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| Character | Nurse | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | Female | |
| Age Range(s) | Young Adult (20-35), Adult (36-50), Senior (>50) | |
| Type of monologue / Character is | Crying, Descriptive, Depressed, Lamenting, Frustrated, Reminiscing life story/Telling a story | |
| Type | Dramatic | |
| Period | Ancient Greek | |
| Genre | Tragedy, Drama | |
| Description | The nurse tells the Chorus that Orestes is dead | |
Summary
The Libation Bearers is the sequel to Agamemnon. In the previous play Agamemnon is killed by his wife Clytemnestra and her lover Aegistus for having sacrificed his daughter during the Trojan war.
In the Libation Bearers Clytemnestra's daughter Electra and her son Orestes (who had been sent away in exile since he was a kid) unite to avenge their father's death by killing their mother and her lover.
The play starts with Clytemnestra having disturbing dreams such as giving birth to a snake. Thinking that it is a sign of the god's wrath she sends her daughter to her father's grave to pour libations. There she meets her brother Orestes and they decide to murder their mother and Aegisthus. When he meets Clytemnestra, Orestes pretends to be a stranger bringing the sad news of Orestes' death. Clytemnestra sends Oreste's old nurse Cilissa to tells Aegisthus to come with his bodyguard to hear the news.
In this scene the nurse is stopped by the Chorus and she tells them that she has to deliver to Aegisthus the sad news of Orestes' death. She tells them she knows that, even if Clytemnestra looked sad, the Queen rejoiced by hearing the news of her son's death. The nurse also remembers raising young Orestes and is saddened by the memories.
In the Libation Bearers Clytemnestra's daughter Electra and her son Orestes (who had been sent away in exile since he was a kid) unite to avenge their father's death by killing their mother and her lover.
The play starts with Clytemnestra having disturbing dreams such as giving birth to a snake. Thinking that it is a sign of the god's wrath she sends her daughter to her father's grave to pour libations. There she meets her brother Orestes and they decide to murder their mother and Aegisthus. When he meets Clytemnestra, Orestes pretends to be a stranger bringing the sad news of Orestes' death. Clytemnestra sends Oreste's old nurse Cilissa to tells Aegisthus to come with his bodyguard to hear the news.
In this scene the nurse is stopped by the Chorus and she tells them that she has to deliver to Aegisthus the sad news of Orestes' death. She tells them she knows that, even if Clytemnestra looked sad, the Queen rejoiced by hearing the news of her son's death. The nurse also remembers raising young Orestes and is saddened by the memories.
Written by Administrator
| Excerpt |
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| NURSE: My mistress bade me summon with all speed Ægisthos to the strangers, that he may More clearly learn, as man from man, this tale Newly announced. Before the menial train, She, at the tidings by these strangers brought, 'Neath mournful eyes a lurking smile hath veiled, Exulting in events joyous for her, But to this house with direst issue fraught;-- But he no doubt will in his soul rejoice, Hearing the tale. Alas! unhappy me! How did the ancient troubles, hard to bear, Whose blended horror darkened Atreus' house, With anguish pierce my heart! But ne'er before, Have I a sorrow like to this endured. All other ills I patiently have borne, But dear Orestes, darling of my soul, Whom from his mother's womb I fondly reared, Whose piercing summons waked me up at night, And for whose sake full many a fruitless toil I bore ungrudging;--for like lamb unweaned, The witless infant we perforce must rear According to its mood;--how otherwise! For while in swathing-clothes no voice it hath, When pressed by hunger, thirst, or nature's call, But wilful is each tender organ's play. Such wants presaging, ay, and oft deceived, As cleanser of his swaddling bands, I ween, Fuller and nurse had common duty there. I thus installed in double handicraft, The young Orestes for his father reared. Oh wretched me to hear that he is dead; But now I go, the spoiler of this house To seek;--right gladly will he learn the tale. |
