Paper Summary:

This paper examines the ancient myth of the murders at the House of Atreus. It analyzes the different versions of what happened in the story as interpreted by three Greek playwrights ? Sophocles, Euripides and Aeschylus. In particular it discusses the part played in each of the versions by two women, central to Greek mythology- Clytemnestra and Electra and attempts to determine which of the women can be considered the most villainous. It looks at how Sophocles does not take one side or another but how the other two playwrights do not hesitate to condemn both Clytemnestra and her children for their murders of their husband and mother respectively. It shows how in Sophocles? play, Electra is the protagonist and how she is determined to avenge the death of her father at all costs.

From the Paper:

"The story behind these murders has been explored by all three great playwrights - Sophocles, Euripides and Aeschylus. The former two call their play "Electra" while the latter calls his play "Libation Bearers." While Sophocles does not take one side or another, the other two playwrights do not hesitate to condemn both Clytemnestra and her children for their murders of their husband and mother respectively. Sophocles has written the most analytical play as far as characters? feelings are concerned. His play was the one I found the most interesting of the three. I will use excerpts from mainly his play to analyze this great myth."

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