Wilderness House Literary Review 6/4 Dennis Daly SOPHOCLES’ AJAX ©2012 Dennis Daly Introduction Sophocles lived during the golden age of ancient Greece. He was born around 496 BC in Colonus, just outside of Athens, and died 90 years later. He probably came from a wealthy merchant family and lived what many would think of as a near perfect life. So the dry facts seem to say. At sixteen years of age Sophocles led the paean, celebrating a decisive Greek victory over the Persians at Salamis. This was more than just an everyday honor. You needed the physique, athleticism, a stage presence and the ability to sing. Sophocles held numerous civic positions of high honor including treasurer, gen- eral (he served with the legendary Pericles), priest, and commissioner. His friends included the great historian Herodotus. Of all of Sophocles’ 123 plays only seven survive. They are Oedipus Rex, Antigone, Oedipus at Colonus, Electra, Women of Trachis, Philoctetes, and Ajax. Sophocles wrote his plays specifically as entries for the Dionysia festivals held annually in Athens. Playwrights usually entered four plays at a time into these competitions. The so-called Theban plays of Sophocles, Oedipus Rex, Antigone, and Oedipus at Colonus, were never entered together, but were each entered with another set of plays. Early on Sophocles bested his older rival Aeschylus and never looked back winning many more competitions than either Aeschylus or his young- er rival, Euripides. The power of these tragedies and their subject matter belie the official biogra- phy of Sophocles. The dramatist simply understood shame, degradation, alien- ation, despair and madness a little too well. His view of the gods as overbearing and at times dicey characters does not appear consistent with Sophocles, the priest and pillar of the community. Since it is too late to amend the few extant facts that make up Sophocles’ biography, to know him better one must read his tragedies and there is no better starting point than Ajax. i After Achilles, Ajax is the greatest of the Greek warriors that have come to Troy. However Odysseus has triumphed over him in a contest for the armor of Achilles. Hatred for Odysseus, and the generals, who rigged the contest, Agamemnon, and Menelaus, drives Ajax mad. He plots to murder them for their duplicity. The goddess Athena then intervenes. In Ajax, madness leads to shame and shame leads to self-knowledge and nobil- ity, a nobility that not only puts the pettiness of the gods in a strange light, but is transformational. Human pride and arrogance, as personified in Ajax, are routed. The plebian fears of Ajax’s followers serve to emphasize the newly- found matu- rity of their leader, albeit a bit late. Ajax’s wisdom in turn echoes off the loyalty of Tecmessa, his wife, the generosity of Odysseus, his sworn enemy, and the devotion of Teucer, his admirable brother. In the end Ajax wins his victory in death. His body is allowed a ritual burial, guaranteeing his proper entry into the afterlife. Thus harmony returns to the human condition. Soundings East published three excerpts of Ajax in Vol. 5 No. 2. Wilderness House Literary Review 6/4 Dennis Daly SOPHOCLES’ AJAX ATHENA Son of Laertes, you have always amazed Me by your ability to gain some slight Edge over even the most awesome Of adversaries. And now I find you Where the mighty Ajax’s tent is pitched To protect the army’s flank from sudden Assault. Like an eager Spartan hound you seem To have picked up the scent of fresh tracks. Indeed your nose has not failed you; at this Very moment the prey you seek is within, His face and murderous hands drenched in blood And sweat. So stop peering around doors And tell me the reason for this conduct. I may be able to help. ODYSSEUS Athena! How happy I am to hear your voice, The voice which of all the gods is dearest To me. As to the sound of Tyrrhenian Trumpet, my soul thrills to its summons. Yes, you have guessed rightly, I am on the trail Of Ajax, possessor of the seven-fold Shield. I’ve been following him for hours. Last night he carried out an incredible Attack against us. Or at least we think It was he. The facts at this point are still Not very clear. I have offered to track down The perpetrator of the deed and discover His motive. This much we know: our Trojan spoils, All of our cattle and sheep, were found Butchered this morning, along with the men Whom we had posted to guard them. Everyone Wilderness House Literary Review 6/4 Believes it was Ajax. Also, someone claims To have seen him running wildly across The campground with his sword unsheathed and bloody. After questioning the man, I found This trail which led me here; but I’m confused. Obviously, some of these footprints Are not his. You come just when I need You, Athena. Many times in the past You have guided me. Will you help me now? ATHENA Yes, Odysseus, why do you suppose That I came all this way, if not to assist You in your pursuit. ODYSSEUS Then tell me, goddess, is my time well spent here? ATHENA The man you seek is within; it was his doing. ODYSSEUS What could have provoked him to such slaughter? ATHENA His jealous anger at the loss Of Achilles armour, which was given to you. ODYSSEUS I understand; but why attack the beasts. ATHENA He believed that the blood he was letting Was the blood of men, not of beasts. — 2 — Wilderness House Literary Review 6/4 ODYSSEUS We were the objects of this assault? His own comrades? ATHENA You were. And you would be dead by now If it were not for my intervention. ODYSSEUS How could he attempt this? What was his plan? ATHENA To fall upon you under the cover of night. ODYSSEUS How near did he get? ATHENA The entrance way of the Atridae’s tent. ODYSSEUS Then who checked his hand, preventing murder? ATHENA It was I who stole from him his triumph Blinding him to the truth with insane delusions Which caused him to turn his anger on the penned-in Herds of cattle and flocks of sheep, the undivided Booty of the army. He struck them first on the right, Then on the left, hacking away in a bloody Circle, dead and wounded carcasses piling up Everywhere, and all the while he believed That he had Agamemnon in his grip And would cut his head off, or that he Was thrusting his sword into Menalaus’ heart, Or that he was battling some other — 3 — Wilderness House Literary Review 6/4 Renowned warrior. And I, while he was In this maniacal state, urged him on. Finally when he tired from the killing He bound up the animals left alive— Still believing them human—and drove Them back to his tent. He is torturing Them now. A gruesome sight! But you will Soon see with your own eyes, and whatever You see you must report to the Argives. (ODYSSEUS moves back from the tent - Looking rather skittish, hesitant.) Get a grip on yourself, no need to fear. I’ll make you invisible to him, he won’t harm you. (She calls to AJAX within) Ajax, stop binding the wrists of your captives. Come out. Do you hear me? Come out of the tent. ODYSSEUS Please, goddess, don’t call him forth now. Wait! ATHENA Is this cowardice? I told you there is Nothing at all to be afraid of. ODYSSEUS Yes, but I’d rather you let him be, for now. ATHENA What’s wrong? He’s only flesh and blood – like you. ODYSSEUS He’s also the man I’ve always hated, And hate even now. — 4 — Wilderness House Literary Review 6/4 ATHENA Well, here’s your chance. Isn’t it one of a man’s Greatest satisfactions to be able To mock, to humiliate his enemies? ODYSSEUS I’d just as soon he stay where he is. ATHENA Be honest with me, Odysseus. Is it His madness that you are afraid to face? ODYSSEUS I would never fear him if he were his own self. ATHENA Don’t worry; no matter how near to you He comes, I’ll make sure he can’t see you. ODYSSEUS But his eyes, he still has eyes. ATHENA They’ll see, but only what I want them to see. ODYSSEUS Gods, I guess, can do anything they want. ATHENA Just stand where you are and be quiet. ODYSSEUS Alright, alright; but I’d rather be elsewhere. — 5 — Wilderness House Literary Review 6/4 ATHENA Ajax, I know you hear me. Do you have So little regard for your protectoress. (Ajax emerges from the tent with a blood-stained scourge in his hand.) AJAX Hail Athena, daughter of Zeus. You are Most welcome to my tent. Again you have Stood by me, and I am not ungrateful. You will have as many gold trinkets As you want: an offering for this, The greatest of all my victories. ATHENA I am pleased. And did you stain Your sword well with the blood of Argives? AJAX I’ll not deny it. ATHENA Was it against the Atridae whom you took up arms? AJAX They will never insult Ajax again. ATHENA Are you telling me that they are dead? AJAX Yes, they are dead. Not likely to cheat me Of my armor now! — 6 — Wilderness House Literary Review 6/4 ATHENA Did Laertes’ son meet a similar fate? Or has he escaped? AJAX Aha!, so you want to know where that villian Is. That wily fox. ATHENA Yes – Odysseus, your arch-enemy. AJAX He’s here, among my other prisoners. I’ll attend to him shortly. His death Will be a painful one. ATHENA What do you intend on doing with him? AJAX I’ll tie him upright to the pillar Inside my tent, slowly scourge the skin from His back; then, after a while, kill him. ATHENA There’s no advantage to be gained, Ajax, By torturing the man. You are victorious Over him – that’s plain to see – don’t be so harsh. AJAX Daughter of Zeus, in all other things My obedience will remain exact. But for this purpose you cannot sway me. — 7 — Wilderness House Literary Review 6/4 ATHENA If that’s what pleases you, forget what I’ve said, Do exactly as you will, and more. AJAX I must return to my work. But I hope You will remain as before: a staunch ally. (He returns to his tent.) ATHENA Do you see, Odysseus, how powerful We gods are? Where could you find a man more Prudent in his judgement or valiant When called into action? ODYSSEUS I know of none greater. He is My enemy and I hate him, yet I Pity him also for his helplessness In the face of misfortune and the shame, The awful shame he will feel. For this touches My condition as well. Are we—all living Beings – mere phantoms, a moment’s shadow? ATHENA Remember this lesson, never speak A haughty word against the gods, or swell With foolish pride, whether due to conquest In battle or the power of wealth. Each mortal’s fate is uncertain: one day glory; The next infamy. The gods smile on the man Of wisdom who knows his place. They hate the proud. — 8 — Wilderness House Literary Review 6/4 (ATHENA vanishes, ODYSSEUS leaves, the CHORUS of Salamion Sailors enter.) CHORUS Son of Telamon, lord Of the island Salamis Where the swelling sea-waves are held In check. With some apprehension We greet you. Not always as such: When all is right with you, we are Filled with gladness, rejoicing At fortune’s benevolent nod. But when the fury of Zeus Or the Argives’ petulant tongues Assail you, we tremble in fear, Our dove-eyes lost in terror. Even now, out of last night’s Fading blackness, come rumors Of dread and loathsome detail. They say that you, lurking about The grasslands where the horses feed And run free, fell on the captive herds And flocks, striking at them with your Flashing sword, slaughtering them all. This tale comes from Odysseus Who presently is spreading Scandal throughout the campground By whispers and insinuations. Any story he tells finds Gullible listeners, and with each Listener the exultation And the gaiety grow. They, not Surprisingly, revel in this Distress of yours. For the higher One aims, the surer his shaft — 9 —