece! Iphigeneia Servants, quickly, open the doors of the tent so that I may hide! Achilles Yes, it might be just that. Tell me the reason you will give no let me speak on your behalf, because I know what you will say. I have no one else to turn to, no other friend, no other altar to pray upon. I beg you, father! Dawns light is already being taken over by the fire of the Suns brilliant chariot! And I also hear what theyve done to me! You are the cause of it! changes, storing new additions in a versioning system. Agamemnon Very soon. Youll fight them all? You will be doing so to a man whos loyal and faithful to you. We use cookies for social media and essential site functions. So this is the armada I saw here and about which I had heard back home earlier. Klytaimestra So, who raised the young Achilles, Thetis or his father? Still, the girl came up close to him and said, Daddy, here I am, ready to do as you say. Not before I tell all the Greeks what it says! The whole city ofAulisis quiet and the guard on the walls has yet to change. 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. Details. So, tell me, my brother: What is all this violent fury? - Taken from "Iphigenia in Aulis" written by Euripides Read more Previous page Print length 94 pages Language English Publication date February 10, 2022 Dimensions She goes to the door of the tent and opens it so that the servant may hear her. First Chorus Oh, Lady, goddess of love, Aphrodite! Full of joy and yet tears flow from your eyes 650. Theyre all just sitting idly around by the shore. Achilles Words, logic, can fight off fear. Old Man No, madam! Let me hug him tightly against my breast before you do! Let me make it absolutely clear, my lady: I was there and I saw it with my own eyes! But tell me what I must do. Women, help her. Chorus Let Agamemnon place a crown upon the head of Greece and let him be crowned in turn! If the gods are just, then they should reward just men like you. Did they not side with you? No, dont bury your face inside your cloak! The Old Man fearfully pokes his head through the flaps of the tent. I cannot stop crying! The girl deserves better still, may the gods be with us! 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. Youre both in such a state of distress and confusion! But now? The true leader of a city and of an army is not merely brave but intelligent. Summary. I I am shocked, my lady! London: J.M. Accomplish your tasks, old man! Weve been robbed! 1080. Achilles What? Achilles First, plead with him. 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. I shall give it to her for the sake of Greece. Oh, what a joy it is to see you, Iphigeneia! The only other Greeks who know about this are Calchas, Odysseus and Menelaos. Iphigeneia Are you sending me to live with another family, daddy? From Kahil (1990). Everyone called Idean because of the Trojan city Idean. Oh! London: J.M. And thats when shell discover my treachery! Come, go into my tent now. The most interesting alteration for me is that at the end of the play it seems that Artemis had replaced Iphigenia with a deer. I see a throng of men approaching. You are, indeed, a noble soul and you leave me speechless and unable to argue against your views. The gods are no fools and they know when oaths are falsely pledged or forced upon people. Remember, father? [1375] How I wish he never lived near the gurgling white waters of those springs, the springs where nymphs gathered. How can I insult them all -insult their efforts, by trying to save myself I, one, single life? What, youll be performing a mothers duties now? A safe return? Iphigeneia Damn all these spears of Menelaos! line to jump to another position: The Annenberg CPB/Project provided support for entering this text. Achilles Whos that? No, mother! At one point he is satisfied with what hes written, seals it with his ring but then, a moment later, he scratches away the seal and re-reads the letter. No, mother, let one of daddys servants accompany me to Artemis woods, the place where I shall be sacrificed. If the oracle has given me some say into your daughters fate then I pass that say over to you. This is very dangerous indeed, my lord! Figure 2.2: Black-figure lekythos showing Iphigenia 89 led to the altar, c. 470 BCE. A kiss to remember you by in the underworld, since my words have not convinced you. On my part, I wish you all happiness and may you return to the land of your fathers victorious. 1279. He is interrupted by Klytaimestras entrance. Its a meadow full of bright and beautiful flowers. It seems Im eagerly preparing for an imaginary wedding! 411, Menelaos Enjoy the glory of your sceptre then! Iphigenia in Aulis has been added to your Cart . 1540. He married Thetis, Nereus daughter. 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 our esteemed prophet, Calchas, conducts his next sacrifice, when he will mingle his barley and his holy water upon the altar, he will pay bitterly for it! 1580. Chorus There goes the destroyer of Troy and her people! First Chorus And fast-footed Achilles, too, whose feet fly faster than the wind. And help me, too. Old Man Both of you have pitiable fates, my lady! First Chorus Women protect it well by avoiding immoderate love and men by bringing civil order in their city, thus making it great.