Introduction
The theatrical masterpiece by Hugo von Hofmannsthal, Electra, first graced the German stage in 1903 under the title Elektra. The English-speaking world was introduced to this dramatic retelling in 1908. You can find this gripping tale in the anthology, Hugo von Hofmannsthal: Three Plays, translated by Alfred Schwartz and released by Wayne State University Press in 1966, though tracking down a copy today proves quite the challenge as it is no longer printed.
Origins and Plot
Electra emerges as a creative reimagining of the ancient Greek dramatist Sophocles' work by the same name. The narrative delves into the repercussions of King Agamemnon's assassination, orchestrated by his wife Clytemnestra, in league with her paramour, Aegisthus, upon the king's return from the Trojan War. Fast forward a decade after the king's demise, we find Agamemnon's daughter, Electra, ensnared in a web of grief and a consuming thirst for vengeance against her mother. The turning point arrives with the return of her brother, Orestes, from exile, who executes the long-awaited retribution by slaying both Clytemnestra and Aegisthus.
Themes and Legacy
Electra intricately explores themes of psychological turmoil and fixation. It draws on the emerging psychoanalytic theories of Sigmund Freud, which were still fresh when von Hofmannsthal penned the play. The dramatist masterfully wields vivid and unsettling imagery, offering a penetrating look into the minds of both Electra and Clytemnestra, as the narrative hurtles inexorably toward its bloody climax. Although the play seldom graces modern stages, it remains etched in the annals of theatrical history, largely due to von Hofmannsthal's adaptation of its libretto for Richard Strauss's electrifying opera, Elektra, in 1909.
Summary
Electra unfolds its dramatic tapestry within the secluded courtyard of Clytemnestra’s grand palace. Here, a cluster of servant women, overseen by their matronly supervisors, gather around a well, drawing water with a practiced rhythm. Their hushed conversations turn to the tragic fate of Electra, as one of them observes that it is the hour when her mournful wails echo through the palace halls, lamenting her father’s death.
Suddenly, Electra emerges from the shadows. The servants’ eyes follow her every move, but she quickly retreats, concealing her face with a protective arm. The women whisper among themselves about Electra's harsh tongue and recount an incident where one of them dared to retaliate with her own sharp words. Their chatter reveals Electra's cruel treatment within these walls; she endures beatings and shares her meals with the hounds. Her presence is so unsettling that it casts an unbearable pall over the household. Yet, a young servant girl defends Electra, reminding them of her noble lineage as a princess.
As the servants and their overseers disperse indoors, Electra reappears, trapped in her unending grief over her father, Agamemnon. She paints a vivid picture of his murder at the hands of Clytemnestra and her paramour, Aegisthus, as he bathed. Her voice rises in a desperate plea, longing to see him again and promising that the day of reckoning will arrive. Those responsible for his death, along with their allies—even their animals—will meet a violent end. Once vengeance is served, Electra, together with Orestes and Chrysothemis, will dance in triumph around their father’s tomb.
Chrysothemis enters the scene, her words a warning that Clytemnestra and Aegisthus intend to cast Electra into a dark dungeon. Electra advises Chrysothemis to avoid eavesdropping on their mother's plots and instead wait for divine justice to befall the murderers. Chrysothemis reveals her fear, yearning to escape the confines of the palace to lead a normal life and bear children. She argues that their perpetual sorrow serves no purpose, as Orestes remains absent. Her only wish is to...
(This entire section contains 1145 words.)
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abandon the past and find peace beyond these walls. Electra, however, cannot let go and dismisses her sister’s desires, causing Chrysothemis to break down in tears. She cautions Electra to hide, as Clytemnestra approaches, tormented by ominous dreams. Electra claims responsibility for these nightmares, foretelling her mother’s demise by Orestes' hand.
As Chrysothemis flees, Clytemnestra enters, her face ashen with rage, her attire adorned with glittering charms. Electra feigns a serene demeanor, prompting Clytemnestra to approach her for a conversation. Electra seizes the moment to express her resentment, unable to bear Aegisthus donning her deceased father's attire. Clytemnestra initially dismisses her words, but then orders her confidante and retinue to leave, revealing a moment of vulnerability. She confesses her desire to rid herself of these disturbing dreams, pondering if a ritual sacrifice might provide solace. Her internal decay is so profound that she barely recognizes herself. Electra drops veiled hints about the intended sacrifice, but Clytemnestra fails to grasp her meaning, demanding clarity about the rites and their victim. Electra offers cryptic responses, steering the conversation back to Agamemnon’s murder. When Clytemnestra insists on silence, her daughter's mention of Orestes ignites fear within her. Electra senses her mother's dread, suspecting she knows Orestes lives and will return for vengeance. Clytemnestra grows increasingly desperate for answers, resorting to threats of imprisonment and starvation if Electra remains defiant. Electra retorts with fervent declarations of impending retribution, describing her mother’s terror as the avenger closes in.
As Clytemnestra quakes with fear, her confidante slips in, whispering news that transforms her from dread to malicious glee. She rushes inside, her newfound joy soon clarified. Chrysothemis enters, distraught, proclaiming Orestes' death. Electra refuses to accept this fate. Though Chrysothemis seeks to question the messengers for details, Electra is adamant that the time for their vengeance is upon them—this very night. Chrysothemis is initially baffled, then rendered speechless as Electra reveals her plan. Chrysothemis protests, calling Electra mad, but Electra clings to her, demanding her sister’s strength for the killing. Horrified, Chrysothemis only wishes to escape the palace’s oppressive grip. But Electra, presuming her sister's compliance, promises to be her devoted servant, even her slave, insisting on Chrysothemis’s participation. She argues that this act will liberate Chrysothemis, allowing her to marry and have the children she longs for. Chrysothemis extricates herself from Electra’s grasp and flees, declaring she cannot partake in such violence. Alone, Electra steels herself to carry out the deed she believes fate has sealed for her.
Into the scene strides Orestes, yet neither he nor Electra recognize the other’s face. Orestes, cloaked in curiosity, inquires about her identity and reveals he has arrived to deliver grim tidings to the mistress of the house—details of Orestes’s demise, which he claims to have witnessed firsthand. Electra, engulfed in sorrow, commands him to leave her sight and once again laments her wretched existence. Orestes, undeterred, repeats his question, urging her to reveal her name. Upon declaring herself Electra, Orestes hesitates, disbelieving the transformation from the sister of grace he once knew. He then proclaims that Orestes lives, prompting Electra to demand his whereabouts, suspecting peril. The revelation dawns only when a devoted servant rushes in, kneels, and reverently kisses Orestes’s feet, unveiling his identity to Electra. Orestes confides his mission to avenge their father's murder, a duty decreed by the gods, and vows to execute it swiftly. Soon after, his tutor appears, and after initial bewilderment, recognition glows in Electra's eyes, cementing her belief in Orestes’s return.
With determined steps, Orestes and his tutor vanish inside, where Clytemnestra awaits. Electra, left behind, is suspended in anxious anticipation. Suddenly, the air is pierced by Clytemnestra's cries, one following the other in swift succession, stirring the servants, who sense an unfolding drama, though its nature remains a mystery.
Into this tense scene arrives Aegisthus, before whom Electra bows deeply. Eager to confront the bearers of Orestes’s death news, he demands their presence. Electra assures him that Orestes lies in death's embrace. As they head toward the house, she weaves around him with enigmatic grace. Aegisthus steps inside, but moments later his shouts for help ripple through the air, pleading as he declares he is under assault. Chaos erupts. Chrysothemis bursts forth with news that the household's enemies of Aegisthus now kiss Orestes’s feet in admiration. She describes a fierce clash between those who despised their master and those fiercely loyal, leaving a trail of bodies strewn across the courtyard. Overwhelmed, Electra crumbles, unable to rise, but finally, she summons the strength to leap into a frenzied dance. She commands everyone to join this dance of liberation, only to collapse, insensible, on the ground. Meanwhile, Chrysothemis pounds relentlessly on the door, calling out for Orestes’s return.
