Great Books Ep 73. Sophocles - Electra. The Importance of Information
Great Books Ep 73. Sophocles - Electra. The Importance of Information
People are prone to believe what they are told because everyone wants to believe and not question. But believing in the wrong information leads to being misled and led down the wrong path.
“thou must go into yonder house, when opportunity gives thee entrance, and learn all that is passing there, so that thou mayest report to us from sure knowledge.”
~ ‘Electra’ by Sophocles (Richard. C. Jebb translation. p156)
Brief Summary:
The play starts with Orestes (Agamemnon’s son), Pylades (his friend) and Paedagogus (an old man who was Orestes’ attendant and tutor in his childhood, the man who took him to safety secretly to Phocis) plotting how to take revenge on Aegisthus and Clytaemnestra for murdering his father. They decide to send Paedagogus to announce the news of Orestes’ death and, in the process, find out who is in the palace. Then, Orestes and Pylades could go in as messengers and kill Clytaemnestra & Aegisthus.
Inside the gates, Electra, one of Agamemnon’s daughters, is seen crying about her mistreatment by her mother and her wanting to take revenge on her mother and Aegisthus for the murder of her father. All her hopes are in Orestes, that he will come back and take revenge. Her sister Chysothemis comes in and tells her to not cry and blame her mother and Aegisthus so openly. They are the current rulers after all. She says Electra might get punished and thrown into a dungeon. But Electra is not afraid but wants to pursue justice and see her mother and her lover to be punished. Her sister goes to their father’s tomb to make offerings, and their mother comes in.
Clytaemnestra is upset that Electra is openly criticizing her and causing embarrassment. She tries to justify why she killed her husband, and her daughter points out the flaws in her argument. Then, the old man Paedagogus, in the guise of a messenger, arrives and tells them that Orestes is dead. Electra is horrified and cries. Clytaemnestra is sad because her son is dead but is also relieved that no one is going to come to take revenge on her. She goes inside the palace.
Chysothemis returns from their father’s tomb and says that she found Orestes’ lock of hair and is happy that he is alive. But Electra says that a messenger has come announcing his death and they now have lost the chance to seek vengeance. Electra says that they should take matters into their own hands and kill the murderers themselves. Chysothemis opposes this, says it is a bad idea, decides not to help her sister and goes away.
Orestes and Pylades arrive in the guise of messengers who are carrying Orestes’ ashes. Electra is even more saddened and asks to hold the urn. Seeing her plight, Orestes reveals himself. Electra is overjoyed. Paedagogus comes in and says they should cut the reunion short and act quickly. Electra says their mother is inside. Orestes and Pylades go inside and kill her. Aegisthus comes in after some time and asks about the messengers who brought in the news about Orestes’ death. He wants to see the dead body. Orestes and Pylades bring a shrouded corpse. Aegisthus removes the face-cloth from the corpse and is horrified that it is Clytaemnestra. Orestes asks him to go into the house. When Aegisthus asks to be killed in the open, Orestes says that he needs to be slain in the same where his father was killed.
My Thoughts:
At a high level, this story is the same as the story in Aeschylus’s play, Choephoroe (The Libation Bearers). But there are differences. In that play, it is Electra who goes to Agamemnon’s tomb to offer prayers since her mother, Clytaemnestra, sees a dream about giving birth to a serpent that bites her. In this, Clytaemnestra dreams about Agamemnon coming back and planting a sword on the ground, which makes something grow that fully covers the city of Mycenae. Here, she sends her daughter Chrysothemis to do the offering at the tomb. Chrysothemis finds the lock of the hair and comes back. But in Aeschylus’ play, she sends Electra and handmaidens to make the offering; Electra finds the lock of hair and has a reunion with Orestes at the tomb. The other difference is the lack of mention of Paedagogus. Another difference is that in Aeschylus’ play, they kill Aegisthus first, and then Clytaemnestra.
The overarching theme is that of revenge, not only in the play but also in events prior to the play and after. They mention that the house is cursed because of the desire for revenge in each generation. This play and the plays on the story of Oedipus, his sons and daughters, illustrate how the cycle of vengeance, perpetuated through generations, leads to endless suffering like someone said, “An eye for an eye makes everyone blind in the end”. I feel that there has been a resurgence of violence and revenge seeking behavior in recent times. After centuries of fighting, major cultures in the world came to the understanding that violence is a vice, but now, it feels like we’re walking back on a lot of progress that humanity has made. A recent article by Kerry Walters on this topic is eye-opening and thought-provoking.
Perhaps the most pertinent lesson from “Electra” for our modern era is the critical importance of information and the significance of processing the information we get with caution. Orestes sends Paedagogus to gather information while giving false information about Orestes’ death. Electra is waiting for some info about Orestes. When Paedagogus comes in as a messenger and provides the information that Orestes is dead, Clytaemnestra and Electra believe immediately. Paedagogus tells a convincing story with details of the events that led to the death. Aegisthus also believes the information about Orestes’ death. Belief in the information that they get without skepticism gets Aegisthus and Clytaemnestra killed in the story.
The importance of having the right information is even more critical in today’s world. How can we believe what we hear? Yesterday, there was a major outage in the world - airline systems, payment systems, hospitals, and many others had an outage. Any enterprise application with Microsoft Windows operating system had an outage because of a software bug introduced by a Cybersecurity company called Crowdstrike. But before the information came to light, most people thought a cyber attack was going on. In fact, the global outage was worse than a cyber attack since those are generally targeted at a company or a country. This was everywhere - Australia, the US, Asia, Europe, etc. Last week, there was an assassination attempt on the former President of the US. Anyone who watched (or rewatched a hundred times) the video of the assassination attempt would have seen the confusion among the people at the event. Even the President was shocked and in disbelief when the bullet whizzed past his ear. He ducked; the Secret Service surrounded him, and when they were escorting him to the safety of the van, he stood up and pumped his fist in the air, asking people to fight. He could not have had the information whether there were more shooters or not. It was unusual bravery, and the photos of the bloodied face and videos have become iconic because he acted with so little information at that moment. Because of modern media, we’re able to see the videos and photos. But in the past, people who control the media could fashion the information in their own way, and we may not have gotten to know the truth. History is written by winners. So, a lot of history and myths of the past may not be the full truth, and as more research is done, different things might be uncovered.
People are prone to believe what they are told because everyone wants to believe and not question. But believing in the wrong information leads to being misled and led down the wrong path. Everything that you read needs to be viewed with some amount of skepticism. In today’s media-saturated environment, the challenge of discerning truth from falsehood has become increasingly complex. Modern media provides unprecedented access to information, but it also facilitates the rapid spread of misinformation. Information is more abundant and accessible than ever, and the world could get flooded with misinformation by AI bots, and the ability and tools to critically evaluate and verify might become the most important skill in the near future.
Gemini (AI Chatbot) Response:
The Importance of Information and Skepticism in "Electra" and the Modern World
Your observation about the role of information and the dangers of blind belief in "Electra" is incredibly astute. The play serves as a cautionary tale about the manipulative power of information and the tragic consequences that can arise when it's accepted without scrutiny.
Orestes' Deception: Orestes' orchestrated deception, announcing his own death, is a masterstroke of manipulation. It preys on the emotional vulnerabilities of both Clytemnestra and Electra, lulling them into a false sense of security that ultimately leads to their downfall.
Electra's Grief and Hope: Electra's initial despair upon hearing of Orestes' supposed death, followed by her renewed hope when she learns the truth, highlights the potent influence of information on our emotional states and decision-making.
Aegisthus' Blind Trust: Aegisthus' unquestioning acceptance of the news of Orestes' demise reveals the human tendency to believe what aligns with our desires, even when it might be too good to be true.
The play's message resonates powerfully in our modern era, where the deluge of information from various sources makes it increasingly difficult to discern truth from falsehood. As you pointed out, the recent global outage and the misinformation surrounding it exemplify how quickly rumors and speculation can spread, often with far-reaching consequences.
The assassination attempt on the former President of the United States, which you mentioned, further illustrates the importance of critical thinking and the need to evaluate information carefully before reacting. In a world where AI-generated content and deepfakes are becoming increasingly sophisticated, developing the skills to question, verify, and analyze information is more crucial than ever.
Deeper Analysis of "Electra's" Themes and Symbolism
Beyond the theme of revenge, "Electra" delves into several other profound and complex themes:
Justice vs. Vengeance: The play explores the fine line between seeking justice and succumbing to the destructive cycle of vengeance. Electra's unwavering pursuit of retribution ultimately leads to bloodshed, raising questions about the true nature of justice.
Grief and Trauma: Electra's overwhelming grief and trauma over her father's murder drive her actions throughout the play. Her emotional turmoil is a stark reminder of the lasting impact of violence and loss.
Gender Roles and Power: The play also touches on the limitations of women's power in ancient Greek society. Electra's frustration with her constrained role and her reliance on her brother to avenge their father's death underscore the gender dynamics of the time.
Symbolism: The recurring motif of blood symbolizes the cycle of violence and revenge that permeates the House of Atreus. The references to the Furies, vengeful goddesses from Greek mythology, further emphasize the theme of retribution.
Thought-Provoking Questions for Modern Readers
"Electra" continues to resonate with modern audiences because it raises timeless questions about human nature and the complexities of morality:
Is revenge ever justified, or does it only perpetuate a cycle of violence?
How do grief and trauma shape our actions and decisions?
What are the consequences of blindly accepting information without questioning its validity?
How can we navigate the overwhelming flood of information in the modern world and discern truth from falsehood?
In what ways do gender roles and power dynamics continue to influence our lives today?