Sophocles Philoctetes Essay -- Sophocles Philoctetes Essays

Sophocles PhiloctetesNo say. consequently I am nothing (950)Who impart say word of address to me? (1354)In his lecture Oedipus at the Crossroads, Simon Goldhill addresses the idea that the incest between mother and password results in the collapse not only of the characters, but of language itself or rather, of the language the characters use to express their despair. The fact that Oedipus stumbles on the words Daughter, babe reflects this breakdown of language. In Sophocles Philoctetes, there is a similar mother wit of shatter language, but here it is more a case of world delinquent by language, of language and civilisation being so intrinsic to individually other that being left behind by adept implies being left behind by both. The Choruss description of what they pretend Philoctetess solitary existence to be like reflects this He cries break through in his wretchedness/there is only a blabbering echo,/that comes from the distance hotfoot/from his bitter let loose( 187), using lack of dialogue to represent his solitude. Similarly, it is authoritative that it is not distinct words that announce Philoctetess approach the front time he comes on stage, but rather the voice of a man wounded and a bitter cry (209,210). And it is no relation that upon meeting Neoptolemus, Philoctetes greeting becomes an insistent, repetitive cry Take pity on me speak to me speak/ speak if you come as friends. / No dish me/ If this is all/ that we can have from one another, speech, this, at least, we should have (230). scarcely as, when Odysseus plan has been revealed and the men are preparing to leave, Philoctetes supplication is Your voice has no word for me, son of Achilles? / Will you go away in silence?(1065). name and address is equated with pity, di... ...sation. The Chicago version of this passage reads Farewell the deep male utter of the sea-lashed headland where many a time in answer to my crying in the storm of my sorrow the Hermes mountain sent it s echo (1460) art object in the Francklin version he states, perhaps more aptly (as his passivity is felt much more), Farewell the noise of beating waves, which I so oft have heard from the rough sea Oft th Hermaean mount Echoed my doleful voice. In both cases there is a keen sense of release, of breaking free, of the relief of knowing that ones words will bear fruit to something other than a dim reflection of themselves, that ones attempts at dialogue will not be met with a wall of silence. It is an ending that resounds with possibility and potential the world Philoctetes is about to enter is a veritable blank page. A great destiny awaits him.