The Agony of Ajax: Exploring Sympathy, Honor's Consequences, and a Tragic End
A Fallen Hero's Wrath: Ajax's Quest for Revenge and Tragic Consequences
"Ajax" is a Greek tragedy written by the renowned playwright Sophocles. It tells the story of the Greek hero Ajax, who is a key figure in the Trojan War. The play explores themes of honor, pride, and the consequences of one's actions.
It is
generally agreed that Ajax and The Antigone are the two earliest extant plays by Sophocles;
which of the two was produced first it is difficult to say. Perhaps an
important feature of technique settles this—both tragedies need three actors,
but the Ajax in this respect is
more tentative than the Antigone. The scene is laid before the tent of Ajax
on the plain of Troy. Enraged by the action of the Greeks in awarding to
Odysseus instead of to himself the arms of the dead Achilles, Ajax
sought to slay Agamemnon, Menelaus, and others in their sleep.
The goddess Athena
sent madness upon him so that he slaughtered cattle in their stead. Coming to
himself he realizes his shame, and eluding his friends—the chorus of Salaminian
sailors and the Trojan captive, Tecmessa (who has borne him a son),—he retires
to a lonely spot by the sea and falls upon his sword. His brother Teucer returns
too late to save him, but in time to confront and defy Agamemnon and Menelaus,
who have decreed that Ajax' body
shall be left unburied. At length Agamemnon is induced by Odysseus to forgo his
purpose.
A Deadly Quest for Vengeance: Ajax's Descent into Madness and Tragic Redemption
The plot of "Ajax" centers around the aftermath of the Trojan War. Ajax feels deeply wronged after the armor of the slain warrior Achilles is awarded to his rival, Odysseus, instead of him. Consumed by anger and humiliation, Ajax becomes intent on seeking revenge against the Greek leaders who betrayed him.
In his rage, Ajax plans to kill the Greek generals, including Agamemnon and Menelaus, as well as Odysseus. However, the goddess Athena intervenes and clouds Ajax's mind, causing him to mistake a group of livestock for his intended targets. In his deluded state, Ajax slaughters the innocent animals, believing he has exacted his revenge.
When Ajax regains his senses and realizes what he has done, he experiences immense shame and guilt. He also faces the scorn and judgment of his fellow Greeks, who see his actions as madness and sacrilege. Despite his remorse, Ajax decides that suicide is the only way to cleanse his honor and escape the shame he has brought upon himself and his family.
The Tragic Heroism of Ajax: A Profound Exploration of Pride, Madness, and Redemption
The play raises profound questions about the nature of heroism, the consequences of pride and hubris, and the ethical complexities of war. It examines the psychological toll that warfare takes on individuals and explores the boundaries between sanity and madness.
Sophocles is considered
by many modern scholars the greatest of the Greek tragedians and the perfect
mean between the titanic symbolism of Aeschylus and the rhetorical realism of
Euripides. Sophocles also effected a transformation in the spirit and significance
of a tragedy; thereafter, although problems of religion and morality still
provided the themes, the nature of man, his problems, and his struggles became
the chief interest of Greek tragedy.
No Greek play gains so much by
re-reading as the Ajax. Ajax, in Greek mythology,
mighty warrior who fought in the Trojan War. He was the son of Telamon, king of
Salamís, and led the Salaminian forces to Troy.
An enormous man, slow in speech but unshakable in battle, Ajax
was called “bulwark of the Achaeans” by Homer. Angered because he was not
awarded the armor of the dead Achilles, Ajax
resolved to kill the Greek leaders Agamemnon and Menelaus. To prevent this, the
goddess Athena struck him with madness. In his delirium, Ajax
committed suicide by falling on his sword.
The character of the hero
steadily grows on us; it is not that we admire him more, but that we feel a
deeper sympathy. As he gains in clearness, he lifts the other characters into
the light. Ajax is a man dowered
with nobility, sensitiveness, and self-reliance, but ruined by the excess of
those qualities. His nobility has become ambition, his sensitiveness morbidity,
and his self-reliance pride. He offends Heaven by his haughtiness, and is humbled;
then, rather than accept this lesson, he shuns disgrace by suicide. This resolution
is strong enough to overbear the appeals of Tecmessa and the silent sway of his
little son; he faces death calmly and even thoughtfully.
Grouped round the central
figure are first Tecmessa and Teucer, and on a lower plane Odysseus, Menelaus,
Agamemnon, and the chorus. Athena stands apart. Tecmessa is one of the
loveliest creations of Sophocles; there clings about her a silvery charm which
is strangely refreshing amid the turbid grandeur of the play. Tenderness, patience,
courage—these are commonplace enough upon the stage; yet Sophocles has made of
them something frail but indestructible, and touched her with his own greatest
charm—an unearthly eloquence of which we shall speak later: — When Ajax is
dead, it is she, not Teucer (as Ajaxhad hoped) who finds the body, and this
marvel of quiet tenderness gleams forth again. She hardly laments at all; the choruses
who accompany her are more moved.
Conclusion
Sophocles' "Ajax" is a powerful and thought-provoking tragedy that delves into the human condition, showcasing the tragic downfall of a once-great hero. It continues to be studied and performed today, demonstrating the enduring impact of Sophocles' work on the world of drama and literature.
References
The Ajax : Sophocles : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive. (n.d.). Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/ajaxsoph00soph
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