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The Tragedy of Iphigenia - scene-by-scene summary
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The Tragedy of Iphigeneia 1The Tragedy of Iphigenia
characters
Agamemnon
Senex, Agamemnon’s servant, an old man
Chorus, a company of women
Menelaus, Agamemnon’s brother
Clytemnestra, Agamemnon’s wife
Iphigenia, daughter of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon
Achilles
Nuncius, a messenger
This play does not have natural acts/scene breaks.
quick plot overview
Menelaus is ready to sail out to Troy to retrieve his wife, Helen, who has been kidnapped by Prince
Paris1. There is, however, no wind, which makes the whole ‘sailing out’-thing a bit difficult. Cachus
the prophesier says that if they just sacrifice Menelaus’ niece the wind will come. So Agamemnon,
Menelaus’ brother, sends a letter home to his wife Clytemnestra and daughter Iphigenia stating that
they have to come to the shore so that his daughter can marry Achilles, who doesn’t know about this
plot2. Agamemnon sends a follow-up letter telling his wife not to come because he feels guilty, but it
misses them3 so they show up anyway. Achilles discovers the plot and is upset, so is Clytemnestra.
However, Iphigenia sacrifices herself so this war can go on 4 and the wind returns, allowing the Greek
army to attack Troy.
actual play
Agamemnon calls his servant, Senex, who, although he is old, is still healthy 5. They see a shooting
star and talk about the fact that there’s no wind and the water is still. Senex asks why Agamemnon
called him, and the latter laments that he cannot be happy, because he lives with honour. People
without honour, like Senex, can be happy because they live quiet lives. Meanwhile, he is drafting a
letter: he keeps ripping up the letter whilst writing, or sealing a seemingly finished letter and then
1
Bc Aphrodite promised him the prettiest wife ever if he said she was the most beautiful goddess… The Trojan
War is basically the equivalent for if World War 3 broke out because the judge of Miss Universe was bribed to
choose a specific person and is now claiming his bribe.
2
And is also like, super-duper gay, so really not interested in marrying a woman.
3
A lá Romeo and Juliet. Seriously, these tragedies really need better postal service, it would save so many lives.
4
Which, in itself, is on theme with this entire mess of a war. Even though you’d think that war is a very manly-
man thing, the setup was because of women (the goddesses having a vanity contest), the beginning was
because of a woman (Helen of Troy being kidnapped) and the actual war can start because of a woman
(Iphigenia). Still, it is arguable whether or not the women have any agency. The goddesses depended on male
judgement, there is nothing said about whether or not Helena preferred her first husband and just randomly
being kidnapped is probs not pleasant (also, strangely, not the first time this has happened to her) and even
though many versions claim that Iphigenia sacrifices herself and makes a conscious choice in this, others state
that she did not know these actions beforehand. And either way, she was lured to the shore under false
pretences. And in the versions where she sacrifices herself, she states as her reason that if she didn’t, a civil
war would break out in the gathered (male) army. Sorry, I’ll shut up, it’s just a very interesting topic to read
about, especially because the tales around the Troyan War are arguably the most well-known Greek (collection
of) tale and it’s always told from a male POV.
5
According to himself.
, The Tragedy of Iphigeneia 2
unsealing it again. Senex asks if he can help. Agamemnon, ever considerate towards his unseen
audience, gives a brief summary of his family tree and Important Events that have happened in the
last two decades, give or take:
Figure 1 Look at my wonderful Microsoft Paint skills.
He states that he has been chosen as the captain by simple virtue of being Menelaus’ brother, but he
doesn’t like that he is captain. Now he has just heard that in order for the wind to come, he has to
sacrifice his daughter Iphigenia to the goddess Diana 6,7 . If they do so they will not only be able to
cross the ocean to Troy but also be assured of their victory. Agamemnon says he tried to convince
his brother not to, but he is unable and because he was ‘moved by the earnest desire’ of his brother
to sacrifice Agamemnon’s daughter, he sent a letter home telling his wife and child that they should
come so Iphigenia can marry Achilles. Whilst he is telling this to Senex he is having a major guilt trip
and he gives his servant a new message to give his wife: that they should not come as the wedding
will take place a different time. He also reveals that Achilles doesn’t know any of this plot.
Agamemnon gives Senex a letter and a token as proof of Senex’ truth.
Senex goes out and promptly runs into Menelaus, who wants to see the letters. Senex refuses,
stating it is not done for others to read letters not intended to them 8. Menelaus, ever classy,
threatens to kill Senex, but he still refuses to give up the letters and instead calls out for his master,
who comes. The two brothers confront each other, but it’s too late: Menelaus has already read the
6
AKA Artemis, goddess of the hunt, and later also of the moon and chastity.
7
Agamemnon’s men killed one of her sacred deer, so now she is super-duper angry and has ceased the winds
from blowing unless a virgin is sacrificed. Nobody ever realises that could also apply to a man, but whatever. In
some versions the Greeks chose Iphigenia themselves, in this one Calchas the prophesier says it has to be her.
In some versions Iphigenia dies, in others Diana saves her by last-minute by replacing her with a deer.
8
There is actually a law in the Netherlands (and several other countries) that expressly forbids the opening of
post that isn’t addressed to them. Like, you can get fined or even go to jail.
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