Philoctetes

Throughout the play Philoctetes is unyielding in his principles who does not progress throughout the play. For years Philoctetes has been segregated and isolated from the rest of society. Since he was left on the island of Lemnos his anger built up for the person responsible of leaving him there to suffer: Odysseus. The story begins with Odysseus speaking to Neoptolemus about what he must say and act when they arrive to the Island which Philoctetes was stranded on. Believing that it is best to use trickery to get Philoctetes to join their side. At first Neoptolemus believes it is better to succeed without using this he follows the orders given by Odysseus by stating that Odysseus had Achilles armor and would not give it to him even though he is Achilles son. Philoctetes hatred for Odysseus won out and he began to trust Neoptolemus even going so far as to show him the bow of Hercules. While Philoctetes is filled with discomfort and misery and merits human kindness but unfortunately he does not receive this treatment. Neoptolemus feeling the guilt of what he had done wants to give the bow back to Philoctetes and after an argument with Odysseus he gives it back. After Odysseus flees, Neoptolemus tries to coax Philoctetes to come back and help in the Trojan war. Philoctetes arrogance and superiority is like a virus that spreads throughout everyone in…

Although he accepts the mission, Neoptolemus is not thrilled with the plan at hand, stating, “Son of Laertes(Odysseus), what I dislike to hear. I hate to put in execution….. I would prefer to fail with honor than win by cheating.”[86-96] Nevertheless, he follows Odysseus orders to the end. However, feeling a sense of pity and guilt for deceiving Philoctetes he discloses his true mission. Neoptolemus feels he has betrayed his father and all he stands for. Neoptolemus states “I shall be seen to be…

island of Lemnos, some meet Philoctetes and learn his melancholy history. However, no one gives him the aid he needs to escape his solitary existence and return to civilization. Except for Neoptolemus. He becomes friends with Philoctetes, at first to steal the bow of Heracles, but later due to his friendly feelings towards Philoctetes. Philoctetes too, has friendly feelings towards Neoptolemus, which survive even after Neoptolemus has seemingly betrayed him. What it is about Philoctetes and…

When examining the text of Sophocles’ Philoctetes, it demonstrates the conflict of individuals and society during the Greek period. The relationship between the individual and their society is a topic of constant interest not only to philosophers and religious thinkers, but for each of us. Every person has plans, hopes, expectations, and needs. Their society has its own, in the form of laws, traditions, and needs for the greater good. Not to mention, often times the needs and demands of the…

Through analysis of major characters in Sophocles’ Philocetes, one can see that an individual’s needs, feelings, or behaviors do not always align with the values of society. The values upheld by society are often times contradictory to those of a certain individual. Our society is flawed and unfortunately, faulty values exist. It is also important to keep in mind whether the individual acts for good or evil. This often times non existing reflection between individual and societal values…

Sophocles’ Philoctetes. It is used both as a visual and verbal motif throughout the play. Copious references to the Bow convey important themes that ultimately prepares the play’s audience for the events that transpire in the exodos. Some of these points include ___. The significance of the Bow is made evident in the play with several references to the prophecy within which it is invoked. The first of these references was an indirect allusion to the prophecy by Odysseus to Neoptolemus in the…

Troy and How I Learned to Drive, the principal characters who suffer from issues with their bodies are vulnerable to “predators” who want to take advantage of them. In the play The Cure at Troy, Sophocles presents us a tragedy about pain and suffering through Philoctetes. Philoctetes was a great warrior who suffers from a deeply painful wound on the foot.…

Odysseus is arguably one of the most famous ancient Greek literary characters that has ever existed. This is largely thanks to works like The Odyssey and Philoctetes and the events that occur in the epic and play. Given that in the ancient Greek culture, men married at around 30 years of age, and Odysseus was married to Penelope with a son just before he went to Troy and was thus gone for 20 years, the audience can assume that in The Odyssey, Odysseus is approximately between the ages of 48 to…

his 12 labors. Hercules’ task is to capture Cerberus from the Underworld – in some versions he asks Hades to give him the 3-headed dog and in others he fights Hades and takes the guard dog by force. A final difference between Disney’s version of Hercules and the myth version is Hercules’ hero trainer Philoctetes. Philoctetes is in fact a hero trainer but according to Disney, Hercules seeks out Philoctetes for training. According to myth, Hercules doesn’t receive any training from Philoctetes…

characters ask for are misunderstood by themselves. The pattern analyzed above is limited in terms of narrative. Another pattern of release is further proposed by Goldhill in his examination into Philoctetes: to release through deeds, which means, by Goldhill, to undo all former mistakes. “Undoing” the former mistakes is what Neoptolemus hopes to get relief at the turning point of Philoctetes. Unlike the former characters who wish to release through narrative, Neoptolemus wishes to release…