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The Prophecy Of Helenus In Sophocles' Philoctetes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 February 2009

A. E. Hinds
A. E. Hinds
Affiliation:
Trinity College, Dublin
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Extract

There can, I think, be little dispute that the most exciting plays about Philoctetes are those which have been described by Bowra, Kitto, and now B. M. W. Knox. It is a matter for regret that we must choose between them, or even reject all of them, since only one play is in question, the Philoctetes of Sophocles. My purpose, however, is not to compare the merits of these rivals, but something more restricted and rather duller. I shall make use of them in reexamining the difficulties raised by Sophocles' handling of the prophecy of Helenus, for it is to these that they largely owe their origin.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Classical Quarterly , Volume 17 , Issue 1 , May 1967 , pp. 169 - 180
Copyright
Copyright © The Classical Association 1967

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References

1 Bowra, C. M., Sophoclean Tragedy (Oxford, 1944).Google ScholarKitto, H. D. F., Form and Meaning in Drama (FM) (London, 1956)Google Scholar, cf. Greek Tragedy, 3rd ed. (London, 1961).Google ScholarPubMedKnox, B. M. W., The Heroic Temper (Berkeley, 1964).Google Scholar

2 Linforth, I. M., Philoctetes: the Play and the Man (Berkeley and Los Angeles, 1956).Google Scholar

3 von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, Tycho, Die dramatische Technik des Sophokles (Berlin, 1917).Google ScholarPerrotta, G., Sofocle (Messina, 1935).Google Scholar

1 Cf. Jones, J., Aristotle and Greek Tragedy (London, 1962)Google Scholar; Lloyd-Jones, H. (ed.), The Greek World (Harraondsworth, 1965)Google Scholar; Lewis, C. S., De Descriptione Temporum (Cambridge, 1955). PP. 20–21.Google Scholar

2 Kirkwood, G. M., A Study of Sophoclean Drama (Ithaca, 1958), p. 80Google Scholar, and Knox, , p. 189, think the cure is not part of the prophecy.Google Scholar

3 Reinhardt, K., Sophokles, 3rd ed. (Frankfurt, 1947), p. 173.Google Scholar

1 e.g. von Wilamowitz, Tycho, pp. 304 ff.Google Scholar, Waldock, A. J. A., Sophocles the Dramatist (Cambridge, 1951), p. 199Google Scholar, Pohlenz, M., Die griechische Tragödie, 2nd ed. (Göttingen, 1954), p. 330Google Scholar, Lesky, A., Die tragische Dichtung der Hellenen (Göttingen, 1956), p. 130.Google Scholar

2 For , see Jebb's note on 90; for , see Pohlenz, , Erläuterungen, , p. 136Google Scholar. Cf. Knox, , p. 187 n. 20.Google Scholar

1 cf. Kirkwood, , p. 80.Google Scholar

2 An obvious alternative to this explanation is to deny any significant contrast between the words of Odysseus and Neoptolemus, and to consider it merely an accident that in the prologue Odysseus always speaks of securing the bow, and nowhere says openly that Philoctetes must be brought to Troy. I have not been able to convince myself that this is right.

3 Neoptolemus' words at 529 also seem to show that it was not his intention to leave Philoctetes.

1 Neoptolemus elsewhere speaks with double meaning, e.g. at 529 and 781.

2 Unless 654 ff. are interpreted as such an attempt.

3 So Lesky, , Greek Tragedy (London, 1965), p. 122Google Scholar, says the plan revealed in the prologue is to get the bow; cf. Pohlenz, , p. 330.Google Scholar

4 Cf. O.C. 764.Google Scholar

1 Linforth, , pp. 128–9Google Scholar, believes the chorus may be thinking of carrying off Philoctetes himself; cf. Weinstock, H., Sophokles, 3rd ed. (Wuppertal, 1948), who (pp. 108 f.) thinks the chorus makes two separate proposals. But if the chorus is concerned not to waken Philoctetes by their talk, can they hope to carry him off still sleeping without fuss? Their reply to Neoptolemus at 843 does not suggest he has completely misinterpreted their proposal, and there is no sign that they now change it. Moreover, a suggestion to remove Philoctetes by force would violate the terms of the prophecy no less than a suggestion to make off with the bow.Google Scholar

1 Adams, S. M., Sophocles the Playwright (Toronto, 1957), thinks (p. 150)Google Scholar that Neoptolemus experiences a revelation inspired by Apollo. Knox, (p. 131) says Neoptolemus now understands the real meaning of the prophecy.Google Scholar

2 Kitto, , FM p. 95Google Scholar, Knox, , p. 188Google Scholar, cf. Jebb, , Introduction, p. xxvi and note at 1336.Google Scholar

1 Letters, F. J. H., The Life and Work of Sophocles (London, 1953), p. 277Google Scholar and Adams, , p. 154, agree.Google Scholar

2 So Jebb, ad loc.Google Scholar

3 Knox, , p. 128, thinks the false merchant's narrative was perhaps designed to enrage Philoctetes.Google Scholar

4 e.g. Jebb, , Introduction, p. xxvii (against note on 1052 f.)Google Scholar, Radermacher, , Weinstock, , Pohlenz, , Kamerbeek, J. C., Studien over Sophocles (Amsterdam, 1934)Google Scholar, Waldock, Linforth, Kitto, K. Alt, ‘Schicksal und im Philoktetes des Sophokles’, Hermes lxxxix (1961), 141 ff., K. I. Vourveris, ZofoicXtovs (Athens, 1963).Google Scholar

1 On the question of the use of force, see P. 179.

2 von Wilamowitz, Tycho denies both of these, pp. 280, 308.Google Scholar

3 Kitto, argues (FM, p. 124) that the swiftness of Odysseus' intervention to stop Philoctetes' suicide proves it.Google Scholar

4 Die tragische Dichtung der Hellenen, p. 130Google Scholar, cf. Tragedy, Greek, p. 122.Google Scholar

5 Philoctetes still believes at 1364–5 the story told by Neoptolemus about his father's arms.

6 Waldock suggests co-operation, Kamerbeek and Linforth pity.

1 e.g. Letters, Pohlenz, Adams, Alt, Vourveris.

2 See also 563, with Jebb's note, and cf. 985.

3 It is clear that at some stage Philoctetes must be persuaded, if he is to fight at Troy, but this would not prevent Odysseus carrying Philoctetes off by force now, and attempting persuasion later. What prevents him is the stipulation in the prophecy that Philoctetes shall be brought from the island by persuasion.

4 A possible parallel in the Philoctetes is the first clear mention of the cure at 1329 ff.

1 Odysseus, on this view, is much less black than many critics have said. Some, indeed, think he is almost a creation of Euripides, despite Dion of Prusa's testimony. For a more moderate judgement of Odysseus in this play cf. Reinhardt, Linforth, Lesky.