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In a certain sense Elektra, like other Sophoklean heroes, shows more Homeric values than those of the new polis. The genos counts for more. Like Achilles, she is a woman of deeds rather than words, and is even impatient with the deceptions Orestes must practice for their mutual safety. When her mother is mortally struck, she shouts, "Strike again." She recommends that Aigisthos' body be tossed to the animals (she obviously had not seen the Antigone). This is not an ordinary woman. Sophokles uses Chrysothemis, her compromising sister, as a foil to this heroine, much as he uses Ismene with Antigone. |
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Strauss/Hofmannsthal's Elektra |
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Sophokles is the most dramatic of these three tragedians, and the most successful at pleasing the Athenian public. He is the main source of Hofmannsthal's drama, and when Strauss saw Hofmannsthal's play, he was overwhelmed by its magic, kindled by the ancient model. We shall look closely at how opera generally and specifically this musical masterpiece helps us understand the intent of the original master. |
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Strauss and Hofmannsthal added 19th century intensification to Sophokles' themes, not only interpreting the ancient author well, but interpreting convincingly the psychological drives: Schopenhauer's and in this opera Nietzsche's philosophy of will is coupled with Freud's death drive. The heroine denies the role socially assigned her and commits herself to serving a larger purpose which both fulfills and destroys her. She is a model for all freedom-fighters. The day after the victory of the revolution may be a source of new tragedy; we compare the days following the French revolution and heed the warnings of Frantz Fanon, but today is clearly a victory to be celebrated, because freedom is worth any price.21 The later opera shows us the richness of Sophokles' message which is still blazingly effective. Many ancient tragedies are opera in their extravagance and show us the height of human achievement in realizing an ideal. The price one pays for this is obvious. If one chooses to be Elektra, one cannot be Chrysothemis. |
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Both in the opera and the play, Elektra combines Homeric arete ("virtue," "courage") with concern for a polis which should be governed by qualified people. Arete in her case also represents the ideals of the genos and she considers herself the true heir of Agamemnon. Following Aischylean and Aristotelian biology, Elektra's and Orestes' blood line comes only from the father. Klytemnestra was the receptacle in which the seed was sown and subsequently incubated. Strauss/Hofmannsthal's opera shows a loyalty which reflects this genetic tie, and in fact shows much that goes beyond loyalty |
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21 See Fanon, particularly the chapter on "The Pitfalls of National Consciousness," (1963) 148206. |
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