Play 1, Part 5 (p.150-159) Summary

Clytemnestra appears, revealing the bloody and murdered bodies of Agamemnon and Cassandra. She speaks with triumphant, proud defiance (see "Quotes", p. 150) of what she's done, taunting the Chorus for thinking her "womanish" and for thinking that she did wrong when her husband (who killed his daughter) did right. As one part of the Chorus cries out in agonized grief for the country's king, another part refers to the way the family has been cursed by the actions of Atreus and suggests that Clytemnestra's actions are a continuation of that curse. Clytemnestra, however, argues that her actions have actually ended the curse.

Aegisthus (Clytemnestra's lover) appears, thanking the gods for the justice that has been done, revealing that he is the only surviving son of Thyestes (the brother of Atreus whose other children were slaughtered). He brags of...