| Edna O' Brien's version
of Iphigenia by Euripides
Arthur S Way's version of Iphigenia in Aulis
by Euripides
Provided here are two versions of Iphigenia's famous
speech that begins: 'If I had Orpheus’s eloquence…'
The first version is Arthur S. Way's 1912 translation for Harvard
University Press, and the second is Edna O'Brien's free translation
for Sheffield Theatres, 2002/3.
This speech comes towards the end of the play, when
Iphigenia has just learnt that her father, Agamemnon has not arranged
for her to be married to Achilles, but instead plans to sacrifice
her so that his fleet can sail from Aulis to Troy. She is with her
mother, Clytemnestra, and her baby brother, Orestes when she hears
this devastating news from her father.
| |
Ideas for classroom tasks or discussion: |
1.
|
Compare and contrast the two translations. Try to decide
why you think Edna O'Brien has chosen to change some of the
words and phrases from the earlier translation. |
2.
|
Does the character of Iphigenia seem the same in each of these
two versions of the speech? How does each writer change the
emphasis of Iphigenia's character? Try to pick out words that
relate to the characteristics of Iphigenia in each of the versions. |
3.
|
Think about the situation Iphigenia is in. What are the
different ways in which Iphigenia tries to manipulate her
father and tries to make him change his mind? |
4.
|
Use Iphigenia's situation as a basis for improvisation
- how would you try to persuade Agamemnon? What methods would
you choose to try and change his mind? What would Clytemnestra
be doing while Iphigenia was pleading with her father? How
might she react to what her daughter has said? |
| 5. |
Perform each of the extracts, applying the knowledge you have
about each speech from the above
exercises. |
6.
|
Consider the following:
Examine the relationship between brothers and generals, Menelaus
and Agamemnon.
Think about the themes of deceit and honesty in the play -
virtually all characters are decieved or decieving. How does
each character respond to the discovery of their being decieved?
Consider the themes of strength and weakness: How is Iphigenia
strong whilst heroic Agamemnon is weak? Who is stronger at
the point of death, Iphigenia, Clytemnestra or Agamemnon?
|
Arthur S. Way's translation for Harvard University Press,
1912:
n.b. There are many, many different translations of Iphigenia
at Aulis in English - feel free to use any other you have available!
IPHIGENIA
Had I the tongue of Orpheus, O my sire,
To charm with song the rocks to follow me,
And witch with eloquence whomsoe'er I would,
I had essayed it. Now - mine only cunning -
Tears will I bring, for this is all I can.
And suppliant will I twine about thy knees
My body, which this mother bare to thee.
Ah, slay me not untimely! Sweet is light:
Constrain me not to see the nether gloom!
'Twas I first called thee father, thou me child.
'Twas I first throned my body on thy knees,
And gave thee sweet caresses and received.
And this thy word was: ''Ah, my little maid,
Blest shall I see thee in a husband's halls
Living and blooming worthily of me?''
And, as I twined my fingers in thy beard,
Whereto I now cling, thus I answered thee:
''And what of thee? Shall I greet thy grey hairs,
Father, with loving welcome in mine halls,
Repaying all thy fostering toil for me?''
I keep remembrance of that converse yet
Thou hast forgotten, thou wouldst murder me.
Ah no! - by Pelops, by thy father Atreus,
And by this mother, whose first travail-pangs
Now in this second anguish are renewed!
What part have I in Paris' rape of Helen?
Why, father, should he for my ruin have come?
Look on me - give me one glance - oh, one kiss,
That I may keep in death from thee but this
Memorial, if thou heed my pleading not.
Brother, small help canst thou be to thy friends;
Yet weep with me, yet supplicate thy sire
To slay thy sister not! - some sense of ill
Even in wordless infants is inborn.
Lo, by his silence he implores thee, father -
Have mercy, have compassion on my youth!
Yea, by thy beard we pray thee, loved ones twain,
A nestling one, and one a daughter grown.
In one cry summing all, I must prevail!
Sweet, passing sweet, is light for men to see,
Death is but nothingness! Who prays to die
Is mad. Ill life o'erpasseth glorious death.
Edna O'Brien's free translation for Sheffield Theatres,
2002/3:
IPHIGENIA
If I had Orpheus’s eloquence … the voice
to charm the rocks … if I could bewitch
with words, I would bewitch now … but I
only have tears and prayers … and these I
offer … like a suppliant … O father I press
against you now … this body of mine …
which my mother bore … do not destroy
me before my time …I love the light …do
not despatch me down to the nether world …
hell is dark and creepy and I have no
friends there … I am your child … I
basked in your love … the little games we
played … you would close the folding
door and I would squeak squeak and you
would come back in with sugar plums and
put them under my pillow … you were
never cross with me … never haughty …
never the King … I could coax you out of
your moods and when you grew a beard, I
studied it …. I counted the hairs, I pulled
on it and clung to you as I cling to you
now, my first and last and only hope. In
your old age I will welcome you into my
own house with my own husband –
whoever he be – I will have children to
lighten your weary heart … look at me …
give me a kiss … at least let me have that
as a memory of you … if I am to … if I
am to die.
|
 |
