This paper examines the ancient myth of the
murders at the House of Atreus. It analyzes the different
versions of what happened in the story as interpreted by three Greek
playwrights - Sophocles, Euripides and Aeschylus. In particular it discusses the part played in each of the versions by two
women, central to Greek mythology- Clytemnestra and Electra and attempts to determine which of the women can be considered the most villainous. It looks at how Sophocles does not take one side or another but how the other two playwrights do not hesitate to condemn both Clytemnestra and her children for their murders of their husband and mother respectively. It shows how in Sophocles' play, Electra is the protagonist and how she is determined to avenge the death of her father at all costs.