The second act begins with the rejoicings over the marriage of
Iphigenia. The general joy is turned to lamentation by the discovery of
Agamemnon's vow and the impending doom of Iphigenia. Clytemnestra
passionately entreats Achilles to save her daughter, which he promises
to do, though Iphigenia professes herself ready to obey her father. In
the following scene Achilles meets Agamemnon, and, after a long
altercation, swears to defend Iphigenia with the last drop of his blood.
He rushes off, and Agamemnon is left in anguish to weigh his love for
his daughter against his dread of the angry gods, Love triumphs and he
sends Areas, his attendant, to bid Clytemnestra fly with Iphigenia home
to Mycenae.
In the third act the Greeks are angrily demanding their victim. Achilles
prays Iphigenia to fly with him, but she is constant to her idea of
duty, and bids him a pathetic farewell. Achilles, however, is not to be
persuaded, and in an access of noble rage swears to slay the priest upon
the steps of the altar rather than submit to the sacrifice of his love.
After another farewell scene with her mother Iphigenia is led off, while
Clytemnestra, seeing in imagination her daughter under the knife of the
priest, bursts forth into passionate blasphemy. Achilles and his
Thessalian followers rush in to save Iphigenia, and for a time the
contest rages fiercely, but eighteenth-century convention steps in.
Pages:
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56