Philoctetes

by Sophocles

Overview

One of only seven surviving plays written by the great Greek tragedian Sophocles, "Philoctetes" follows the life of a unique and important man through his trials and triumphs. The only man willing to light the funeral pyre of Hercules, Philoctetes is awarded his bow in repayment. Later, as he leaves to fight in the Trojan War, Philoctetes is bitten on the foot by a snake and left behind on the desert island of Lemnos by Odysseus. When the gods reveal the Greeks' need of Philoctetes and his bow, however, Odysseus employs the honest Neoptolemus to deceive Philoctetes into rejoining the Trojan War. "Philoctetes" is a study of the timeless controversy that often arises between physical strength and morality in the quest for glory.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781420936674
Publisher:	Digireads.com Publishing
Publication date:	01/01/2011
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	902 KB

About the Author

Peter Meineck is Founder of Aquila Theatre and Associate Professor of Classics, New York University.


Paul Woodruff is Professor of Philosophy, University of Texas at Austin.

Table of Contents

	Introduction	3
	On the Translation	25
	Characters	32
	Philoctetes	33
	Notes on the Text	99
	Glossary	115

Editorial Reviews

"An excellent translation of this always intriguing play: clear, simple, up-to-date English. . . . Clearly designed for stage performance as well as reading. Woodruff gives a good account of why the Athenian audience would have been on the edge of their seats. This translation would be appropriate for anyone doing a Classics or drama course, with or without the language. No prior knowledge of the mythological background is assumed; everything one needs to know is explained in the introduction and notes."
—Colin McDonald, Journal of Classics Teaching

"This translation makes a strong case for the use of Philoctetes both in the classroom and in performance. . . . A lively and energetic play with quick and exciting language. . . . The struggle of young Neoptolemus to find his way within the heroic world comes across as timely and relevant. The otherworldliness of Philoctetes' pain is perfectly rendered. . . . Paul Woodruff's Introduction is excellent. I have read this play many times and know the myth well, yet I still found myself thoroughly captivated by Woodruff’s narrative. . . . The bibliography would be a tremendous resource for an undergraduate student. All in all, this is among the best in Hackett's excellent and expanding series of Greek tragedy in translation. The combination of Meineck's skillful translation with an eye to performance and Woodruff’s enthusiastic and intelligent introduction makes this particular volume a great pleasure."
—Kathryn Mattison, McMaster University, in Mouseion

From the Publisher