Electra

Electra (ee-LEHK-truh), daughter of the slain king, Agamemnon, and his devious wife, Clytemnestra, who spends her virginal life—her name, a variation on A-lectra, means unbedded—mourning the death of her father. Electra, witnessing her father’s murder at the hands of Clytemnestra and Aegisthus, with whom Clytemnestra conspires in the killing of her husband, vows to avenge her father’s death, plotting carefully to bring Clytemnestra and Aegisthus to account, which, with the help of her brother, Orestes, she eventually succeeds in doing.

Orestes

Orestes (oh-REHS-teez), Electra’s brother, son of the slain king, Agamemnon, and his adulterous wife, Clytemnestra. The god Apollo has given Orestes a mandate to avenge his father’s murder, which he sets out to do as soon as he becomes an adult. In order to gain an advantage, Orestes, Paedagogus, and Orestes’ friend, Pylades, implement the deception that Orestes has been killed in a chariot accident. Orestes, now disguised as a Phocian, returns to Mycenae, ironically bringing what are purported to be his own ashes to his mother. Electra does not recognize her brother, who eventually reveals himself to her. He and Pylades leave the stage, where Electra and the Chorus hear Clytemnestra’s death shrieks. Aegisthus arrives, relieved by his misconception that Orestes is dead. Entering a room to find evidence of Orestes’ demise by viewing his ashes, he is astounded to discover Clytemnestra’s lifeless body. He dies immediately afterward at the hands of Orestes, who has, by killing the two, fulfilled Apollo’s mandate.

Clytemnestra

Clytemnestra (kli-tehm-NEHS-truh), widow of King Agamemnon, adulterous lover of his successor, Aegisthus, with whom she has murdered her former husband, father of her children, Orestes, Electra, and Chrysothemis. When news reaches her of Orestes’ death, Clytemnestra is simultaneously grieved that her son is dead and relieved that the threat he poses no longer overshadows her.

Aegisthus

Aegisthus (ee-JIHS-thuhs), King Agamemnon’s cousin who murders and succeeds him as king. Aegisthus has lured Clytemnestra, his lover, into helping him to kill the king, clearing the way for him to succeed Agamemnon as king of Mycenae.

Paedagogus

Paedagogus (pee-dah-GOH-guhs), Orestes’ faithful servant and teacher, who helps the orphaned prince plot his vengeance against Aegisthus and Clytemnestra for murdering his father, King Agamemnon. The killing of the two murderers fulfills Apollo’s command.

Pylades

Pylades (PEE-lah-deez), Orestes’ faithful friend, who, along with Paedagogus, helps Orestes hatch the plot to avenge his father’s death by ambushing and killing Clytemnestra and Aegisthus.

Chrysothemis

Chrysothemis (kree-sah-THEE-mihs), sister of Orestes and Electra, Clytemnestra’s daughter. She wishes to honor her supposedly dead brother, but she is weak and, when she learns of the plot to bring Aegisthus and Clytemnestra to account, shrinks from involvement in it. Chrysothemis wants only to live comfortably and without conflict.

The Chorus of women of Mycenae

The Chorus of women of Mycenae, who represent the social conscience and moral outlook of the citizens of the city-state of Mycenae.

Aegisthos
Son of Thyestes, Aegisthos is Clytemnestra's former lover (and now husband) who conspired with her to murder Agamemnon.

Chorus of Mycenaean Women
The Chorus provides background information and narrates the offstage violence. While they recognize the justice of Electra's cause, they urge her to take a stoic position. They deplore Clytemnestra's crime but advise Electra, rather than seek revenge, to leave revenge to the gods and to accept the fact that all people, being mortal, die.

Chrysothemis
Daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, Chrysothemis is the sister of Electra and Orestes. She refuses to help Electra with her planned revenge against their mother, Clytemnestra, for murdering their father....