Electra

As I was reading the various interpretations of Electra, I found it odd that each different translation should have their own set of characters, setting and even word usage. Obviously, since they are interpretations by different authors, so the words will not coincide; but at the same time, is it acceptable to change the original story? As I read the various interpretations of the same story, I was intrigued by the fact that, on occasion, characters would be left out; or not included in certain scenes of one interpretation, but in another be visible and speaking. Between the latter two translations of Electra, even the opening settings differ greatly. For example, in Euripides' Electra, "the scene is outside the peasant's cottage. It is night, a little before sunrise," (94). Yet, in Sophocles version, "Scene: Mycenae, before the palace of Agamemnon. (Dawn. Orestes, the Paidagogos, and Pylades are discovered). Not only have the authors changed the setting to make the story their own, they have also incorporated new names and places into it. It was so interesting to read the plays and see why the authors may have chosen this setting or that, each difference has a purpose. Each story is meant to be told a different way, so as to present a certain point. At first I was confused as to why each author chose different elements for their story of Electra, but then it occured to me that the reason is that without these various differences, the play would not be their own.