Electra’s sister. You haven’t the strength To conquer your foes. So much I learnedFrom someone present when she revealed her dream To the god of the Sun. When Electra orders her to put a lock of her own hair on Agamemnon's grave instead of the libations her mother sent, Chrysothemis agrees to do so. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. That's good evidence for the argument that the play condones her behavior. “I never hesitated when I saved his life,” she says. © 2020 Shmoop University Inc | All Rights Reserved | Privacy | Legal. It’s wiser to trim my sails,Not pose as a threat without any power to harm.I wish you’d do the same. (including. No secrets between us now. When Electra asks her to help kill the King and Queen, Chrysothemis refuses; but she does promise that she won't reveal Electra's plan to murder the royal couple. By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our, Note: all page numbers and citation info for the quotes below refer to the Penguin edition of. Time and time again, she begs her sister to be more reasonable. Although she recognizes her mother's corruption and although she understands the injustice of her father's murder, she refuses to mourn in the way that her sister, Electra, does. Struggling with distance learning? Only resentment in being deprived Of your father’s heritage. Your anger’s pointless. Don’t you see? They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!”, “This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. Feel free to be creative in your reading of Chrysothemis's actions. If Electra is emotion or duty-driven, Chrysothemis is reason-driven. -Graham S. The timeline below shows where the character Chrysothemis appears in. Apparently, she saw libations on Agamemnon's grave that could have only come from him, including a lock of his hair that she recognized. Don’t blame me when you sufferLater on. What can you still Look forward to? So long as I still had word that our brother Orestes Was alive and well, I went on hoping that he Would one day come to avenge his father’s murder. Chrysothemis then tells Electra that unless she stops her constant mourning and complaining, Aegisthus, her stepfather who is now absent in the country, plans to remove Electra and imprison her in a secluded room. It's not that she's immoral for taking the side of her father's murderers. They say she saw our father beside her again,Restored to life. ...the chorus points out, Electra isn’t the only one left to mourn Agamemnon. Time and time again, she begs her sister to be more reasonable. Electra responds to Chrysothemis's pleas with hostility and accusations.We have to wonder what attitude the play takes toward this character; is it an understandable course of action that Chrysothemis has chosen? Only the pain of growing Old without the blessings of love or marriage. Our. Most prominently among these, Chrysothemis was a daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra. Apparently, she saw libations on Agamemnon's grave that could have only come from him, including a lock of his hair that she recognized. Well, I’ll tell you all that I know myself.Their plan is this: if you won’t stop lamenting,They’ll send you where you’ll never see the sun, Buried alive in a cave across the frontier,To chant your miseries there. Rather, she's too pragmatic to commit herself to what she considers to be a futile course of action. Yes, women, if Electra had any sense at all,She wouldn’t have thrown all caution to the winds Before giving tongue. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. You need to be sensible now. Through determination and will, Electra brought about the justice she so vehemently sought. Chrysothemis defends her decision on the grounds that Electra's actions are futile – but the play's ending shows that her actions were not futile at all. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. Chrysothemis is then distraught when Electra reveals that it … Those joys are nothing more than a forlorn hope. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. She explains that their mother had a bad dream about Agamemnon, and sent her with libations for his grave. Aegisthus isn’t foolish enough to allow A son of yours—or a son of mine—to growTo manhood and so to ensure his own destruction. She appears in Sophocles 's Electra. Chrysothemis is Electra and Orestes ’s sister and the daughter of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon. She says that she and, ...“plague” that has fallen on Agamemnon’s house. LitCharts Teacher Editions. Chrysothemis is the younger daughter of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon. These visions that came to me last night,These doubtful dreams, Lycean Lord,If they boded good, grant them fulfilment;If evil, let them rebound on my foes.If any by craft would steal the wealth That I now enjoy, let it not be.Vouchsafe me always to live as I am,With life unharmed, to govern the house Of Atreus’ sons and all this realm.To dwell in prosperous joy with the friends I love, who presently share my home.And with those of my children who bear No malice against me nor cause me pain.These prayers, Lycean Apollo, graciously hear And grant us our humble requests. In other words, she's fine with rebellion, as long as she doesn't get caught. Here you are again, holding forthAt the palace gateway! My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class.”, LitCharts uses cookies to personalize our services. If only I had the strength, I’d show them how I feel.But things are bad. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Unlike her sister, Electra, Chrysothemis did not protest or enact vengeance against their mother for having an affair with Aegisthus and then killing their father. I must admitThis situation distresses me too. Chrysothemis, daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra. You’re not a man, but a woman. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. You’d better think About it carefully. Their star is rising daily,While our fortunes are ebbing away to nothing.Who could plot to murder a man as strong As Aegisthus and then emerge from the fray unscathed? Other characters named Chrysothemis include: Electra is one of the most popular mythological characters in tragedies. What are you trying to do?Why are you putting on this audacious front And calling on me to follow? Your sister needs your help To kill Aegisthus—the man who perpetrated Our father’s murder. ELECTRA, sister of ORESTES CHRYSOTHEMIS, sister of ORESTES AN OLD MAN, formerly the PAEDAGOGUS or Attendant Of ORESTES CLYTEMNESTRA AEGISTHUS CHORUS OF WOMEN OF MYCENAE Mute Persons PYLADES, son of Strophius, King of Crisa, the friend Of ORESTES. But now that he’s gone for good, I’m looking to you. She realizes that she will gain the greatest benefits by siding with those in control. The two sisters argue about the best course of action with regard to their murderous mother. She appears in Sophocles 's Electra. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from Shmoop and verify that you are over the age of 13. This sprouted upAnd grew to a leafy branch which overshadowedThe whole of Mycenae. But Electra will not be met with reason; she is set on a particular course of action and will not be deterred. A handmaid of CLYTEMNESTRA. When you look at it this way, it's tempting to judge Chrysothemis for not having the courage her sister did. ...something difficult. I know full well That right is on your side, but if I want To be free, our lords and masters must be obeyed.