785, Chorus Do you hear them, Helen? 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. Iphigeneia Separation? Im not talking like this because Im missing out on this wedding. Iphigenia at Aulis was first performed in 405 B.C.E., the year after Euripides' death. The more I hold you in my arms the more the tears rush to my eyes. Summary. Agamemnon Holy Fate and Fortune! Paris! Brighter Bayside > Blog > Uncategorized > iphigenia in aulis monologue mother listen to me. Ill have none of it! Obedient child. IPHIGENIA Had I, my father, the persuasive voice Of Orpheus, and his skill to charm the rocks Essay Sample Check Writing Quality. But Iphigenia, having determined to die nobly on behalf of the Greeks, was snatched away by the Goddess, and a stag substituted in her place. Come! Which one will not wonder if it will be the next one you take to the slaughter? 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. Oh, my sweet daughter! Achilles The whole army wants her your daughter- killed! First Chorus Helen was given as a gift toParis, by Aphrodite, one day when, near the cool springs, she won the beauty contest from her rivals, Hera and Palas Athena. Agamemnon Zeus himself gave her to him. Od. Im coming, my lord Im coming! Well, you pretended you didnt want the job but you did. Oh, Achilles! Faithful, devoted, temperate in nuptial duties, a good keeper of your house. Some of you stand by at the front of the horses to quieten them. Accept this sacrifice which we, the Greek army and Agamemnon, offer to you! 810, Achilles, they say. Can I not mourn my daughters loss? Come, tell me, share your story with me. Under no circumstances should any of this work be used as part of a collage, which includes the work of other writers or translators. But my brother, using all sorts of arguments, finally persuaded me to commit this dreadful deed! Agamemnon Look at you? I shall do as you say. I wish you could avert it somehow. Figure 2.3: Iphigenia being dragged toward the altar for sacrifice, 91 430-420 BCE. Iphigeneia at Aulis. That child was Paris. See that there are no wheel marks on the road. 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! How I wish he never lived at that meadow where all the flowers bloomed: roses and hyacinths, all those flowers that the goddesses plucked. Chorus Let Agamemnons name live for ever in glory! Image from Vermeule and Chapman (1971) Plate 71. options are on the right side and top of the page. Iphigeneia Pelasgia! Iphigenia in Aulis by Euripides | Analysis & Themes | Study.com Old Man Dear Fortune, help my brain to save those I love. Klytaimestra But why? By the goddess Hera, protector ofArgosand of marriage, I shall not do so! The Greeks were then enabled to set sail. The news spread quickly and so the whole army already knows that your daughter has arrived. Youve persuaded me with wise words. Agamemnon shall never lay a finger on your daughter not even to touch her robes! A nanny is holding the baby Orestes in her arms. No, its not me whos gone mad, brother but you. First Chorus We have left behind our land, Chalkis, a land washed by the salty waters of glorious Arethousa and weve travelled through the narrow straights of Euripus to come here, toAulis, to this sandy peninsula. Iphigenia and Clytemnestra come to Aulis, and are received with acclamations by the Greeks. Directing his question to the chorus. My armed comrades will be there with me to save your life, to stop your execution. She takes the baby Orestes from Iphigeneias hands. And, do I not also have the right to make my own prayer to the gods about you? Euripides (c.480-c.406 BC) - Iphigenia In Aulis: Translated by George 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. 730. Menelaos Brothers must share each others pain. I know everything! My 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? Klytaimestra My question is nothing but reasonable. Klytaimestra Achilles, son of the Nereid! [1375] Oh, what a joy it is to see you, Iphigeneia! You win, I cry. 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. Let that stand for me in place of the children and the marriage I could have had. I was beaten by all the noise. I am going to go and speak with your husband. No! Ah! As Iphigeneia approaches her, Agamemnon enters. Can you see what the goddess has placed upon her altar? IPHIGENIA (Daughter of Agamemnon and Klytaimestra) ACHILLES (Chief of the Myrmidons, an army) FIRST MESSENGER SECOND MESSENGER FIRST CHORUS (Of women from Chalkis) SECOND CHORUS (Men and women of Argos, attendants to Klytaimestra and Iphigeneia) THE BABY ORESTES (Silent) GUARDS (Silent) VARIOUS OTHER ATTENDANTS (Silent) Let someone go and prepare the sacrificial basket and may the blessed fire burn high with the purifying barley. The whole of Greece is gathered here and they all want one thing: to go to the famous city of Troy and tear down her towers. But, no, instead of that, I have brought her to her slaughter! Please dont do it! Iphigeneia at Aulis Flashcards | Quizlet Klytaimestra But Achilles, think again! Chorus Friends, let us sing our prayer to Artemis! Iphigeneia But there is no loss, mummy! His head falls into his arms and he begins sobbing. Close suggestions Search Search One of the myths in the Cypria inspired the tragedy Iphigenia in Aulis, written by Euripides (ca. Klytaimestra The whole army? A Monologue from the play Iphigenia in Tauris by Euripides - Actorama He goes to the tent and shouts through its door. Here we are, eagerly obedient to your wish! Someone must be playing games with both of us for some reason! No, there are hundreds of women who want my wedding bed! An unrelenting curse. What a dreadful thing to say! But listen to me, Iphigeneia. 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. 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 . 1171, I would be there, alone, Agamemnon, wailing, crying bitter tears, yelling, Darling Iphigeneia! 620. Shelley Dean Milman. Or else let Menelaos kill Hermione, his own daughter. Menelaos Yes, you may well suffer now because I did break your seal and yes, I do know the secret trickery you were concocting! What should I call them? This is the very same sky that heard your words then and the words you chose to write afterwards, reversing your message to your wife, telling her this time, in words to the effect that Ill no longer be my daughters murderer! 360. Klytaimestra No, I wont. 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. 411, Menelaos Enjoy the glory of your sceptre then! 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. Because youre trying to save my girl? Achilles Yes, madam and I too, am furious at your husband. Klytaimestra May joy be with you for ever, Achilles. Finally, he picks up the scroll and gets up and moves away from the table. Hell have the whole army eating out of his hand and then make them kill us and sacrifice the girl anyway! What a terrible shame! Unjustly but I must! Agamemnon dares to commit a most dreadful deed! Klytaimestra The whole of the Greek army? [1340] Open the tent-door to me, servants, that I may hide myself Clytemnestra Why seek to escape, my child? Menelaos And what would that be? 640. All of you! Klytaimestra Will anyone come to take her away? I accepted my fortune and youll admit that I have always been a good wife to you. 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. Dont force me to become evil! And you, foreign ladies, say nothing about this. Here comes Agamemnon! 231. But, my brother, we can do nothing now but go on with the bloody murder of my darling daughter. He and no one else! 1180. A coward. So, we have all gathered here and here we are still, tied down by the weather! Klytaimestra Answer me honestly, my husband! 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. 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. 250. Klytaimestra How can there be a death and not a grave? Agamemnon That will be his decision. Achilles Alone? - Taken from "Iphigenia in Aulis" written by Euripides Read more Previous page Print length 94 pages Language English Publication date February 10, 2022 Dimensions Agamemnon So you broke its seal and read its contents? Klytaimestra Ah! iphigenia in aulis monologue mother listen to me Why all this violence? We are in front of Agamemnons lavish tent which has two entrances, one of which is the larger and used only by Agamemnon and his family. That would be bad for both of us. Perseus provides credit for all accepted Why where do they say the Phrygians live, father? Every one of them is just as unbearable! Old Man He tricked you about the marriage with Achilles, my lady, so that youd be willing to come here. Stop waiting for those indecisive sons of Atreas to tell you what to do. Iphigenia in Aulis - Washington State University Enough! ATTENDANT I come; what new schemes now, king Agamemnon? Klytaimestra Thats not what the laws of the custom say. Rest assured, we are alone. 370. Achilles I did but theyre shouting at me, too! And Helen, Zeus daughter, will shed bitter tears, too, for betraying her husband. Come on, Orestes, even babies know when theres trouble around! How full of torment is life for us ephemeral creatures! I shall look elsewhere for friends and help. Achilles Yes, many and theyll be lead by Odysseus! Iphigenia in Aulis Character Analysis | Course Hero Who on earth could force you to murder your own child? Stay! Such good wives are rare, Agamemnon! Achilles Yes. Old Man Both of you have pitiable fates, my lady! Figure 2.2: Black-figure lekythos showing Iphigenia 89 led to the altar, c. 470 BCE. I know what you want to do to me Go on! However, when Agamemnon breaks down in tears, Menelaus relents. Ha, ha, ha! 751. 910. Dont become an evil man! Yes, you, daughter of the long-necked swan! Klytaimestra Who then was the heir to the House of Aeacus? Let our friends here see how happy you make me. 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! Let that act be what Ill be remembered by. The Watchman, whose . "Iphigenia" marks Steele and Lorca's fourth collaboration on a Greek tragedy. He is barely visible. See this letter, this contemptible letter with the contemptible message inside it? Do not send our daughter here, inAulis, the place whose harbours are well protected from the harsh seas and which juts out towardsColchis. Introduction. I was not going to slaughter my own daughter, old man! Awful! Old man, come out here! Let them all see which one should be sacrificed. This is the first English edition with commentary of the play since 1891. Its an unbearable, harsh dread. London: J.M. Chorus What an awful, pitiful fate you must endure, child! Menelaos Listen to me, Agamemnon! Euripides, Iphigenia in Aulis, line 1338 - Perseus Project 666 words. Here, take it now and carry it over toArgos. Then he placed a garland upon the girls head and sprinkled holy water on her hair. IPHIGENIA A T A ULIS presents many problems to the literary and textual critic. 110. 510. My sacrifice will bring about a victory for the Greeks and secure their safety. Youre drowning me in misery. Theyve all rushed over there to see her. What star could that be, that one, gliding across the sky up there? Oh, goddess who lets her brilliant light roll along through the gloomy darkness of the night! 1279. 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. I need to tell you things that our daughter should not hear. Come, darling Iphigeneia, come down from the carriage now. Details. Listen to me! My own heart aches more for poor Hellas than for you because Hellas was about to achieve something great against the barbarians when you and your daughter stopped her; and now these insignificant barbarians will be allowed to go free! Achilles I told them that if thats what they thought, then they should not kill my intended wife. Do you think Im some slave of yours? Messenger No, my lady! 1031. Abominable creature! I want my love for others to be moderate and my desires to be pure. She will be saved if you will it. Agamemnon There! Enter from Stage Left Klytaimestra and Iphigeneia, accompanied by an entourage of men and women, some of whom are carrying gifts into Agamemnons tent. Other men may have different views but let me give you my own. Amazon.com: Iphigenia in Aulis: 9781534322158: Euripides, Einhorn Think again, Iphigeneia! 691. Agamemnon Here, Menelaos. 1250. Well then, tell me: what will your prayer, your plea to the gods be? Our daughter now lives among the gods. 1350. Agamemnon It will take place at the most propitious time: When the moon completes its cycle again. Klytaimestra With Zeus will or against it? Son of the Nereid, you are marrying my daughter. That in itself is your admission. Save your child! How much suffering, how much pain has Helen, Tyndareus daughter, brought upon us, upon the children of Danaus! Everyone called Idean because of the Trojan city Idean. Agamemnon What? Agamemnon Alone, darling. Checking out the situation carefully. Klytaimestra But what about the marriage? Women, help her. Klytaimestra And you will abandon your mother like this? The whole world loves to talk about the famous and to see them in their flesh. Iphigeneia hugs her mother. iphigenia in aulis monologue mother listen to me. Old Man A slave. 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! I shall go to the priest. First Chorus Words that will not shame your ancestors. Things that should best be kept away from a brides ear. Ill now stand by you and so I advise you not to kill your daughter or put my own interests before yours. $3.99 delivery March 10 - 14. 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. Agamemnon Odysseus has a shifty mind and hes a rabble-rouser. No, Id rather see the death of a thousand women than that of a single man! Old Man Yes, dear lady! Ah, there he is! She looks around the stage anxiously for a minute. Tell me what it is you want, now. Agamemnon Thank you, friend. Iphigeneia at Aulis Quotes THE OLD MAN: Atreus did not sire you, Agamemnon, into a world of pure happiness. He is writing a letter (on a scroll) an exercise which, it seems, is difficult for him. What does my life have to do with the marriage of Paris and Helen father? 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. Believe me, I wont be exaggerating. Klytaimestra But youre saying that I can not mourn your death, my darling! Why are you leaving? Now go inside, my good man and everything will happen according to the will of Fate. 389. 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! Help us because our plight needs your help. Im giving you my tears! She turns and looks sadly around her, then up at the sun. Menelaos Leave! Iphigeneia How wonderful it is to see you again, daddy! He married her and they had a son, Aeacus who became King of the island Oenone. Vile trickery, unworthy of his father, Atreas! He knows nothing of my scheme, nothing of the marriage and nothing of my supposed wish to give my daughter to him, to have him take her into his arms and into his marital bed. Klytaimestra What was the second message? 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. They might be from the wagon that is bringing the girl here, to the Greek ships. Do you not want to fight for her? Klytaimestra I am not so insensitive, Agamemnon. He is afraid of his own soldiers. The future of our Greek women rests upon my actions. And you, you will carry the honour of my deed wherever you go! As is common, there is a dowry, here brought by her mother from the household of Agamemnon (lines 612-13).