Most of the tragedies written by Greek authors in the fifth century before Christ have been lost, but some of the dramas of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides survive. Aeschylus, the oldest, died in 456 B.C. Sophocles and Euripides, his younger contemporaries, died a few years before the close of the Peloponnesian War in 404 B.C.
One of the surviving plays of Sophocles bears the title “Philoctetes.” You will find out who he was in the following summary.
As the play begins, Odysseus is conversing with Neoptolemus, the son of Achilles. Odysseus tells his young companion that they have arrived at the island of Lemnos and explains what happened there ten years before, when the Greek warriors were sailing to Troy. One of the soldiers named Philoctetes had been bitten by a snake. His wound was so painful that his cries of anguish caused distress to the other Greeks. So at the command of the sons of Atreus, Odysseus had put him ashore on the uninhabited island of Lemnos.
Odysseus does not explain everything right away, but as the drama unfolds, we learn that Odysseus and Neoptolemus have been sent by the other Greeks to find Philoctetes and bring him to Troy because the Greeks will not be able to capture the city of Troy unless they have a bow that Philoctetes possesses.
The two warriors find the cave where Philoctetes has been living. He is not at home. Apparently he has gone hunting so that he will have something to eat.
Then Odysseus explains the difficulties involved in their mission. Philoctetes is angry at the Greeks for marooning him, so he will not be inclined to cooperate. He is especially angry at Odysseus, so Neoptolemus must approach him alone. Neoptolemus was not present when the Greeks originally sailed to Troy, so Philoctetes would not be angry at him.
Odysseus wants Neoptolemus to get the bow of Neoptolemus by deceit. Since the magical bow of Philoctetes never misses its mark, it is impossible to take him to Troy by force as long as he has his bow.
Neoptolemus does not want to lie. He suggests using persuasion. Odysseus believes that it will be impossible to persuade Philoctetes to cooperate willingly. Eventually Neoptolemus agrees to follow the advice of Odysseus.
When Achilles, the father of Neoptolemus, was killed, the Greeks gave his armor to Odysseus. Odysseus tells Neoptolemus to use this fact in his deceitful approach to Philoctetes. He should pretend to be angry at the Greeks for depriving him of his father’s armor. He should tell Philoctetes that because of this slight he has left the Greek encampment and is sailing home. In this way, Neoptolemus will be able to gain the confidence of Philoctetes.
Odysseus promises to send someone to help him if he cannot complete his mission within a reasonable period of time. The helper, disguised as the captain of a merchant ship, will fabricate some lies that will help Neoptolemus achieve his ends. Odysseus then returns to his ship.
The chorus, consisting of followers of Neoptolemus, then enters. The chorus and Neoptolemus comment sympathetically on the fate of Philoctetes. Neoptolemus suggests that Philoctetes is suffering because some god does not want him to use his unerring shafts to conquer Troy. (In Homer, Apollo and other deities favored Troy and gave the city whatever help they could.)
When Philoctetes comes, mutual introductions take place. Since Philoctetes has been living alone for many years, he is delighted to hear the Greek language spoken once more.
Neoptolemus tells the lies suggested by Odysseus. When Philoctetes hears that Neoptolemus is returning home as soon as the weather becomes suitable for sailing, he wants to come along, either to Euboea or to Scyros, the island where Neoptolemus lives. To the delight of Philoctetes, Neoptolemus agrees to help him.
At this point, another character enters the scene. He is pretending to be the captain of a merchant ship. In the presence of Philoctetes, he tells Neoptolemus that Odysseus and the son of Tydeus are planning to bring Philoctetes to Troy, either by persuasion or by force. He explains that Odysseus had captured a Trojan soothsayer named Helenus, who prophesied that Troy would never be captured unless Philoctetes were persuaded to leave his island and come to the Greek encampment. The fake merchant then returned to his ship.
After hearing this, Philoctetes urges Neoptolemus to sail away from the island immediately. After some hesitation, Neoptolemus agrees, and the two men enter the cave to get whatever Philoctetes will need for the voyage.
The chorus again expresses its sympathy for Philoctetes. They are glad that he will soon enjoy the comforts of home.
In the next scene, Philoctetes suffers a severe attack of pain in his foot. Since he invariably falls asleep when the pain subsides, he gives Neoptolemus his bow and asks him to take care of it until he wakes up. Above all, he asks him not to give it to Odysseus or the son of Tydeus if they happen to arrive while he is asleep. Neoptolemus assures him that no one will touch the bow except Philoctetes and himself.
In contrast to previous choral sections, which were sympathetic to Philoctetes, the chorus now urges Neoptolemus to act quickly while Philoctetes is engulfed in helpless sleep. However, Neoptolemus says that the bow is useless if they sail without Philoctetes.
When Philoctetes stands up and is ready to go, Neoptolemus says: “Alack! What am I to do next?” He describes himself as one who has forsaken his true nature and has done what does not befit him. He then tells Philoctetes that he has come to take him to Troy.
Philoctetes demands that Neoptolemus return his bow. He points out that he will not be able to survive if he cannot use it for hunting. Neoptolemus is torn between duty to his chiefs and pity for Philoctetes.
As Neoptolemus begins to weaken, Odysseus appears on the scene and tells Neoptolemus to give him the bow. Philoctetes now knows that Odysseus is the real culprit whose counsel occasioned the theft of the bow. In a more kindly fashion, he asks Neoptolemus to give the bow back to him.
An altercation ensues between Philoctetes and Odysseus. Odysseus says that he is going to take Philoctetes to Troy whether he wants to go or not. Philoctetes threatens to commit suicide by hurling himself headlong from a rock, but he is prevented from doing so.
Philoctetes curses Odysseus at length. Odysseus finally decides to leave Philoctetes on the island. He says that since they have the bow, they do not need Philoctetes. Others can shoot it just as well.
As Odysseus and Neoptolemus are leaving, Philoctetes asks the chorus if they too will leave him desolate and show no pity. The chorus replies that they will do whatever their commander says. Neoptolemus tells the chorus to remain with Philoctetes for a while.
In the ensuing dialogue, the chorus urges Philoctetes to change his mind and come to Troy. Philoctetes steadfastly refuses. He asks for a sword that he may kill himself.
At this point, Neoptolemus returns, wishing to make amends for what he has done. Odysseus tries to stop him. He even threatens to draw his sword. When Neoptolemus expresses willingness to fight, Odysseus withdraws.
Neoptolemus first asks Philoctetes if he is still determined to stay on the island. When he finds that persuasion is useless, he returns the bow to Philoctetes, even though Odysseus appears once more and tries to stop him.
Philoctetes tries to shoot Odysseus, but Neoptolemus prevents him from doing so. Odysseus leaves.
Neoptolemus then tells Philoctetes that if he willingly comes to the plains of Troy, the sons of Asclepius will heal him of his wound. Moreover, he is destined to win matchless renown at Troy. Philoctetes persists in his refusal to go to Troy.
As Neoptolemus is about to return to his ship alone, the god Heracles appears. He again assures Philoctetes that his will be healed when he comes to Troy. Philoctetes will kill Paris, and Troy will fall through the combined efforts of Philoctetes and Neoptolemus. He urges them to show reverence to the gods as they lay waste to the Trojan land.
Both Philoctetes and Neoptolemus agree to do what Heracles has commanded.
Since I do not have the Greek original, this summary is based on English translation by R.C. Jebb. It appears in an anthology entitled “Greek Drama,” edited by Moses Hadas.
