35 pages • 1 hour read
Orestes
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Book Brief
128
Play • Fiction
Argos • Ancient Greece
409
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Orestes by Euripides follows Orestes, tormented after killing his mother, Clytemnestra, to avenge his father, Agamemnon. Considered a matricide, Orestes faces execution. His sister Electra hopes their uncle Menelaus will help. Menelaus wavers, while Orestes and his friend Pylades plot to escape their fate, but divine intervention ultimately dictates their futures. This story includes descriptions of murder and intense psychological suffering.
Dark
Mysterious
Melancholic
Suspenseful
Contemplative
Reviews & Readership
2,106 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Euripides' Orestes receives mixed reviews. Praised for its intense emotional depth and complex characters, the play captivates with its dramatic twists and moral ambiguities. However, some critics find the plot convoluted and the pacing uneven. Overall, it stands out for its psychological insight but may challenge those unaccustomed to its narrative style.
Who Should Read Orestes?
A reader who enjoys Orestes by Euripides would likely appreciate classical Greek tragedies, complex family dynamics, and themes of revenge and justice. Comparable to readers of Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex or Aeschylus’ The Oresteia, these individuals value dramatic storytelling with moral and philosophical inquiries.
2,106 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Electra
Electra
Electra is Orestes’s devoted sister who supports him through his challenges. Her loyalty leads her to make decisions that escalate the tensions and conflicts in the narrative.
Helen
Helen
Helen, although not central to the play, serves as a symbol of divine influence and misguided actions. Her presence is crucial in highlighting themes of compulsion and empathy.
128
Play • Fiction
Argos • Ancient Greece
409
Adult
18+ years
Continue your reading experience
Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.