Electra, pages 9-23 Summary

The scene is a farm cottage. The farmer tells of King Agamemnon, who was victorious against Troy. When he returned to Argos, his wife Clytemnestra and her lover, Aegisthus, killed him. Now Aegisthus and Clytemnestra rule. Aegisthus wanted to kill Agamemnon's son Orestes, but Agamemnon's servant saved the boy. Aegisthus feared Agamemnon's daughter Electra would marry a noble man and bear a son, who would revenge Agamemnon, so he wanted to kill her. Clytemnestra would not let him kill her daughter, so Aegisthus put a price on Orestes' head and married Electra to the poor farmer. Their marriage has not been consummated.

Electra enters, carrying a water jar on her head. The farmer chastises her for performing servile tasks, telling her that there's no need for her to degrade herself. Electra thanks the farmer for all his kindness; she...