The Scythians Perceptions Of Iphigenia

One of the major avenues Goethe uses to characterize Greek and Scythian culture is through the perceptions of Iphigenia’s situation. Iphigenia and her fellow Greeks see her situation as a curse. She is saved from death by the goddess Diana, but her situation is a far cry from perfect. She has to learn a new language and new customs, and, even though she stays on the island for approximately twenty years, she never gets over her longing for home. Iphigenia has no choice in the matter of being wrenched from her home, and she is placed among people foreign to her, which results in her inability to acclimate to the situation and find a new family group. As soon as the opportunity presents itself for her to leave the island with Orestes and Pylades,
Arkas encourages Iphigenia to accept her fate and become a part of the Scythian society on the island. He points out that the Scythians have treated her well, never giving her a reason to isolate herself from their attempts to love her. She is seen as being ungrateful to an extent, especially as she rejects Thoas’s advances. Iphigenia is perceived as being sent from the Gods to enrich Scythian culture. She draws them away from human sacrifice, and she calms Thoas, with Arkas going as far as to suggest that he is a better leader as a result of her influence. She is a blessing to the Scythians, and they do not understand her obsession with returning home. Thoas tells her that if there was any indication that she was supposed to go home, he would help her in an instant, but as there has been no sign that she should return to Greece, she should be happy to be in Scythia. Rather than mourning a long-lost home, the Scythians are sensible, encouraging Iphigenia to adapt to her new conditions. Their reaction to her situation demonstrates the practicality prized in their society. Overall, the Scythians are much more straightforward and realistic about situations than the
The Greeks in the play, especially Orestes, are verbose and ornate in their diction, even dramatic at times. They romanticize situations to increase drama and the need for flowery language. Rather than being straight to the point, the Greeks favor beating around the bush with pretty phrases and exaggerated syntax. Scythians, on the other hand, are practical with their language. They do not use words they do not need, and they are overwhelmingly direct. This difference in their use of language changes how way characters in the play think about and approach situations in the play. The Greeks use dramatic diction, and this translates into an overall air of drama and romanticism in their approach to events. Orestes nearly calls for his own demise at the hands of the Furies, and rather than being practical about his options, he laments his death before he is even a foot in the grave. Pylades pledges his undying loyalty to Orestes, and his exaggerated acts and passionate speech affects his ability to think clearly and come to logical conclusions. Iphigenia is tricky about her intentions as well, especially when she tries to convince Thoas that he should not want to marry her, and her use of pretty language helps her manipulate the situation to her benefit. Arkas, in his description of Iphigenia’s ability to calm Thoas, hints that Iphigenia’s superfluous syntax has helped her sway the decisions of the