he play begins with a peasant’s brief recap of some of the background story: how the vengeful Clytemnestra killed Agamemnon on his return from the seige of Troy, and now rules over Argos with her lover, Aegisthus; how Electra’s brother Orestes was sent away by the insecure Clytemnestra and Aegisthus, and put under the care of the king of Phocis, where he became friends with the king's son, Pylades; and how Electra herself was also cast out of the royal house and married off to a farmer, a kind man who has never taken advantage of her or her family, and who Electra helps with household chores in return. Despite her genuine appreciation for her peasant husband, Electra clearly still strongly resents both being cast out of her house and her mother's loyalty to the usurping Aegisthus.
Now a grown man, Orestes and his companion Pylades have travelled to Argos in hopes of taking revenge for Agamemnon’s death. Disguised as messengers from Orestes, they arrive at the house of Electra and her husband, while the latter is out at work on the farm. Not knowing their real identities, Electra tells them her sorrowful story and also of the injustice done to her brother, expressing her fervent wish that Orestes would return to avenge the
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When Clytemnestra finally arrives, Electra taunts her and blames her for her abhorrent actions, while Clytemnestra tries to defend herself and begs to be spared. Despite her pleas, Orestes and Electra kill her (offstage) by pushing a sword down her throat: although the murder is ultimately committed by Orestes, Electra is equally guilty because she urges him on and even holds the sword with him. Afterwards, though, they are both racked by guilt and remorse for the gruesome murder of their own