Philoctetes

After the chorus sings the Stasimon, the play’s second episode begins as Philoctetes and Neoptolemus come out of the cave and Philoctetes is struck by pain and cries out in agony. He tells Neoptolemus to take his bow to “keep it safe […] until the pain subsides” (37), but asks him first to swear that he will never give it to Odysseus and the other men looking for him. Neoptolemus agrees and takes the bow as Philoctetes continues to cry out in pain, and Neoptolemus assures him that they will not leave without him.

After cursing his pain and begging for death, Philoctetes soon drifts off to sleep, and in a Greek lyrical exchange known as a Kommos, the chorus asks the gods for Philoctetes to sleep peacefully and tells Neoptolemus that he should now take the opportunity to leave with Philoctetes’ bow. Neoptolemus refuses, saying that “the bow/ Is worthless if we sail away without him,” and that “the shame would be on us if we succeeded through treachery” (42).