Tragedy "Iphigenia in Aulis": summary

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

As you know, one of the most popular topics for works of art in ancient Greece was the war with Troy. Ancient playwrights described various characters of this legend, not only men, but also women. The story of the heroic daughter of the Argos king Agamemnon, Iphigenia, was especially popular with them. Such famous Greeks as Aeschylus, Sophocles, as well as the Roman playwrights Ennius and Nevius composed tragedies about her fate. However, one of the most famous among such works is the tragedy of Euripides "Iphigenia in Aulis". Let's find out what it is about, and also look at what historians know about the real Iphigenia.

Ancient Greek playwright Euripides

Before considering the tragedy "Iphigenia in Aulis", it is worth learning about its creator - Euripides of Salamis.

He was born in 480 BC. e. Although thereopinions that this could have happened in 481 or 486

Euripides' father, Mnesarchus, was a rich man, so the future playwright received an excellent education, studying with the famous philosopher and mathematician Anaxagoras.

In his youth, Euripides was fond of sports and drawing. However, his most active hobby (which grew into a real passion) was literature.

At first, the young man simply collected interesting books. But later he realized that he could write just as well.

The first of his plays "Peliades" was staged when Euripides was 25. Its warm reception by the public contributed to the fact that until his death the playwright continued to write. About 90 plays are attributed to him. However, only 19 of them have survived to this day.

Even during his lifetime, the popularity of the works of Euripides was simply fantastic, not only in Athens, but also in Macedonia and Sicily.

It is believed that the success of the plays was ensured not only by an excellent poetic style, thanks to which many contemporaries knew them by heart. Another reason for the popularity of the playwright was the careful study of female images, which no one had done before Euripides.

The poet in his works often brought the heroines to the fore, allowing them to outshine the male heroes. This zest distinguished his books from the tragedies of other authors.

The tragedy of Euripides about the fate of Agamemnon's daughter

"Iphigenia at Aulis" is one of the few works that has survived in its entirety.

Presumably the drama was first staged in 407 BC. e.

Judging by the fact that it has come down to our times, the play was very popular.

It is also possible that the author's death the following year drew attention to the work. After all, in this way, the drama became his last work.

Chronologically, "Iphigenia in Aulis" can be considered a prequel to another play by Euripides - "Iphigenia in Tauris", written 7 years earlier, in 414 BC. This tragedy also persisted. There is a version that it was her popularity that prompted the playwright to dedicate another tragedy to Iphigenia.

Euripides' "Iphigenia in Aulis" was translated into Russian relatively late - in 1898 - by the famous poet and translator Innokenty Annensky. By the way, he also owns the translation of "Iphigenia in Tauris".

The play was first fully translated into Ukrainian almost a century later - in 1993 by Andrey Sodomora. At the same time, it is known that Lesya Ukrainka was interested in Iphigenia and even wrote a short dramatic sketch "Iphigenia in Taurida".

What events preceded those described in the tragedy of Euripides

Before proceeding to review the summary of "Iphigenia in Aulis", it is worth learning about what happened before it began. After all, Euripides wrote many plays dedicated to the Trojan War. Therefore, it was assumed that everyone already knew the backstory of "Iphigenia in Aulis".

After Elena the Beautiful (who, by the way, is Iphigenia's cousinsister) left her husband and went with Paris to Troy, the offended husband Menelaus decided to take revenge. He initiated the war of the Greeks with the Trojans.

In addition to the great heroes of Greece, his brother, the Argos king Agamemnon (father of Iphigenia), also joined this campaign.

Summary of "Iphigenia in Aulis" by Euripides

This play begins with Agamemnon talking to his old slave. From this conversation, it becomes clear that the Greek ships are stuck in Aulis and cannot sail to the shores of Troy.

The people learn from the priests that a human sacrifice must be made to Artemis and then a fair wind will blow. The great goddess chooses in this role the eldest daughter of Agamemnon - Iphigenia.

The king has already sent for his daughter and wife Clytemnestra, inviting them to come under the pretext of the wedding of the princess with Achilles. However, later paternal feelings take precedence over military and patriotic ones. The king writes a letter to his wife, in which he tells the truth and asks not to send his daughter to Aulis.

But this message is not destined to reach the recipient. The slave with the letter is intercepted by the cuckold Menelaus. Upon learning of the "cowardice" of his brother, he rolls up a scandal.

While the brothers are arguing, Iphigenia and Clytemnestra arrive in Aulis. Agamemnon nevertheless understands that now he will be forced to sacrifice his daughter, because the whole army knows about the will of Artemis. But he does not dare to tell the women the truth, evasively answering his wife's questions about the upcoming wedding: "Yes, she will be taken to the altar …".

Meanwhile Achilles (to whomnothing is known about his own role in the deception) comes to Agamemnon's tent. Here he meets Clytemnestra and Iphigenia, having learned from them about the wedding. A misunderstanding arises between them, which is resolved by the old slave who told the truth.

The mother is in despair and realizes that her daughter has fallen into a trap and will die "for the whore Elena". She persuades Achilles to help, and he solemnly swears to protect Iphigenia.

Achilles leaves to gather warriors, and Agamemnon returns instead. Realizing that his family already knows everything, he tries to peacefully persuade them to obey. However, Clytemnestra and Iphigenia ask to refuse the sacrifice.

The king gives a fiery speech about the homeland and leaves. Meanwhile, Achilles returns with the news that the entire army already knows about the arrival of the princess and demands her death. Despite this, he vows to protect the girl to the last drop of his blood.

However, the princess changes her mind. Her father's pathetic speech (pronounced earlier) touched her. The girl stops the bloodshed and voluntarily agrees to die.

Achilles and those around him are delighted with such sacrifice of Iphigenia and the princess goes to her death to the songs of praise.

In the finale, a doe sent by Artemis dies instead of her. The goddess gives the wind and the Greeks are going to war.

What happened to Iphigenia next

Knowing the content of "Iphigenia in Aulis" briefly, it will be interesting to trace her further biography according to myths and other sources.

They all agree that the princess did not die, because at the time of the sacrifice she was saved by herselfArtemis. The goddess was delighted with the nobility of Iphigenia, which took the girl to her (while all the heroes believed that the princess had died and was in heaven).

How was the further fate of the sacrificial beauty? There are several versions.

According to one of them, Artemis turned her into the goddess of moonlight - Hekate.

According to another - bestowed immortality and a new name - Orsiloha, settling on the White Island.

It is believed that the goddess made Iphigenia the wife of Achilles.

There is a legend that Achilles, not Artemis, saves the princess from death. He sends the girl to Scythia, where she served as a priestess of the goddess.

There is also a version that Iphigenia was taken prisoner by the Tauroscythians and given to serve in the temple of Artemis.

Another tragedy by Euripides "Iphigenia in Tauris"

Most theories about the further fate of the noble princess are invariably connected with Tavria and serving Artemis. Perhaps guided by these data, Euripides wrote the tragedy "Iphigenia in Tauris".

Although this drama was written earlier, chronologically, its action takes place a few years after the miraculous rescue of the princess. Since none of the mortals knew about her fate, more than one tragedy happened in the family of Iphigenia.

The inconsolable Clytemnestra never forgave her husband after the death of her daughter. During the years of his absence, she began an affair with his enemy - Aegisthus. And after returning from Troy, Clytemnestra kills her husband, taking revenge on him for the death of his daughter and treason (excepttreasure, Agamemnon brought the concubine Cassandra).

A few years after the murder, the Delphic oracle of Apollo orders Iphigenia's younger brother Orestes to avenge his father's death. By that time the boy had grown up and matured. He followed orders, killing both his mother and her lover.

That's just why he was pursued by the goddesses of vengeance. To beg for forgiveness, Orestes learns that he needs to come to Tauris and bring back a wooden statue of Artemis, which, according to legend, fell from the sky.

The tragedy "Iphigenia in Tauris" begins with the fact that Orestes, together with his friend Pylades, arrives in Tauris. It turns out that foreigners are sacrificed here to Artemis.

On the eve of my brother's arrival, Iphigenia has a dream. The princess interprets it as news of the imminent death of Orestes, whom she had not seen for many years. To prevent her brother's death, she decides to save one of the Greeks prepared as a sacrifice for Artemis. In return, the rescued person must take a warning letter to Orestes.

However, it turns out that one of the strangers is Iphigenia's brother. He tells why he came to Tauris, and his sister agrees to help them and Pylades steal the statue.

The heroes manage to carry out their plan, and they return home together.

Analysis of the tragedy

When analyzing "Iphigenia in Aulis" by Euripides, it is worth paying attention to the fact that the author of the tragedy tried to raise a lot of important problems in it. Although many perceived this work as a praise of sacrificial patriotism, the poet himself tried to show what his price was. So for the upcomingvictory, the heroes have to kill everything human in themselves and kill an innocent girl. Although it is mentioned that the Greeks by that time practically did not practice human sacrifice.

The author also considers the problems of a person being in power. Perhaps a close acquaintance with the Macedonian king Archelaus prompted him to write about it. The theme of power and its price is the subject of the first dialogue in the tragedy. In it, Agamemnon is jealous of the old servant. He admits that the happiness of being the lord and arbiter of destinies is very doubtful: "The bait is sweet, but biting off is disgusting …".

Among other problems shown in the tragedy are the madness and greed of the crowd. It is worth remembering that democracy was the first to appear among the Greeks, and Euripides knew what he was writing about. So, for the sake of victory in the war, the people are ready to sacrifice an innocent girl. This looks very tragic, especially if you know that after the victory over Troy, these same warriors for some reason did not demand the execution of Elena, who became the culprit of the war.

Who knows, maybe Euripides, in his declining years, was to a certain extent disappointed in the democracy of his day and veiledly showed this in his last tragedy?

The image of Iphigenia in the tragedy of Euripides

Knowing how the fate of the main character of "Iphigenia in Aulis" developed, it is worth paying more attention to her.

In his play, Euripides managed to show the evolution of the character of the princess and once again prove that heroes are not born, but become.

Soat first, she is a cheerful girl, longing for love and happiness. She arrives in Aulis, hoping to become the wife of one of the most beautiful and famous heroes of Greece.

Having learned about the intention to make her a victim, the princess no longer dreams of a wedding, but simply of life. She asks for mercy from her father, motivating her request "… to live so joyfully, but to die is so scary …".

The intransigence of her father, who is also experiencing her impending death, becomes an example for Iphigenia. And even when there is a protector in the face of Achilles, the girl decides to sacrifice herself and agrees to die in the name of the goddess Artemis and the victory of the Greeks over their enemies.

By the way, back in the days of ancient Greece, Aristotle found that Euripides did not carefully prescribe the metamorphosis of the character of his heroine. He believed that the heroic self-sacrifice of the princess was not sufficiently reasoned. Therefore, although it delights, it looks somewhat unmotivated.

At the same time, other literary scholars, analyzing "Iphigenia in Aulis", believe that love for Achilles pushed the girl to such self-sacrifice.

This theory is quite viable. Indeed, in fact, Iphigenia agreed to death only after Achilles swore to protect her at the cost of his life. And if you consider that the whole army of the Greeks is against him, then he is doomed. Therefore, consent to become a victim of Artemis could be given precisely in order to save the beloved from certain, albeit heroic, death.

To be fair, it is worth noting that if we consider the image of Iphigenia in this vein, then her act has a cleara motif that Aristotle did not find.

The system of images in "Iphigenia in Aulis"

Paying tribute to Euripides, it is worth noting that in his tragedy he carefully worked out all the characters.

For example, he cleverly contrasted the characters of the main character's parents. So Agamemnon and Clytemnestra love their daughter. However, on the shoulders of the king also lies the responsibility for the whole people. He understands that if he takes pity on Iphigenia, he will destroy thousands of lives. This choice is not easy for him, and he constantly hesitates.

Menelaus and Clytemnestra act as his demon and angel, seeking to drag the doubter to their side. Each of them is driven by personal interests (Clytemnestra - love for his daughter, Menelaus - a thirst for revenge).

Unlike them, Agamemnon ultimately brings his interests to please the public and morally ex alts himself over his relatives. And, perhaps, it was his personal example (and not a fiery speech) that inspired Iphigenia to her heroic sacrifice.

An interesting feature of the image system in this tragedy is that each character has their own drama, even if it is negative. So Menelaus (who started a war with Troy for the sake of his ambition) uses intrigue to force his brother to sacrifice his daughter. However, after reaching the goal, even he feels something like regret.

By the way, such an ardent desire of Menelaus to destroy an innocent niece can be interpreted as an attempt to recoup Elena's betrayal on her cousin. And if we consider this image in this vein, then Elena's escape from her tyrant husbandlooks quite understandable.

Special attention should be paid to Achilles. Unlike other characters, he is not related to Iphigenia. Moreover (judging by the plot of Euripides), the young man treats the princess with respect and pity, but does not feel love for her.

After all, in fact, Clytemnestra forces him to promise to protect the beauty, taking advantage of the hero's resentment at using his noble name for dishonest deception. And in the future, he could no longer refuse this word. So, even if the princess loved him, according to Euripides, her feelings were not mutual.

Opera of the same name

The idea that the main character of the tragedy of Euripides "Iphigenia in Aulis" could be driven by a secret love for Achilles, and not for the Motherland, apparently came to mind of many.

That is why often artists, describing the fate of the princess, focused on a love story.

One of the most famous such works is the opera "Iphigenia in Aulis", written by Christoph Willibald Gluck in 1774

He took as the basis of the plot not the tragedy of Euripides, but its alteration by Racine, replacing the tragic ending with a happy one.

So, according to Gluck, Achilles and Iphigenia are the bride and groom. Taking advantage of this, Menelaus and Agamemnon lure the princess to Aulis. In the future, the father repents and sends the guard Arkas to inform his daughter about the betrayal of the betrothed and prevent her arrival.

But the warrior overtakes women only upon their arrival in Aulis. Despite his words, Achilles proves his innocence, andshe and Iphigenia happily plan to go to the temple, waiting for the wedding.

However, Arkas tells them the true reason for calling the princess. Amazed, Iphigenia begs her father for mercy. She manages to soften his heart, and he arranges an escape for the beauty.

Unfortunately, nothing works. Achilles hides his beloved in his tent. But the whole army of Greeks is against him, demanding to sacrifice the girl.

In the future, the plot unfolds as in Euripides. But in the finale, Achilles, accompanied by his warriors, still snatches his beloved from the hands of the killer priest, and Artemis appears to the people. She pardons Iphigenia, and predicts victory over Troy for the Greeks.

In the end, the lovers get married.