Iphigenia in Aulis

Main Characters and Their Development

• Iphigenia: Daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, who initially arrives in Aulis believing she is to marry Achilles. As the plot unfolds, she learns her true fate is to be sacrificed to ensure favorable winds for the Greek fleet. Ultimately, Iphigenia accepts her fate with courage and nobility, ready to sacrifice herself for the greater good.
• Agamemnon: Commander of the Greek forces and father of Iphigenia. He faces a torturous choice between his duty to the army and his love for his daughter. His internal conflicts and vacillation between resolve and despair portray him as a complex and tragic hero.
• Clytemnestra: Wife of Agamemnon and mother of Iphigenia. She arrives in Aulis to celebrate her daughter's supposed wedding, only to discover the true plans. Her grief and rage over Iphigenia's sacrifice make her one of the most emotionally charged characters in the play.
• Achilles: The great Greek warrior, initially unaware of the plans to sacrifice Iphigenia. Upon learning the truth, he is outraged at the use of his name and offers his protection to Iphigenia, demonstrating his honor and nobility.
• Menelaus: Brother of Agamemnon and husband of Helen, whose abduction sparked the Trojan War. He initially insists on Iphigenia's sacrifice but later, seeing his family's suffering, begins to doubt the righteousness of this decision.