Sophocles Electra Analysis

The ending of Sophocles' Electra is perhaps one of the most interesting endings of the Greek tragic plays, as it is incredibly dramatic yet at the same time somewhat anticlimactic. The play ends fittingly dramatically with murder, although it never actually occurs on stage; thus, the anticlimax. Although Electra is a Greek tragedy, it does not end in utterly tragic circumstance, nor does it finish in a blaze of glory. The ending is generally interpreted in one of two ways; 'light' or 'dark', where light is the understanding that the play ends without tragedy, and without the implication of impending tragedy, and where dark is the ironical interpretation that there is yet more to come, and a sense of unfinished business in the conclusion of the play (Wright, 2005). In this essay, I will argue that although there is no explicit statement that suggests otherwise, the ending of Sophocles' Electra is not entirely happy and leaves the reader with a distinct sense of impending tragedy. In the …show more content…
Instead, Aegisthus is led inside the palace by Orestes, and although his intention is clear, it is not physically carried out. This suggests that the story is not over and leaves the reader with questions. Had Orestes appeared on stage once again with the murdered body of Aegisthus, emerging victorious, there would be little room for doubt, but instead the play concludes before a crucial act, leaving a sense of anticipation and suspense with the reader. Due to this abrupt finish, there is reason to believe that while the ending of Sophocles' Electra may not be overtly tragic, it certainly leaves the reader with a sense of foreboding and anticipation that all will not be well for Orestes and Electra in the