iphigenia in aulis monologue mother listen to me
Where will I find you? One of his servants go and tell him that Achilles, Peleas son is here, waiting for him, at the entrance of his tent! Once you see the knife approaching your neck you might well call for my help. Whether they treat me well or appallingly makes no difference to them. I need to tell you things that our daughter should not hear. Here, take it now and carry it over toArgos. Can you not see these men in full armour? Achilles Not if Ill have anything to say about it! Agamemnon Sure, that I can certainly do secretly but theres something else, brother; something I cannot hide. First Chorus And I saw Gerenian Nestor who came from Pylos. Achilles He was elected, all right, but he didnt say no! Iphigeneia Oh, Im so happy youve brought me here to see you. He has used it to lure and snare his daughter and to convince Klytaimestra to bring her here, to me, to be presented as my wife! Ive rushed here before them so that you can be ready to receive them. 9.1", "denarius"). The second, Iphigenia at Aulis, so vastly different as to highlight the playwright's Protean invention, centres on the ultimate dysfunctional family, that of Agamemnon, as natural emotion is. 1580. 710. Lets not have the common tongues wag against us. Klytaimestra May the gods give your heart strength! I, the destroyer of Priams city and its people! Klytaimestra I am not so insensitive, Agamemnon. They fuse into one. Or else let Menelaos kill Hermione, his own daughter. No, its not me whos gone mad, brother but you. Come, my lord, lets go back inside! Klytaimestra So, my sweet darling must face this horrible fate because of the need to bring Helen back? Who is this exquisite looking woman I see here? 1191. Is being a General the only thing in your head? Old Man No, madam! It is a glory that will never wither in the minds of the Greeks. Anger and impatience which I must control. Klytaimestra O, my darling daughter! Iphigenia decides to sacrifice her life for the glory of Greece. 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. . Youre the son of a god and I am a mere mortal! Klytaimestra Dear Achilles! First Chorus And fast-footed Achilles, too, whose feet fly faster than the wind. Towards this now, mother turn your thoughts, and with me weigh how well I speak; to me the whole of mighty. And then I also realised that were brothers and my heart went out for the poor girl who would be sacrificed for the sake of my own marriage. i. Trans. . She goes over to her mother and takes baby Orestes in her arms. I have tried desperately to send Klytaimestra away from here but Ive failed. Protect us in our terrible misfortune. i. Trans. I shall speak clearly for you. Klytaimestra What is it? 1470. His baby sounds will make no sense but theyll be full of meaning. 1270. 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 . You can see it! Please dont do it! Iphigeneia Shall we set up choruses around it, daddy? Not from any birds, not from the sea and not from any of the winds that rule over the waters between us andEpirus Total silence! The gods are no fools and they know when oaths are falsely pledged or forced upon people. AGAMEMNON Old man, come hither and stand before my dwelling. This masterful play is masterfully adapted for the screen and brought to life by a wonderful cast. The gods do strange things, madam, things that baffle us mortals but they save those they love. No, thats not a good idea, Klytaimestra Ill hold you tight, by your clothes, Iphigeneia No, mother. Give you my right hand? Should you not be expecting a poisonous welcome since youre departing like a snake? King Agamemnon is talking to a old man and says that he envies the poor man's situation in life. A kiss to remember you by in the underworld, since my words have not convinced you. With him also was his close friend, Adrastus, their commander, ready to exact vengeance forHellas sake, against the woman who fled her husbands halls so as to marry a barbarian. I beg you, father! First Chorus Their captain was Eurytus. Whether I want to do so or not, I must obey Hellas. 280. Come out! What ruin, what catastrophe youve brought upon me by running off with Helen! Only fools would pray to go down there. Accept the pure blood from this girls lovely neck! My mother! 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) 320. Klytaimestra What shall I tell your little sisters? 630. Go! Old Man Menelaos! You, Paris, you son of Priam! Youll soon hear it all. Klytaimestra But youre saying that I can not mourn your death, my darling! Chorus Joyous notes were sung to the glory of Peleas, son of Aeacus and Thetis, there, upon Mount Pelion, the woody realm of the Centaurs. I no longer want to be your enemy. And where will I be at the time? Why has their marriage brought about my death, father? Why should I, a faithful wife, endure the misery of having my daughter killed while she, a slut, gets to rejoice by having her daughter kept safely at home, in Sparta? Both of us, darling! 240, First Chorus Their emblem was the goddess, Palas Athena, standing on a chariot pulled by winged horses, an emblem that pleased and encouraged the sailors. Here, father, here is the body of a suppliant! Menelaos And what aboutGreece? Achilles Yes. Thats what theyll be saying; and all this because of you, Helen! July 4, 2022 . Thats Sirius, my lord. Come, look up there! 910. Here is the body that your wife has given birth to. Klytaimestra But what about the marriage? Achilles Yes, many and theyll be lead by Odysseus! Because youre trying to save my girl? If this works out well, then the result will be good for you and your family without my getting mixed up in the affair. Wagner) / Akira Mori, conductor - Drake Symphony Orchestra / Recorded at Drake University, (date) Show more Show more Gluck. Forget it, madam! 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. Let them all see which one should be sacrificed. 670. To stop me from coming here or to urge me to do so? Klytaimestra turns away angrily and enters the tent. 440. 1140. As the play opens, Iphigenia introduces herself. Not mine, thats for sure. I told her to bring our daughter here so that she may marry Achilles. Agamemnon Yes, I see it and, before you start youd better hand it back to me! How I cry for you! She has flown away to the Heavens! After you have gone gone away on your expedition and you have left me here, alone in the house -and alone for a long time, our darling daughters chair empty her bedroom empty -what sort of heart do you think will be beating in my breast? Dont force me to become evil! Dawns light is already being taken over by the fire of the Suns brilliant chariot! Such good wives are rare, Agamemnon! Dear women of Argos, this death, my death, this sacrifice to Artemis, will speed the Greeks to Troy and bring honour to the Greeks. Indeed no! But listen to me, Iphigeneia. Old Man Because Menelaos took it away from me, my lady. He has abandoned me to deal with this dreadful calamity all on my own! 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. Klytaimestra Falls down and clasps Achilles knees. However, it is considered to be not an authentic part of the original text. Klytaimestra Go ahead then, speak. Im lost! 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. Agamemnon And now its my turn to criticise you but, no, I wont do so in some arrogant, contemptuous way, with my eyes looking down on you but I shall do so in a conciliatory, brotherly way. He embraces and then steps back to look at her sadly. Is this true or is it yet another one of these tales conjured up by the poets and then spread idly about the world through the ages? Klytaimestra Im not surprised you dont recognise me. Agamemnon We are brothers when we are doing what is reasonable, not when we do what is madness. Old Man anxiously takes Klytaimestras hand and kisses it. Death is a dreadful thing! And, they should also swear that they would attack and destroy the land of the wrongdoer by the force of arms, whether his land is Greek or foreign. My hair! We cant go on fighting against Necessity! You both know the size of the army gathered here. Help us because our plight needs your help. Chorus How the dance-loving lyre and the enchanting notes of the reedy flute brought the fair haired Muses up from their home, the Pierian Springs, to the top of Mount Pelios! How dreadful! Enter Menelaos and the OldMan. Figure 2.3: Iphigenia being dragged toward the altar for sacrifice, 91 430-420 BCE. It is a madness I cannot control. Agamemnon And you shouldnt be hanging around here, among all the soldiers! Then thats the end, my sweetheart! 560. Later, he becomes so angry that he picks up the wooden frame upon which the scroll rests and throws it violently to the ground. Next to him was Nireas, first among the Greeks in beauty. Let me, instead, save Greece, if I can. It is what a mother must do! I shall be accompanying our girl with the wedding song. Chorus Go, young girl! George Bell and Sons. They might be from the wagon that is bringing the girl here, to the Greek ships. Dont be so afraid of the masses! I must go. Summary of Iphigenia in Aulis Prologue The play opens with a prologue which starts with a dubitable, suspiciously non-Euripidean discussion between Agamemnon and a loyal Servant of his, in which the commander of the Greeks under Troy expresses second thoughts over the content of a previously sent letter to his wife Clytemnestra. This might turn out to be a blessing for us -. Hold on! Iphigeneia Will I go on my own or with mother? 620. 720. She turns and looks sadly around her, then up at the sun. 1040. Menelaos No! You became a nobody. 1010. Achilles Words, logic, can fight off fear. Buy used: $6.99. Chorus That is the city of Perseus, youre calling to! Why where do they say the Phrygians live, father? But, my brother, we can do nothing now but go on with the bloody murder of my darling daughter. Exit Achilles. I know, Im behaving as if I were some god towards you though Im a mere mortal. Click anywhere in the Can I not mourn my daughters loss? Agamemnon Where, darling? Both you and I, whether we want to or not, must help Hellas stand free Hellas men cannot have their wives stolen from their beds. Free to mock her! Last Updated on July 14, 2022, by eNotes Editorial. If the oracle has given me some say into your daughters fate then I pass that say over to you. Sacrifice me. Another, Pallas, was proud of her war spear and the third, Hera, proud of the fact that she shared her bed with Lord Zeus. His wifes doing, so, let him kill his wifes daughter. It is our custom to bury sacrificial offerings. Klytaimestra Stop your shouting. Not before I tell all the Greeks what it says! Lets think through this together, my lady. Iphigeneia But but look at you, father! Klytaimestra! Come out here immediately! Youve murdered Tantalus, my first husband and with even more brutal violence, youve torn my baby from my breast and dashed it hard against the ground! options are on the right side and top of the page. A safe return? 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. iphigenia in aulis monologue mother listen to me. Klytaimestra Will he try and come here and drag my darling away, just like that, against her will? 1279. This work may be freely reproduced, stored and transmitted, electronically or otherwise, for any non-commercial purpose. See that there are no wheel marks on the road. Iphigenia at Aulis seems to have been constructed in a society in which it was ideal to put nation and family ahead of oneself. What a hateful, bitter sight is Helen! What you mustnt do is run around wildly about the camp among the soldiers. And thats why the whole ofGreecerose up in arms with great fervour. In revenge for Agamemmnon killing one of her sacred stags, the goddess Artemis demands the sacrifice of his eldest daughter . A garland for my head a garland for my hair some holy water from the sacred basins! 1350. How can I endure your death? What an awful Fate the gods have delivered to you! They should bring you great joy after such a long absence from your home. Who on earth could force you to murder your own child? 970. Look there! Yet it is right that she should come with her sweet daughter to give her away as a bride. Iphigenia's mother Clytemnestra is also determined to save her. Old Man Dear Fortune, help my brain to save those I love. 1600. London. 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. Happy noises of incoming royal procession, including horses and chariot are heard within, Stage Left. You already had one and you couldnt control her. She goes to the door of the tent and opens it so that the servant may hear her. I want no one to lose tears over my grave. It would be shameful if Agamemnon saw me touching whats not rightfully mine! The Watchman, whose . It seems Im eagerly preparing for an imaginary wedding! What would be the best action for him to take? My life, mummy, my life has been saved! 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. You saw the endless ships. Tears of pity came into my eyes just now, when I saw your own tears roll from yours. No! Ha! She looks around the stage anxiously for a minute. [1375] Cheiron, the centaur did, so that the child might be brought up not knowing the behaviour of evil men. Come! 350. Only your knees. I dont understand, father. 420, The soldiers talk and they ask questions. This is something I wont tolerate. He is barely visible. No, mother! Darling, darling little brother! 490. Ah! Them and their pine sterns and their shiny bronze prows! First Chorus Diomedes, too, was there amusing himself, throwing a discus. Old Man Both of you have pitiable fates, my lady! 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. I will not have you crying! Please dont be offended now! Iphigeneia Stop! Difficult. 100. I dont want anyone to think despicable things about me. Spare me! Achilles Weighty words, old man! Under no circumstances should any of this work be used as part of a collage, which includes the work of other writers or translators. He has used my name without my permission! Let us pray for a good fortune! Tell me! A prophet? They will sail over to our home, to Argos and kill our children and the two of us as well! Pause. I want my love for others to be moderate and my desires to be pure. No tomb, no tombstone! And I? Paris! Then, without anyone forcing you, totally of your accord and dont claim it wasnt- you had sent a letter to your wife to bring Iphigenia here, in the pretence that shed be marrying Achilles. Iphigeneia I am a fortunate girl, mother. 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. 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. First Chorus Ships fromPhocisand Locris were also there in similar numbers and their captain was Oileus whose city is the famous Thronium. Your Fate and mine and hers, too! She leads her mother into the tent and returns to centre stage. Klytaimestra What would you like me to do? How I wish he never lived near the gurgling white waters of those springs, the springs where nymphs gathered. No, youve brought me to life so that the whole of Greece may rejoice! A real miracle! Agamemnon And when you come across some fork in the road, check it carefully. Volume II. Come, darling Iphigeneia, come down from the carriage now. They will reach the silvery eddies of the Simois river that runs through Apollos stronghold, the rocky plains ofTroy. Chorus And so, the blessed couple were wed by the gods: The nobly born oldest daughter of Nereas and Peleas. Shes about to be slaughtered by the hand of her own father! London: J.M. Agamemnon Neither. Klytaimestra What? Here are the two of us, ones a baby, the other a grown up girl, a brother and a sister, both your children, begging you, by your beard, pleading with you. The whole city ofAulisis quiet and the guard on the walls has yet to change. My sacrifice will bring about a victory for the Greeks and secure their safety. It is a horrible thing for one to lose a child! I also feel ashamed Iturns towards the tent. Agamemnon Yes but first I must make a sacrifice here, inAulis. Clytemnestra It is the goddess' son you see, child, for whom you came here. Menelaos Odysseus will give us no trouble. iphigenia in aulis monologue mother listen to meemerald sea vessel mcdermott. 640. The most interesting alteration for me is that at the end of the play it seems that Artemis had replaced Iphigenia with a deer. Obedient child. Agamemnon He covers his face with his hands in shame and groans. She reminds him of how they used to plan her future and tells him how much she wants to live. Now, come, take me away to the altar! As is common, there is a dowry, here brought by her mother from the household of Agamemnon (lines 612-13). / Malvaux > Non class > iphigenia in aulis monologue mother listen to me / 15.02.22 iphigenia in aulis monologue mother listen to me . Your current position in the text is marked in blue. Euripides (484 BCE - 406 BCE) Translated by Theodore Alois Buckley (1825 - 1856). What a dreadful thought to have in your mind! Then Calchas, the priest, took out a sharp sword out of its sheath and placed it in a basket made of gold. Well, then, may you and your friends also enjoy a marriage such as mine! She will say to me! Come, take me to the altar of the goddess. Brothers fight because of lust and because of greed in their inheritance. Your current position in the text is marked in blue. Let my pity be a protective blanket over you; it is the pity of a young man but it is a sincere pity, nevertheless and one brought about by the fact that I have been the one named as your daughters husband. Menelaos Let go! iphigenia in aulis monologue mother listen to me 04.07.2022 04.07.2022 He lifted his cloak up and dug his face deep into it, trying to hide the tears that flooded his eyes. Chiron, the wise teacher, was entrusted by a wiser parent! Old Man Old age! Daddy, do you want to kill me? And, no, I will not murder my children and certainly wont do it so that you can wrongfully enjoy some sort of vengeance exacted from a disgraceful wife, while I waste away in tears day and night because I had committed such a godless crime against them, against my own flesh and blood.