Upon the return of King Agamemnon from the Trojan War, his wife, Clytemnestra and her lover, Aegisthus, murder him. The play begins with Electra mourning for her father’s death and the chorus, made of virgin women, tries to sooth Electra’s sorrow. Chrysothemis scorns Electra for mourning in public and insists she get herself together otherwise Clytemnestra will punish her. Clytemnestra then meets Electra and they argue about the motives of their father’s murder. Electra still believes her mother killed Agamemnon out of desire for Aegisthus. Orestes has left the city and sent the Old Man in character of a Phocian with false news of Orestes’ death. Clytemnestra is delighted that her prayer has been answered. Electra then informs Chrysothemis of their brother’s death. Electra vows to achieve revenge, but her sister refuses to help. Orestes, disguised, brings forth an urn of ashes. Electra’s misery increases. Overcome with pity Orestes reveals himself. He proves himself by the possession of their father’s ring. Electra is overjoyed and rushed Orestes inside to kill Clytemnestra. He succeeds in his task, and Orestes also kills Aegisthus in the same spot as he killed Agamemnon.

     In this play, much like Antigone, Sophocles creates strong female characters. The title character, Electra, is ruled by the moralities of justice and honor. Her mourning for Agamemnon causes her to be ridiculed by her sister and mother. Although she does not want to endure the amount of grief she is feeling, she says she feels obligated by the values of honor to do as she does. Electra believes that justice cannot be served by enacting the same crime as another. This brings the topic of her integrity as she herself assists in the murder of Clytemnestra in revenge of her father’s death.