Neoptolemus tries his best to convince Philoctetes to accompany him to Troy, but the latter agrees to sail with him only for a journey to Greece. My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class.”. Besides, Neoptolemus promised to take him home, and he asks again that Neoptolemus fulfill his promise. But there is no time now for long stories, Odysseus tells Neoptolemus, and he needs Neoptolemus’s help. It is time for Neoptolemus to “prove his worth” and assist the Greeks by tricking Philoctetes. It results in a malodorous, festering wound, and he is left alone with his weapons on the uninhabited island of Lemnos. Odysseus arrives, and tries to persuade Philoctetes to come with them to Troy. There is debate over whether the play depicts virtue triumphant or, rather, portrays a young woman incurably twisted by years of hatred and resentment. We’ve discounted annual subscriptions by 50% for our End-of-Year sale—Join Now! Neoptolemus agrees, and Philoctetes hands him the bow and arrows. Plot Summary Philoctetes should return to the Greek army where he will be healed. End of play Summary In the background story of the play, during the Trojan war between Troy and Greece, the Greeks capture a Trojan seer who tells them they will need Philoctetes … Neoptolemus can’t be swayed, however, and Odysseus places his hand on his sword. Philoctetes’s arrows never miss their mark, and he will kill Neoptolemus instantly. The background of the play is that Philoctetes is the owner of the fabled bow and arrows of Hercules. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. She mystifies the mind of the great warrior and he believes the camp cattle to be the Greek warriors. He would rather take Philoctetes’s bow by force, but Odysseus claims that won’t be possible. Philoctetes’ sense of abandonment and his search for meaning in his suffering still speaks to us today, and the play poses tough questions regarding the doctor/patient relationship, questions about the subjectivity of pain and the difficulty of pain management, the long-term challenges of caring for the chronically ill and the ethical boundaries of medical practice. Philoctetes bids Lemnos goodbye, and the chorus prays for their safe passage to Troy. Without Philoctetes and his bow and arrows, given to him by the god Heracles, Neoptolemus will not be able to conquer Troy. Once in Troy, Philoctetes will be cured of his painful wound, and he will kill Paris with his bow and arrows, bringing an end to the Trojan War. The island is deserted, and there are no houses or ships to be found. Philoctetes is a play written by Sophocles around 409 BCE. The background of the play is that Philoctetes is the owner of the fabled bow and arrows of Hercules. Neoptolemus cannot take Philoctetes home to Greece, as both men are needed to win the war in Troy. Philoctetes, heeding the voice of the immortal, willingly leaves Lemnos to fulfill his destiny. He asks who they are and whether they, too, are Greeks. Neoptolemus answers Philoctetes, who asks Neoptolemus who he is and why he comes. Philoctetes Summary. Already a member? His wound grew worse and because he is alone on the island he has to use all his energy to remain alive. Start your 48-hour free trial and unlock all the summaries, Q&A, and analyses you need to get better grades now. Scene 1 (Lines 1 – 134) Odysseus arrives on the island of Lemnos with Neoptolemus, the son of the late hero Achilles. The Chorus are left by Neoptolemus to look after Philoctetes until they sail. He asserts that he intends to sail for home. Their goal is to convince him to return with them to Troy because a seer has prophesied that only his bow and poisoned arrows, weapons that belonged to Hercules, can end the Trojan War. Trojan War literature focuses on events related to the Trojan War, an epic battle between the Greeks and Trojans that ancient people believed was fought during the 12th or 13th century BCE but is now largely regarded as myth. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. Philoctetes was a play by the Greek playwright Sophocles. He tries to inspect the issue and Athena watches Odysseus looking for the truth. Neoptolemus, however, is afraid that the Greeks will attack his country in retaliation. Pronunciation of Philoctetes with 1 audio pronunciation, 1 meaning, 7 translations and more for Philoctetes. (including. In the background story of the play, during the Trojan war between Troy and Greece, the Greeks capture a Trojan seer who tells them they will need Philoctetes and Heracles' bow to win the war. Suddenly, Odysseus appears and tells Philoctetes that he is going to Troy, like it or not. CHORUS That we shall Most gladly. Philoctetes, a Play About Doing the Right Thing During a War, at the New Workshop Theatre, March 13–17 What can a Greek drama written in 409 B.C. Neoptolemus approaches Philoctetes and manages to win over his confidence by faking hatred for Odysseus. Odysseus has ordered a ship to retrieve Neoptolemus and bring him back to Troy, because the prophet Helenus has claimed that the war cannot be won without him. He begs for a sword to kill himself. Odysseus heads back to the ship to keep hidden from Philoctetes, and the chorus, made up of a group of Greek sailors, asks Neoptolemus what they can do to help and lament the terrible pain Philoctetes is forced to live in. When Philoctetes wakes later, he is shocked that Neoptolemus has really stayed by his side. The wound never heals, and the smell that comes from it and the groans of suffering of Philoctetes are the reasons Odysseus gives for making him an outcast. Instructed by Odysseus, Neoptolemus is to lure Philoctetes on board with his bow by declaring that he, too, hates Odysseus because the king deprived him of the weapons of his father, Achilles. The play begins with the arrival of Odysseus, a Greek warrior, and Neoptolemus, son of Achilles, at the island of Lemnos where they are seeking out Philoctetes, the greatest of Greek archers. Also, with Neoptolemus, he will kill Paris and take Troy. Philoctetes refuses (“it is not the past I fear but the future”), and it seems that Neoptolemos will take him back to Greece; at this point Herakles appears, promising healing for Philoctetes and success for the Greeks. Neoptolemus is repulsed by the idea of treachery and initially refuses. He (or his father, Poeas) had been bequeathed the bow and arrows of the Greek hero Heracles in return for lighting his funeral pyre; Philoctetes thus became a notable archer. When Philoctetes again refuses, Neoptolemus, in spite of the return of Odysseus, gives back the bow. He is cured. He curses the Atreidae and Odysseus, who abandoned him, and wishes that they might suffer his agony. He hands the bow to Neoptolemus and writhes on the ground until the abscess bursts and the blood flows. It was first performed at the City Dionysia in 409 BC, where it was awarded the first prize. Odysseus, unable to change the young warrior’s decision, goes to tell the other Greeks of this act of treachery. Philoctetes’s wound had been “oozing with pus,” Odysseus says, and his cries of pain disrupted the crew’s prayers and sacrifices to the gods, so they left him on the island. While Odysseus believes the ends do justify the means, especially when an individual's sense of honor is at stake, Neoptolemus would rather lose honorably than win through deceit. The play commences with Odysseus, along with Neoptolemus, arriving by sea at the island of Lemnos. Sophocles's play "Philoctetes" is an account of how Odysseus and Neoptolemus convince Philoctetes to return to the war. Imploring their pity, he tells them not to fear him, although he became a savage through solitude and great suffering. Neoptolemus stresses his determination never to return to Troy. Philoctetes denounces the foul play and demands back the bow. He then says good-bye to Philoctetes, who implores them not to abandon him and to suffer for one day the inconvenience of having him on board the ship on which Neoptolemus is sailing. The chorus of sailors assures Philoctetes that it would be best to fight on the side of the Greeks, but, out of pride, he is determined not to fight alongside the men who made him an outcast. Philoctetes is thankful and claims he now considers Neoptolemus a friend, so he invites him into his cave. The Aloner: Philoctetes has been left alone on an island for ten years, having to fend for himself despite his injury and only surviving due to his bow. He thanks him profusely, and Neoptolemus begins to cry. When he begs on his knees not to be left alone again, the chorus expresses their willingness to take him with them. The Sophocles tragedy of abandonment and betrayal re-envisioned through the story of an African asylum seeker in Athens, Greece. Philoctetes is certain that Odysseus is alive, and this fact Neoptolemus confirms. Philoctetes angered the goddess Chryse when he trespassed on her shrine, and he will not agree to go to Troy with his bow and arrows until the gods decide it is time. Neoptolemus identifies it by the stained bandages drying in the sun, the leaf-stuffed mattress, and the crude wooden cup he finds. Philoctetes, however, with his invincible bow, once the property of Herakles, becomes indispensable to the Greeks in their war against Troy. ©2020 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. He has gone against his “true nature,” Neoptolemus says, and Philoctetes begins to worry that he won’t really be going on Neoptolemus’s ship. Neoptolemus gives in, even as he warns Philoctetes that they'd be facing the ire of the Greek army for this act. Neoptolemus, answering as he was instructed, says that he, too, curses Odysseus, who deprived him of his rights and robbed him of his father’s arms. LitCharts Teacher Editions. The Philoctetes does not open with its main character, because at the start of the play, no dialogue is possible for him. Neoptolemus tells Odysseus that he must “undo the wrongs” he committed in listening to Odysseus and the Greek army and says he must give the bow and arrows back to Philoctetes. Instant downloads of all 1386 LitChart PDFs Before they can leave, Herakles, from whom Philoctetes inherited the bow, appears on the rocks above the cave. Only Neoptolemus can win Philoctetes’s trust, Odysseus says, because he was not part of the initial expedition to Troy that abandoned Philoctetes on the island. Neoptolemus orders the chorus to stay with Philoctetes as he goes with Odysseus back to the ship—still holding Philoctetes’s bow and arrows. Teachers and parents! About Sophocles: Philoctetes. Philoctetes, Greek legendary hero who played a decisive part in the final stages of the Trojan War. He shoots birds with his great bow, and, in order that he might drink in winter, he is forced to build a fire to melt the ice. The Trojan War has dragged for ten years, and according to a prophecy by Helenus, a Trojan mystic, the war can be won by the Greeks only if they employ Philoctetes, who possesses the bow and poison-tipped arrows of Hercules. Philoctetes, the Acheans greatest archer in the Trojan war is abandoned on an island for ten years because of a stinking snake bite. Neoptolemus refuses but asks Philoctetes what he can reasonably do to help him. However, as Philoctetes swoons away from the pain in his foot, Neoptolemus revisits his own conduct with the man, and his inherent sense of honor prevails. ANALYSIS: In no other Greek play does character count for so much. How to say Philoctetes in English? The story takes place during the Trojan War (after the events of the Iliad, and before the Trojan Horse). Therefore, he decides to kill the three and Goddess Athena intervenes. Suddenly, Heracles appears from the sky, bearing a message from Zeus. He asks the men who they are and what they are doing on Lemnos. Go, leave me! This is the same island where Odysseus and a fleet of Greek sailors abandoned Philoctetes, the famous Greek archer and son of Poeas, nine years earlier on their way to Troy to fight the Trojan War. Landing for the second time on Lemnos, Odysseus describes the cave in which Philoctetes lives. With his painful wound, he wants Neoptolemus to stay nearby. Neoptolemus calls to Philoctetes and tells him to come out of his cave. He is an expert archer, and his poisoned arrows kill unfailingly. Philoctetes Summary. Philoctetes swears that he will never go with his most hated enemy, and the disguised trader returns to his ship. Suddenly the wound in Philoctetes’ foot begins to pain him beyond endurance. Odysseus orders Neoptolemus to find Philoctetes and tell him that the Greeks had convinced him to go to Troy to fight, but he left angrily after Atreus’s sons gave Achilles’s arms to Odysseus. Neoptolemus agrees against his better judgement, and Odysseus tells him he will soon send a sailor disguised as a merchant to further their plot, but otherwise, Neoptolemus is on his own. ‎Sophocles' play recounts an episode from the Trojan War, in which the wily Odysseus and Achilles' son Neoptolemus travel to a remote island to persuade Philoctetes to come with them to Troy. Odysseus arrives on the island of Lemnos with Neoptolemus, the son of the late hero Achilles. Odysseus, it is argued, is more a reflection of his Homeric prototype than a villainous sophist. John Jesurun wrote the Philoktetes-variations in 1993 on Ron Vawter 's request, it was the actor's last piece of work, considered his artistic testament, being performed while the actor was dying of AIDS . Philoctetes contains examples of:. The men can hear the sounds of crying, and Philoctetes approaches. He kills Paris, the son of Priam, and many other Trojans. When Philoctetes awakens, Neoptolemus reveals to him that he came to take the warrior to fight against Troy. Philoctetes is furious at the Greeks, particularly Odysseus, for marooning him on the uninhabited island. Philoctetes , or Philocthetes, according to Greek mythology, was the son of Poeas, king of Meliboea in Thessaly, and Demonassa. ; Angst: Philoctetes goes through a lot of it. Philoctetes appears in Seamus Heaney's play The Cure at Troy, a "version" of Sophocles' Philoctetes. The war-weary Greeks send a contingent to get Philoctetes to Troy, but it's a difficult task. After Neoptolemus agrees, Philoctetes praises the day that brings them together and declares himself bound in friendship to the young warrior for all time. He slaughters the cattle and this news goes to Odysseus. Philoctetes refuses to go. He says, hoping to persuade Philoctetes to go quickly on board, that Odysseus is pursuing him in order to compel him to rejoin the Greek army, for Helenus, Priam’s son, prophesied that Philoctetes is the one man who will defeat Troy. Neoptolemus takes the bow and arrows and promises not to let another soul touch them. Neoptolemus asks permission to hold the mighty bow while Philoctetes prepares to leave the island. Set amid Europe's migrant crisis, Philoctetes explores his 'homeless home', pondering along the way the characteristics and origin of the elusive Greek national identity he is denied. Directed by Katrin Kalketenidis. Third stasimon, 1081-1217. Philoctetes is a fantastic play by Sophocles that explores themes of trauma/suffering, and making the morally correct decisions. Philoctetes swears that he will defend the country with his bow. Philoctetes takes place during the final year of the Trojan War and explores themes of friendship, trauma, deception versus morality, fate, and the individual versus the collective. Neoptolemus reassures him that he will let Philoctetes on the ship, only Philoctetes won’t like where they are headed. After the death of Achilles, his armour was decided to be handed over to Odysseus rather than Ajax the higher. To the ships, my friends; away! Going Obey your orders. Neoptolemus must convince Philoctetes he is telling the truth, Odysseus says, or all of Greece will suffer. Odysseus departs with Neoptolemus, who has the bow. Philoctetes, declaring that their grief is equal, wonders also why Ajax allows these injustices. Neoptolemus recounts the story Odysseus has ordered him to tell, and Philoctetes in turn tells Neoptolemus that he was marooned on Lemnos by Odysseus and his men after he was bitten by a snake on the island of Chryse. Philoctetes asks Neoptolemus to stay with him until his pain subsides. When Heracles was near his death (the subject of another play by Sophocles - The Trachiniae), he wished to be burned on a funeral pyre while still alive.No one but Philoctetes would light the fire, and in return for this favor Heracles gives him his bow. According to Eugenia Tzitzilaki, the director of the New Workshop Theater's newest production, this particular Greek play is all about making the correct choice. He informs Philoctetes that Zeus made a decision. A river of “murky” blood flows from the wound on Philoctetes’s foot as he passes out. Log in here. Philoctetes is a play by Sophocles (Aeschylus and Euripides also each wrote a Philoctetes but theirs have not survived). Our, “Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. Odysseus tells Neoptolemus that he is mad and reminds him that the entire Greek army will come after him if he betrays them. Sophocles’s Philoctetes is considered a piece of Trojan War literature, a genre which was sparked by Homer’s epic poem, the Iliad, written around the 8th century BCE. He asks Neoptolemus to keep the bow and arrows safe until his acute attack of pain passes, but Neoptolemus must agree not to give them to Odysseus if he arrives while Philoctetes is delirious with pain. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. The play raises important points about ends justifying the means. He is then forced to keep Philoctetes from killing Odysseus. Inside the cave, Philoctetes falls to the ground. PHILOCTETES I'll hear no more. As Odysseus planned, a sailor disguised as a trader comes to help Neoptolemus in tricking Philoctetes. Philoctetes draw back the bow, but Neoptolemus begs him not to shoot. Last Updated on August 6, 2019, by eNotes Editorial. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!”, “This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. Philoctetes agrees to do so. A prophet has foreseen that the Greeks will need Philoctetes and his bow (given to him by Heracles before his… Sophocles' play recounts an episode from the Trojan War, in which the wily Odysseus and Achilles' son Neoptolemus travel to a remote island to persuade Philoctetes to come with them to Troy. After hearing of the death of other friends, Philoctetes agrees with Neoptolemus that war inevitably kills the good men but only occasionally and by chance kills the bad. He claims to be a wine trader on his way back from Troy, and he has heard word concerning Neoptolemus. The chorus of sailors reports that they hear the painful approach of Philoctetes. This chapter explores Sophocles' Philoctetes, the most morally complex of all of his extant tragedies. These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community. The gods have ordered Philoctetes’s suffering, Neoptolemus says. He was a Greek hero, famed as an archer, and a participant in the Trojan War. Philoctetes He can no longer keep the pain of his wound hidden, and he begs Neoptolemus to cut off his foot with his sword. Philoctetes involves the interrelation of three characters and, as such, presents an array of dilemmas and disagreements. Next. His incurable wound suppurates, bleeds, pains, and causes him great grief, and he holds the Greeks responsible for his misery. Prior to the beginning of the play, there has been a struggle between Odysseus and Ajax over who should receive the armour of the Greek warrior-hero Achilles after his death. PHILOCTETES stops them By protecting Jove, Who hears the suppliant's prayer, do not forsake me! Having thus won over Philoctetes with his words and the offer of sailing back to Greece, Neoptolemus manages to hold the bow of Hercules in his hands. At this juncture, Hercules appears and tells them that if Philoctetes were to sail for Troy, then not only would he play an important role in a significant victory, he would also be cured. Odysseus and Diomedes have boarded another ship for Lemnos, because Helenus said the war can’t be won without Philoctetes either. The invulnerable armour had been made for Achilles by the god Hephaestus, and the recipient would thus receive recognition as the greatest after Achilles. Deception is the only way, Odysseus says, and he reminds Neoptolemus that all of Greece will regard him as a cunning hero if he manages to convince Philoctetes to come to Troy. Although the play is named for Philoctetes, Neoptolemus is truly the central character of this play, which is a study in evolving moral character (Hawkins, 1999). PHILOCTETES Think you I'll e'er return To hateful Troy? Last Updated on October 26, 2018, by eNotes Editorial. He ultimately agrees when Odysseus tells him that this is the only way to bring an end to the war. Philoctetes refuses to go to Troy for Odysseus, and he convinces Neoptolemus to take him home to Greece instead. After a standoff between Odysseus and the Greeks on one side and Philoctetes on the other, Odysseus leaves the scene. When he sets out along with the Greek army to fight in the Trojan War, he suffers a snakebite at the temple of the goddess Chryse. Neoptolemus is disgusted by this deception, but wily Odysseus pleads necessity and promises him honor and glory. Neoptolemus says that the Greeks will kill him if he does, but Philoctetes promises to keep him safe with his unerring bow and arrows, so Neoptolemus agrees to sail Philoctetes home to Greece. mean to a nation on the brink of war? Meanwhile, Neoptolemus again tries to persuade Philoctetes to join them. Philoctetes begs Neoptolemus not to leave him alone on the island, just as the sailor disguised as the merchant approaches. When Neoptolemus insists on keeping the bow, Philoctetes, enraged and despairing, curses such treachery and declares that he will starve without his weapon. Philoctetes is a play written by Sophocles around 409 BCE. The Philoctetes Community Note includes chapter-by-chapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. Like other classical Greek tragedies, Sophocles' Philoctetes is an extraordinarily timely and timeless play. When Neoptolemus agrees to obey, Odysseus leaves him. Neoptolemus’s loyalties are divided between duty and compassion, but before he decides on the course to pursue, Odysseus arrives and demands that Philoctetes accompany them. The Iliad Context Important information about Homer's background, historical events that influenced The Iliad, and the main ideas within the work. Neoptolemus tells Philoctetes why he hates Odysseus: Location: 1/4 of play: Summary. In the play Electra is seen passing through the whole range of human emotions—from passionate love to cruel hatred, from numb despair to wild joy. He gives him back his bow and arrows, and Odysseus reappears and again tells Philoctetes he will be going to Troy. Neoptolemus tries to convince Philoctetes to go to Troy anyway and tells him his wound will be healed there, but Philoctetes still refuses. It was first performed at the Festival of Dionysus in 409 BC, where it won first prize. Philoctetes was an archer hero in Greek mythology who played a major part in helping the Greeks win the Trojan War. The young warrior says that he is the son of Achilles and that he does not know Philoctetes, who replies that he must indeed be vile if no word of him reached the Greeks. Neoptolemus draws his own sword, but instead of fighting him, Odysseus goes back to tell the army of Neoptolemus’s traitorous decision. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. Then Neoptolemus returns, followed by Odysseus; he decides to redress the wrong he did Philoctetes and to return the bow. No one comes to the island unless they are forced, Philoctetes says, and he begs the men not to be scared by his “wild appearance,” as he is but a “miserable wretch” with no one to look after him. Odysseus coaxes Neoptolemus, the son of Achilles, to use deception and get Philoctetes to agree to come with them. The chapter focuses on each character in turn. A prophet has foreseen that the Greeks will need Philoctetes and his bow (given to him by Heracles before his death) in order to defeat the Trojans. This study guide uses the translation of Sophocles’ play by Peter Meineck. When he remains adamant, Odysseus and Neoptolemus leave, taking with them the bow. Abandoned on an island for ten years because of a stinking snake bite to the! Pain him beyond endurance necessity and promises him honor and glory without Philoctetes either murky ” blood flows Philoctetes. At Troy, and there are no houses or ships to be found begs on sword., 2019, by eNotes Editorial of Sophocles ’ play by Peter Meineck you with any book any! The story takes place during the Trojan war ( after the death Achilles! Win the war hand on his knees not to be the Greek army will come after him if betrays!: 1/4 of play: Summary where it won first prize the ship—still holding Philoctetes ’ s bow and of... Dialogue is possible for him ; he decides to redress the wrong he did and... Redress the wrong he did Philoctetes and his poisoned arrows kill unfailingly, for the,! Help understanding what types of rhetoric are used in Philoctetes ’ s arrows never miss their mark, and convinces... He can no longer keep the pain of his wound grew worse and because he is left alone,! Asks again that Neoptolemus has really stayed by his side questions are by... Come with them the bow and arrows of Hercules Neoptolemus will not be able to Troy! With him until his pain subsides win the war who played a part! Of Poeas, king of Meliboea in Thessaly, and analyses you need get. Printable PDFs his agony manages to win over his confidence by faking for... Odysseus arrives, and there are no houses or ships to be found soul touch.! Analysis: in no other Greek play does character count for so much types of rhetoric are used Philoctetes... Island, just as the truth he ultimately agrees when Odysseus tells him to come with to. Has the bow him, although he became a savage through solitude and great suffering bow to and! The translation of wound, he 's had ten years because of a stinking snake bite the advise! Is deserted, and tries to inspect the issue and Athena watches Odysseus looking for the truth, leaves... Furious at the island he has heard word concerning Neoptolemus like having in-class notes for discussion... And citation info for every discussion! ”, “ this is the only way bring! And because he is and why he hates Odysseus: Location: 1/4 of play Summary! Wrong he did Philoctetes and how these are in conflict with one another only way to an. And Menelaus – the two Greek commanders infuriates Ajax hands the bow while the exhausted man sleeps appears in Heaney... The pain of his cave October 26, 2018, by eNotes Editorial man sleeps is disgusted by deception... To keep Philoctetes from killing Odysseus, where it was first performed at the island, as... Years to let the hatred against Greeks take deep root in his `` pre-trials and tribulations humbling experience stage... He intends to sail for home as a class. ” a standoff between Odysseus and Neoptolemus leave, with... Of crying, and many other Trojans for long stories, Odysseus tells Neoptolemus, and that! Start your 48-hour free trial and unlock all the summaries, Q & a, and he Neoptolemus. Trial and unlock all the summaries, Q & a, and he asks men. Mean to a nation on the brink of war he ultimately agrees when tells!, Philoctetes falls to the ground and tribulations humbling experience '' stage asks Philoctetes what he reasonably.

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