Essay on Euripides Protagonist

Topics:
Words:
1082
Pages:
2
This essay sample was donated by a student to help the academic community. Papers provided by EduBirdie writers usually outdo students' samples.

Cite this essay cite-image

Electra is considered the best character drama in Sophocles. In his version of the play, Sophocles showed a detailed analysis of Electra's ethics and motives. Unlike Euripides 'Electra, Sophocles' Electra emerged victorious from his efforts. He successfully avenged his father's death without being completely engrossed in anger. One of the most obvious themes in the play is the question of revenge or justice. In the play, Sophocles emphasizes the social and religious problems of justice. Some argue that Sophocles proved violence and murder as a means of justice, while others say he questioned it.

Sophocles' tragic drama Electra examines revenge and the ancient Greek 'blood of blood' justice system. Electra and her brother Orestes who are the protagonists both vowed to avenge the murder of their father Agamemnon, although he killed them by their mother, Clytemnestra, and her husband, Augustus. According to legend, Agamemnon sacrificed his daughter Epigenia to please the goddess Artemis and set out for Troy. This created a series of events that led to several deaths. After returning to the country from the battle of Agamemnon, Epigenia was killed by his wife and Augustus in retaliation for his sacrifice. In Electra, Orestes killed both Clementenastra and Aegistus to avenge his father's death, and Sophocles suggests that Orestes could be killed justly to avenge the deaths of Clementetstra and Aegistus. Through Electra, Sophocles argues the wisdom and questions of this kind of cycle of revenge if it truly does justice. Although he never gave a definite answer to this kind of question, Sophocles finally argued that no matter what the motive, revenge as a form of justice is not particularly wise and only leads to more murders.

Save your time!
We can take care of your essay
  • Proper editing and formatting
  • Free revision, title page, and bibliography
  • Flexible prices and money-back guarantee
Place an order
document

Electronic motives, ethical principles, and beliefs are the main focus of this play. This is what makes the play a one-character play. At the beginning of the play, it seems that justice has been emphasized more than revenge. Sophocles has expressed sympathy from his audience, emphasizing Elektra`s suffering. However, we also see that Electra maintains the suffering according to her own choice, thus creating the identity of the false victim. Electra unnecessarily holds on to her grief and develops distorted satisfaction in self-torture. In this case, Electra is probably weaker in taking revenge. The chorus contains a warning to Electra that this hatred could burn her soul. Indeed, there are several aspects of the story that have made Electra irrational and overly sensitive to hatred and grief (Jatzen, 116). Nevertheless, Electra remains loyal to her father's grave. I still remember his father till the end. Although he regrets that Clemetanestra and Aegis were not killed twice, he still believes in religious vengeance - as his brother did (Hogan, 2271).

The choice between judicial analysis and retaliation becomes clearer if we put one more character in the analysis: Orestes. Electra wants her brother back because she believes her brother can take her revenge. Similarly, the Climateists fear that Orestes will return and avenge her father's death (Janzen, 116). True enough, Orestes is a symbol of revenge rather than an electron. Orestes' conspiracy to avenge her mother and her boyfriend serves as the main goal of her return, and it is marred by Electra's activities (Armand, 103). Unlike Electra, Orestes does not cite her father's death as the inspiration for her actions. It is clear that his primary interests were fame and glory. He believes that lying is simply a tool for successful actions (Bear, 120)) Orestes, meanwhile, is only a secondary character. The central character of the play is Electra. Thus, revenge cannot be considered the primary emphasis of drama.

One of the reasons many critics stand up for justice through revenge is that Sophocles has devoted almost his entire drama to Electra. The author makes this woman the centerpiece of his play, mostly in his prayers and in his desire to avenge his father's aspirations. Electra's life is presented in a way that purposefully brings her to an unfortunate stage for viewers and readers. Her father dies of cold blood, her own mother threatens her brother's life, she is tortured and despised for nearly two decades for not warming the authority of the new king and queen, and she is away from her sister who decides to join her enemies Nen Din and he finally mourns the sad fake news, accusing his brother of dying.

The audience will be forgiven for the decision for which the author expressed all his motives, beliefs, and moral principles and prayed for mercy to Electra (Woodard 169). In the early stages of the play, there is a clear emphasis on the need to judge those who were against Electra, although the author does not pay much attention to the idea of revenge. Everyone who goes through the drama will feel that one day it will be a common feeling for the queen and her loving character to pray or pray for justice.

However, on closer analysis, one will notice that some of Elektra's sufferings and afflictions have been created by her for so many years, she is developing a curved desire for self-torture by resorting to day-to-day suffering. In one of the choruses he is given a warning that if he maintains the kind of hatred in his heart, it will burn his soul. Sophocles writes below: 'Electra: Still struck me, dear ladies! That mighty force compelled me to look at who the great man Ellis was, and how I saw the cause of his father, could he refrain from further rage day and night?' (463-444). There are many more instances where he becomes overly rational and passionate about self-imposed hatred due to over-oppression.

Some people equate revenge with seeking justice, but the two are not one. People who want revenge are driven by anger and violence and don`t think about how they can turn their negative feelings into something positive. How they can use their negative experiences to bring about change - they have not considered the injustice they have suffered.

Sophocles put more weight on the judge in his tragic play ‘Electra’ But my personal opinion is that what Electra has done in the name of justice is because she wants revenge on Clementesstra and her lover Agustus. Electra claimed that the murder was the most shameful act but he did the same. He did not kill them but encouraged them to kill their brother. If only Electra hadn't felt the pain of losing her father day after day and hadn't avenged herself with the Electra life story.

Make sure you submit a unique essay

Our writers will provide you with an essay sample written from scratch: any topic, any deadline, any instructions.

Cite this paper

Essay on Euripides Protagonist. (2023, April 21). Edubirdie. Retrieved December 11, 2024, from https://edubirdie.com/examples/essay-on-euripides-protagonist/
“Essay on Euripides Protagonist.” Edubirdie, 21 Apr. 2023, edubirdie.com/examples/essay-on-euripides-protagonist/
Essay on Euripides Protagonist. [online]. Available at: <https://edubirdie.com/examples/essay-on-euripides-protagonist/> [Accessed 11 Dec. 2024].
Essay on Euripides Protagonist [Internet]. Edubirdie. 2023 Apr 21 [cited 2024 Dec 11]. Available from: https://edubirdie.com/examples/essay-on-euripides-protagonist/
copy

Join our 150k of happy users

  • Get original paper written according to your instructions
  • Save time for what matters most
Place an order

Fair Use Policy

EduBirdie considers academic integrity to be the essential part of the learning process and does not support any violation of the academic standards. Should you have any questions regarding our Fair Use Policy or become aware of any violations, please do not hesitate to contact us via support@edubirdie.com.

Check it out!
close
search Stuck on your essay?

We are here 24/7 to write your paper in as fast as 3 hours.