Il matricidio come tabù: verosimiglianza dialògica ed eficacia dramatica della prima sticomitia delle Coefore

Abstract

The article analyses the first stichomythia of the Choephori from a syntactical and pragmatic point of view. Its purpose is to assess the level of dramatic credibility of the dialogue as well as its thematic relevance, both to the plot of the tragedy and to Aeschylus's grasp of matricide. The analysis underlines the linguistic taboo craftily elaborated by Electra and the Chorus in order to avoid explicitly mentioning matricide, a strategy later profitably used by Orestes himself when dealing with the problem of actually committing the act. It also shows the impressive level of collaboration that distinguishes the characters of the drama in their joint effort to revenge Agamemnon, and it highlights the importance of Electra's role in the progression of the plot, both in a thematic and narrative sense.