# Clytemnestra — Electra character guide

> Clytemnestra in Electra by Sophocles.

**Role:** major

**First appearance:** 0002-electra

## Snapshot

Queen of Argos, who killed her husband and now rules beside her lover, defending the murder as justice while fearing what her children might do.

## Who they are

Clytemnestra holds the palace with Aegisthus, dispensing orders and reproaches while Electra accuses her openly in the streets. She justifies Agamemnon's death with cold logic, yet an evil dream sends her to pour libations at the tomb, betraying a conscience she will not admit. Her authority and her unease set the terms of the conflict: the children must decide whether the queen is a tyrant to be killed or a mother to be spared.

## Relationships

### [Orestes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/electra_se/characters/orestes)

_family_

Mother and son, with Orestes ultimately killing Clytemnestra to avenge his father.

## In the story

### [Dramatis Personae](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/electra_se/chapters/dramatis-personae)

Listed as Queen of Argos and Mycenae.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/electra_se/characters/clytemnestra
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/electra_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/electra_se/characters