Libation Bearers Summary
Character List:
Orestes: Son of Agamemnon & Clytemnestra, brother to Elektra
Pylades: Companion of Orestes
Elektra: Daughter of Agamemnon & Clytemnestra, sister to Orestes
The Chorus: Made up of slave women
Clytemnestra: (Ex)Wife of Agamemnon
Cilissa: the nurse who basically raised Orestes
Aegisthus: Clytemnestra’s new lover, the new King of Mycenae, cousin of Agamemnon
Servant of Aegisthus
Plot:
Elektra & Orestes At The Tomb Of Agamemnon
It’s been several years since Agamemnon was killed. The stage is set with the tomb of the King and an altar in the centre — behind it is the house of Atreus upstage. Orestes and his companion Pylades enter the scene dressed as travellers. Orestes approaches the altar, kneels down and prays.
Orestes calls upon Hermes to hear his prayer, telling the god of his return after his long exile. He cuts two locks of his own hair to lay them on Agamemnon’s grave (two locks because one is for the person who raised him, and one is for Death) and explains that his mourning has been delayed because he has not been in Mycenae for many years.
As he’s explaining this, Elektra and the Chorus of slave women enter in procession and move towards Orestes.
Orestes immediately identifies his sister among the women. He grabs Pylades and the pair hide behind the tomb as the women approach.
The Chorus give their first ode and explain who they are, saying that they are mourners and slaves who are here to accompany Elektra to the grave of her father. It’s very long and poetic, but that’s the most important thing you need to know, dear reader.
Anyways, at the end of this ode the Chorus turn to Elektra. She asks them what she should say as she pours her libations in honour of her dead father. The Chorus are completely unhelpful and give no reply, meaning that Elektra asks for their help again. She tries to give them ideas by rattling off some of her own and ends by saying that they’re all bonded over how much they now hate this house of Atreus.
Finally the Chorus Leader cracks. She instructs Elektra to first pour out the libation and say a blessing for those who love her, followed by one for herself and then one to those who hate Aegisthus. Elektra does the first two blessings and then is stopped by the Leader. The Leader reminds her that even though Orestes is gone he is still on her side and therefore, Elektra should not forget to mention him in her prayers.
Elektra obliges and calls up to Hermes to hear her prayer while tipping out libations for Agamemnon and Orestes. After this, Elektra explains that she feels as though her mother has traded both her and her brother for Aegisthus: Orestes has been ousted from his home and Elektra now goes to her father’s grave like a slave girl while Aegisthus acts as king in the palace. Lastly, she prays for her father’s avengers to rise and to kill his killers in return (as in, kill her mum and uncle/mums new boyfriend because they killed Agamemnon).
Once Elektra finishes, the Chorus echo Elektra’s prayer in response.
While Elektra is kneeling on the ground in front of the altar, she notices a lock of hair laid before her. In shock, she calls over the Leader to take a closer look with her. Electra identifies that this lock of hair looks just like her own hair and concludes that it must be Orestes’ hair (how? I’m unsure, honestly, but we need to roll with it for this part of the play to work). Despite her accurate deduction, Elektra doesn’t let herself believe Orestes would risk the dangerous journey down to Mycenae. As she attempts to talk herself out of her high hopes, Elektra spots a footprint on the ground just in front of her. But not just one footprint — a whole track. She puts her own foot into one of the footprints and follows them until she reaches Orestes and Pylades’ hiding place.
The siblings meet again
However, Elektra is so fixed on the ground that she doesn’t initially notice the pair of men in front of her. She continues following the footsteps until she bumps right into her brother, and only THEN does she raise her head to see him.
Elektra is absolutely dumbstruck — so much so that she initially doesn’t believe it is Orestes in front of her.
Sensing his sister’s doubt, Orestes instructs her that she should thank the gods as they have listened to her prayers. No “HI YES I AM ORESTES HOW ARE YOU OH MY GOD IT’S BEEN SO LONG” … none of that.
So no, Elektra still does not want to believe that the man in front of her is her brother. To get some clarity, Elektra questions him about why she should do this and what prayers of hers the gods have answered. Orestes replies, announcing that he is her brother and he is here to save the day.
… But Elektra thinks it’s a trap, assuming that this is all too good to be true. Orestes decides to lean into the hair argument from earlier, demanding that Elektra look at the lock she is (still) holding and compare it to the hair on his head. Miraculously, this works. Elektra is so overwhelmed that she kneels by her brother and starts crying. Seeing this emotional reaction, Orestes gets embarrassed and lifts her to her feet, begging Elektra not to lose control of herself.
The Chorus Leader now jumps in to tell Orestes that he has saved them from their horrible lives. Elektra agrees, saying that Orestes has restored her faith that everything will go back to normal now that he has returned. She informs him that she loves him very much but highlights that she hates their mother and wants her dead.
The siblings then join together in prayer. Orestes asks Zeus to look down kindly on them, telling the god that they are children who were robbed of their father and then exiled from their home. He reminds Zeus that Agamemnon never forgot him in his own prayers and therefore — since Zeus can not thank Agamemnon for his piety — the god should reward this hero’s children.
However, the pair have been getting increasingly loud throughout their prayer. The Choral Leader chimes in to tell the siblings to keep their voices low to ensure that no passer-by hears that Orestes has returned.
Orestes is confident that Apollo will not fail him in this way since it was his ORACLE who told him to see this bloody trial through. He says that even if the Oracle didn’t tell him to return him, the way of the world would convince him to enact his revenge as not only do the gods command it, but his sorrow for his father is driving him forwards.
The Leader lights the altar and everyone on stage (Elektra, Orestes, and the entire Chorus) all gather for an invocation. They call on Fate and say that Justice is hungry for retribution. Orestes says that he will use his pain as motivation to revive his old house and make things right. The Leader confirms that Agamemnon’s rage lives on through Orestes as he will hunt the killers of his father.
Elektra then calls on Agamemnon to ask whose pain is worse: a woman or a man’s? Orestes replies, expressing how much he wishes someone had cut Agamemnon down on the battlefield of Troy as that would have been a better death. However, Elektra agrues against this saying that to hear of their father’s death in a far off land would hurt just as much. The Leader, Orestes, and Elektra continue to call to Zeus and ask for death to come unto their enemies, with the Chorus highlighting that this killing of Agamemnon’s murderers is law and it is only right to respect it.
After their prayers, the Chorus withdraw to the back of the stage and leave Orestes and Elektra at the altar alone. Orestes asks his father to give him the power to rule Mycenae, whereas Elektra asks her father to give her the strength to kill Aegisthus AND walk free after the deed has been completed. The pair ask the gods to raise Agamemnon’s spirit so he can watch them enact this revenge. They ask their father to remember that he was murdered in the tub like as animal being slaughtered for sacrifice. Elektra asks Agamemnon to pity his children and reminds his spirit that both she and Orestes are all he has.
The Leader comes forward again to call up to Agamemnon that these are the voices of his children. Elektra wails in response.
The prayer is broken by Orestes. He turns to the Chorus to ask why Clytemnestra would send libations to the tomb of her dead husband considering … well, you know, that she’s the one who killed him. The Leader replies, explaining how Clytemnestra had a nightmare and this has spurred her to respect her dead: she dreamt that she had given birth to a snake, swaddled the thing and let it feed from her breast. The Leader says how Clytemnestra woke with a start and sent the libations as a cure for such a terrible thing coming true (not literally speaking, but metaphorically).
A plan is hatched
Hearing this, Orestes is ELATED. He assumes himself to be the snake — that she birthed him but he will turn around and kill her much like a poisonous and dangerous reptile. He says that his plan to kill his mother is a simple one: since their mother killed their father with a cunning game, the pair of them will have to play this the same way. Therefore, Orestes suggests that Elektra go back into the palace as if nothing has happened. He and Pylades will go to the outer gates and pretend to be strangers by speaking Parnassian (which they both know) and ask to speak to the Queen. Once they are allowed an audience within the palace, Orestes will go and find Aegisthus to kill him first, then kill his mother. Towards the end of his speech, Orestes tells Elektra to keep a vigilant watch on the palace to ensure his safety. He then tells the Chorus not to breathe a word of this plan to anyone. Lastly he and Pylades move towards the altar, praying that the gods and his father watch over him as he needs help with this mission.
Orestes, Elektra and Pylades leave the stage.
Before the Chorus leave, they sing of the terrifying women of myth: Althaia (a mother who killed her son), Scylla (NOT sea monster but the woman who chopped off a lock of hair to give the key of the city to Minos … you can read about her in Ovid if you’re curious), and the women of Lemnos (check them out in the Argonautica because they’re WILD). They end by saying that fury brings Orestes home and now justice will be restored to Mycenae. The Chorus then leave the stage.
Orestes goes to the palace
The scene opens with Orestes and Pylades approaching the palace dressed in their disguise. The pair begin pounding at the gates to be allowed in … but no one comes to see them.
Orestes gets quite irritated by this, saying (something like): “IS NO ONE HOME??? I’VE KNOCKED 3 TIMES??? THIS IS HORRENDOUS HOSPITALITY!”
From inside the palace we hear a voice respond with (something along the lines of): “Alright, calm down out there. I can hear you just give me ONE SECOND.” When the guy approached, he asks Orestes-in-Disguise who he is and what he wants. Orestes-in-Disguise says he brings news for the masters of the house, so the guard goes to find Clytemnestra.
Clytemnestra appears at the gates with Elektra in tow. She offers her hospitality to the *strangers*, saying they are welcome into their home if they would like to come inside.
Orestes plays this REALLY well. Instead of immediately accepting and running in to kill Aegisthus and his mother, our disguised man tells Clytemnestra that she may want to hear what he has to say before being so kind to them. He explains that he is a stranger from Daulis (a place close to Delphi) and on his way to Argos he met another stranger who asked him about where he was going. This guy was called Strophios, a Phocian, who then told Orestes-in-Disguise to tell the people of Argos that Orestes is dead. Strophios instructed him to ask the family what they would like to do with the body of their dear son and brother, and only when Orestes-in-Disguise finds this out is he to return and pass on the news. Then, whether the family want the body brought home, buried on sight of whatever, Strophios can do so. Obviously, all of this is a lie.
Once Orestes finishes, Clytemnestra groans in distress. She is completely distraught in hearing of the death of her son.
Orestes-in-Disguise explains that he could not accept her hospitality until she knew this. He apologises for bringing such harsh news to her and says that he understands if she wants him to go back to Strophios immediately. However, Clytemnestra says that her offer of hospitality has not changed and he can come inside if he wishes. She has no doubt that he must be tired from his long journey, so she turns to Elektra and asks her daughter to escort the stranger inside along with his companion. Elektra leads the men inside, and Clytemnestra follows behind.
The Chorus reassembles on stage to basically say NOW IS THE TIME!!!! The Leader highlights that they think Orestes is now at the time of his mischief as his Nurse appears on stage.
The Chorus ask the nurse, named Cilissa, where she is going. The Nurse replies without really answering the question: she explains how she has lived through much change and pain, but now that Orestes is dead her grief is unbearable. She recounts how much care she gave him as a child, how she nursed him — AND NOW she must be the one to bring the news to Aegisthus! She ends by calling this man the ruination of the House of Atreus.
Before leaving the stage, the Leader stops the Nurse to tell her that this “death of Orestes” may not be the worst thing to happen to them. She encourages the Nurse to go find her master and break the news.
Cilissa questions why the Chorus seems so happy to hear Orestes is dead? The Chorus reply that only a messenger has said that Orestes truly is gone and none of them have any real proof. Confused, the Nurse walks off stage and the Chorus jump into another song.
Aegisthus and Clytemnestra are killed
The Chorus call up to the gods to watch over them and grant them good fortune. They pray that Orestes can hold his own and be strong when he goes to kill his mother and her lover, stressing that even if she were to call him her son, he should remember that he is also his father’s son. As the Chorus come to the end of their ode, Aegisthus walks on stage completely alone.
Aegisthus says that he is coming to hear the news the travellers bring which, he says, is that Orestes is dead. He looks to the Chorus to ask if they know any more information. If they do, he demands that they tell him.
The Leader replies and says that they’ve heard only a little of this news and so no know more than he. They suggest that Aegisthus go and see the stranger to inquire further. Aegisthus says okay, but clarifies that he’s really going in to sus out the messenger and figure out where he was when Orestes dies because — hell! — he may be the killer himself! And so, Aegisthus leaves the stage.
The Chorus begin singing again, but their song is broken off by a scream from within the palace. The Chorus encourages the audience to listen to the shrieks. The Leader calls for the rest of the Chorus to stand back until the killing is done. This way, Orestes and Pylades can quickly do the deed and get it over and done with. As the Chorus scatter, a wounded servant of Aegisthus enters the stage.
The servant announces that Aegisthus has been killed. He runs over to the side door in a bid to escape, but the door won’t budge.
The Leader, hilariously, responds with (something like)“Hold up, you can’t leave yet — Clytemnestra’s next.”
Clytemnestra now returns on stage to ask the Chorus and the servant what is going on. She explains that she’s heard screaming from within the palace and wants to know the source. The servant says something very wishy-washy, shortly stating that death is among them and cutting them down quickly. Obviously Clytemnestra doesn’t get this immediately, instead saying (something along the lines of ) “Oh goody, a riddle! I love riddles!” Anywhoo, it takes her a little while but she does eventually figure out what’s going on. She asks for the axe, which the servant goes to fetch for her.
When the doors of the palace finally open, Orestes is seen standing over the body of Aegisthus with his sword in hand. Pylades is close behind him.
Orestes (now not disguised) looks right at Clytemnestra and says (something like) “It’s you I want next!”
Despite such a menacing line, Clytemnestra is too distracted by the dead Aegisthus to acknowledge her son’s threat. She begins to wail and lament his murder … which only confuses Orestes.
Orestes questions his mother on how she could ever love this man. He states that if this is not an act and her love does run deep within her, then the pair of them should lie in the same grave NOW THAT HE’S GOING TO KILL HER! He comes forward and pulls his mother towards Aegisthus’ body.
Clytemnestra begs him to listen to her. She reminds him how she is his mother and she birthed and fed him and cared for him. Doesn’t this count for something!?
Well, this actually does stop Orestes in his tracks. He pauses for a moment and turns to Pylades, asking his companion if he can really go through with killing his mother. Pylades tells him that he is simply enacting divine order. This reminder of the gods is enough to convince Orestes to continue what he’s doing and goes on to verbally express how he wants to butcher his mother across Aegisthus’ body. He states that this is only appropriate since Clytemnestra loved this man rather than Agamemnon — the man she was supposed to love and respect.
Clytemnestra keeps stressing that she is his mother, but Orestes hears none of it. She yells that she sees murder in his eyes, and he retorts “NO, YOU’RE THE MURDERER!” (not an exact quote*).
Long scene short, Clytemnestra ends up telling Orestes that he is the snake she bore (remember from that dream?) and Orestes agrees. Then he draws her over the threshold, the doors close behind them, and the Chorus gather at the altar.
The Chorus lift a cry of triumph because Orestes has now done what the Oracle’s command drove him to do. They say that now their master’s house is free from fate’s rough path and because of this, time will bring the house many blessings. However for now, they must wait for the house to finally drive off the Furies.
The palace doors now open to reveal Pylades with Orestes, sword in his hand, both standing over the bodies of Aegisthus and Clytemnestra (just in the same way that Clytemnestra stood over the bodies of Agamemnon and Cassandra in the previous play).
Orestes explains to the audience why he did what he did, stressing how these are the people who killed his father and so he had to kill them in return. This is due to a multitude of reasons, but one of the main ones for Orestes being that the pair were still lovers and so deserved to meet such a fate. He goes through every single reason of why he hates Aegisthus and his mother, going so far as to call Clytemnestra a viper born to rot her “mate” with a single touch.
The Furies descend on Orestes
The Chorus now chime in to warn Orestes that even though the trouble seems to be gone, his issues are only just beginning.
Orestes attempts to prove them wrong, going over what the seer at Delphi told him and how if he were to follow such orders he would be able to continue his life without any guilt. In fact, he informs us that the Oracle threatened a much worse outcome if Orestes failed in the mission of avenging his father — a MUCH worse outcome that Orestes won’t even tell us what that was.
Pylades comes over to him to hand Orestes an olive branch and pop the robes of Apollo around Orestes’ shoulder.
Orestes takes a moment to look down at the branch in one hand and his sword he used to slaughter his mother in the other. Suddenly reality hits him. Orestes starts to mutter that he must escape the blood on his hands and pleads that the future generations of Argos will remember these acts.
The Leader assures Orestes that he has done well and that he should not burden himself with bad omens or lash himself with guilt. After all, according to them Orestes has freed the whole city by killing these two people.
However, Orestes is now staring past the Chorus of women. After a beat of silence, he screams in terror. He says that he can see women who look like gorgons ahead of him, approaching closer and closer.
The Leader of the Chorus asks Orestes if a dream is causing him to whirl in this way, but Orestes assures them what he sees is not a dream. He screams that these beings are very real and come to him as hounds of his mother’s hatred. The Chorus can see nothing.
Orestes runs off stage while screaming in terror. Pylades follows behind him.
The Chorus calls after them a farewell and finish up the play with an ode. They end by asking where this will end – this murderous hate – this Fury?
All exit the stage.
Watch Here:
Listen Here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/moan-inc
Image Link: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/249261
1st century BCE–3rd century CE
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 171
”The scene may represent the return of Orestes, in which case the seated youth would be Orestes, the other Pylades, the women Elektra and the nurse, or perhaps Clytemnestra and Elektra.” (Copied from the Met Museum Website).