Iphigenia in Aulis: Analysis of Setting
"Iphigenia in Aulis" is a Greek tragedy that unfolds at the seaport of Aulis, strategically located on the west coast of Euboea, where Greek forces gather before their expedition to Troy. The play begins in front of Agamemnon's tent, placing the audience in a tense atmosphere as they learn about the thousands of warriors and sailors waiting for favorable winds to commence their journey. The setting itself remains constant throughout the play, emphasizing the emotional and psychological turmoil faced by the characters, particularly Agamemnon. The unseen presence of the assembled troops significantly influences the action, heightening the stakes of the narrative. Greek playwrights often relied more on dialogue and descriptive language to convey setting and mood, rather than elaborate physical staging. This method invites audiences to engage with the internal struggles of the characters, rather than being distracted by changing backdrops. The interplay between the fixed setting and the dynamic characters highlights the themes of duty, sacrifice, and leadership in the face of overwhelming pressure. Overall, the setting of Aulis serves not merely as a backdrop, but as a catalyst for the unfolding drama, deeply entwined with the characters' fates.
Iphigenia in Aulis: Analysis of Setting
First produced:Iphigeneia ē en Aulidi, 405 b.c.e. (English translation, 1782)
Type of work: Drama
Type of plot: Tragedy
Time of work: Beginning of the Trojan War
Places Discussed
Aulis
Aulis (AW-lis). Greek seaport, on the west coast of Euboea; a centrally located spot where Greek forces assemble to prepare for their invasion of Ilium. The play opens in front of the tent of Agamemnon, commander of the Greek armies. While the scene never changes, it is important that the audience know that just out of sight thousands of warriors and sailors are waiting impatiently for the wind to pick up so the fleet can set sail for Troy.
While stage directions indicate the setting, there is no certain knowledge as to how that setting was created on the ancient Greek stage. The more commonly accepted theory is that vertical prisms (periaktoi) were mounted on pivots between columns and rotated to show painted scenes. However, it is the pressure applied to the central character by the unseen thousands of men that creates the action of the play. Greek playwrights shaped much of their settings by their words and dialogue rather than actual physical objects, and the same is true of this play, even though there is the spectacle of characters entering in a chariot.
Bibliography
Conacher, D. J. Euripidean Drama: Myth, Theme, and Structure. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1967. Excellent introduction to Euripides in general, with a particularly good discussion of Iphigenia in Aulis. Especially useful for providing mythological and literary background.
Foley, Helene P. “Marriage and Sacrifice in Euripides’ Iphigeneia in Aulis.” Arethusa 15 (1982): 159-180. Concentrates on the similarities of marriage and sacrifice rituals, which are merged in this play. Discusses the implications of the play in terms of the politics of Panhellenism.
Rabinowitz, Nancy Sorkin. Anxiety Veiled: Euripides and the Traffic in Women. Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press, 1993. Discusses Iphigenia as a voluntary sacrifice, with particular attention to the gender implications of her action.
Smith, Wesley D. “Iphigenia in Love.” In Arktouros: Hellenic Studies Presented to Bernard M. W. Knox on the Occasion of His Sixty-fifth Birthday, edited by Glen W. Bowersock, Walter Burkert, and Michael C. J. Putnam. New York: Walter de Gruyter, 1979. Argues that Iphigenia’s acceptance of her fate is founded on a desire to protect Achilles. Also claims the extant ending to the play is corrupt.
Snell, Bruno. “From Tragedy to Philosophy: Iphigenia in Aulis.” In Oxford Readings in Greek Tragedy, edited by Erich Segal. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press, 1983. Places the play in historical context, with special emphasis on the concepts of knowing and doing. Claims the play is indicative of Euripides’ tendency to begin plays with confusion and end them with heroism, the reverse of Sophocles’ technique.