The mythical story of Orestes s and Electra s act of vengeance against their mother, Clytemnestra, was developed by Sophocles as well as Aeschylus and Euripides. In his tragedy, Sophocles focused on the suffering of Electra, living in isolation with her hated mother. This commentary places particular emphasis on the impact of the play s events on the audience and references to the modern reception of the text.



Thomas A. Schmitz, Universität Bonn, Germany.