Upon his triumphant return from the Trojan War, King Agamemnon of Argos falls victim to a heinous betrayal, orchestrated by his wife, Clytemnestra, and her paramour, Aegisthus. The treacherous pair seize power, with Aegisthus ascending to the throne. Meanwhile, young Orestes, Agamemnon's son, is whisked away to Phocis by a caring relative to shield him from his father's murderers, while Electra, his sister, is wed to a humble peasant, ensuring she lacks the means to seek retribution.

The Lament of Electra

As the sun rises and Electra, alongside her peasant husband, tends to their day’s labor, Orestes and his loyal companion, Pylades, arrive at the humble farm, masked in anonymity. They are drawn to Electra’s mournful song, a heart-wrenching tribute to her lost father and her own sorrowful plight. Their solitude is broken by a messenger, announcing a festival in honor of Hera, urging all young maidens of Argos to join the celebration. Electra, burdened by her grief and unwilling to face the judgmental gazes of her townspeople, declines, despite the messenger's counsel to seek the gods’ favor.

Mistaking Orestes and Pylades for allies of her brother, Electra pours out her heart, detailing her family's plight and her fervent hope for vengeance against Clytemnestra and Aegisthus. Meanwhile, Aegisthus, ever wary of Orestes, proclaims a bounty for his capture.

Revelations and Recognitions

Returning from his toil, the peasant extends hospitality to Orestes and Pylades. Electra dispatches him to summon their relative, the one who spirited Orestes away to safety. On his journey, the old man stumbles upon Agamemnon's tomb, noting signs of a recent offering—a sacrifice with strands of red hair, sparking a glimmer of hope that Orestes might be near. Though Electra dismisses his suspicions, the truth emerges when Orestes steps out, and the old guardian recognizes the scar that confirms his identity, reuniting the long-separated siblings.

The Plot Unfolds

Heartened by their reunion and bolstered by the peasant’s advice, Orestes devises a plan to attend a sacrificial feast where Aegisthus will officiate. Electra, in turn, sends word to Clytemnestra of a fictitious childbirth, luring her closer. Together, Electra and Orestes invoke divine support, seeking justice for their father’s murder.

The Act of Vengeance

As Orestes and Pylades cross paths with Aegisthus, the usurper greets them, unaware of their true identities. Presenting themselves as travelers from Thessaly en route to sacrifice to Zeus, they gain Aegisthus’s trust, who invites them to witness his own ritual. Seizing the moment when Aegisthus is preoccupied with the sacrificial rites, Orestes strikes, ending Aegisthus’s life with a brutal blow. The loyal servants, recognizing Orestes, rally around him, celebrating the justice served.

Returning to Electra with Aegisthus's lifeless body, they conceal it, with Electra voicing her contempt for the man who destroyed her family.

Confronting Clytemnestra

With Clytemnestra nearing the peasant’s modest dwelling, Orestes is suddenly wracked with doubts, fearing the divine wrath that might follow the act of matricide. Electra remains resolute, reminding him of the oracle's command to annihilate both Clytemnestra and Aegisthus. Within the hut, confronting her mother, Electra rebuffs Clytemnestra’s justifications, accusing her of heinous acts and declaring their death as righteous retribution.

Despite his reservations, Orestes fulfills the grim prophecy, slaying Clytemnestra in a moment of anguish and despair over the violence he has committed.

The Divine Judgment

In the aftermath of their mother's death, the Dioscuri, ethereal brothers of Clytemnestra, appear before the guilt-ridden siblings. These divine figures challenge Apollo’s counsel, questioning the judgment that led to such bloodshed. They decree that Electra shall wed Pylades, and Orestes must atone for his actions by facing the relentless pursuit of the Furies. Only after enduring a trial in Athens will Orestes find absolution and freedom, thus concluding their tumultuous saga.