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Philoctetes and the Fall of Troy: Plays, Documents, Iconography, Interpretations Including Versions by Sophocles, Andre Gide, Oscar Mandel, and Heiner Muller
258 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1981
About the author
Oscar Mandel
55 books6 followersOscar Mandel, poète, traducteur, fabuliste et dramaturge américain, est né en 1926 à Anvers (Belgique). En 1939, adolescent, il est contraint d'émigrer avec sa famille vers les États-Unis.
Il écrit aussi bien en anglais qu'en français.
Oscar Mandel, American poet, translator, fabulist and playwright, was born in 1926 in Antwerp (Belgium). In 1939, a teenager, he was forced to emigrate with his family to the United States.
He writes both in English and French.
Il écrit aussi bien en anglais qu'en français.
Oscar Mandel, American poet, translator, fabulist and playwright, was born in 1926 in Antwerp (Belgium). In 1939, a teenager, he was forced to emigrate with his family to the United States.
He writes both in English and French.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
January 29, 2022
The story of Philoctetes was retold by all three of the great Greek playwrights, though only Sophocles’ play survives. The attraction of the story is easy to understand. It weaves ideas of personal vengeance, duty, and honesty into a complex knot of drama.
Mandel provides an interesting history of the story of Philoctetes – its earliest sources and how it grew and changed. Even the Greek playwrights had different takes on the story and what it meant. In addition to the history, Mandel also includes Sophocles play, as well variations by Gide, Muller, and himself.
To me, it seems that the play should pivot on Philoctetes being persuaded to give up his grudge and joining the Argive warriors. The build-up should be to that point where he lets go of the anger so that he can move on with the rest of this life. What argument wins him over?
SPOILER ALERT (As if you didn’t know how the Greek and Trojan War ends.)
But the play doesn’t. Philoctetes is going to retain his anger and Neoptolemus will take him back home uncured. That is, until Herakles (yes, he who is dead) suddenly appears and tells Philoctetes he must go to Troy or face the wrath of Zeus. It’s a startling ending, in that I was surprised by how absurd it was. But I guess put that way, Philoctetes doesn’t have much to say.
I was disappointed by this ending. It seemed to tacked on, and it spoils what was otherwise an interesting confliect. But it is what it is.
The Treatise on Three Ethics **** – This play, by Andre Gide, was surprisingly good. I didn’t know any about Gide other than he was early on a symbolist, so I expected this to be some absurd spoof. But it is a quite beautiful play with a Buddhistic theme. Philoctetes has found peace on Lemnos being away from mankind, and the ending is
Philoctetes **** -- This short work explores the role of duty and mission, and how these can override or overwhelm our personal sense of morality and honor. Odysseus, for whom the end (Troy’s defeat) justifies the means, convinces Achilles’ son Neoptolemus, ostensibly a man of honor, to trick Philoctetes into handing over his bow. Philoctetes, meanwhile, is obsessed by ideas of vengeance no matter the cost to society.
This is rather a philosophical play where ideas are argued, more than an emotional piece. The ending is almost as surprising at Gide’s, but I won’t give it away.
Mandel provides an interesting history of the story of Philoctetes – its earliest sources and how it grew and changed. Even the Greek playwrights had different takes on the story and what it meant. In addition to the history, Mandel also includes Sophocles play, as well variations by Gide, Muller, and himself.
To me, it seems that the play should pivot on Philoctetes being persuaded to give up his grudge and joining the Argive warriors. The build-up should be to that point where he lets go of the anger so that he can move on with the rest of this life. What argument wins him over?
SPOILER ALERT (As if you didn’t know how the Greek and Trojan War ends.)
But the play doesn’t. Philoctetes is going to retain his anger and Neoptolemus will take him back home uncured. That is, until Herakles (yes, he who is dead) suddenly appears and tells Philoctetes he must go to Troy or face the wrath of Zeus. It’s a startling ending, in that I was surprised by how absurd it was. But I guess put that way, Philoctetes doesn’t have much to say.
I was disappointed by this ending. It seemed to tacked on, and it spoils what was otherwise an interesting confliect. But it is what it is.
The Treatise on Three Ethics **** – This play, by Andre Gide, was surprisingly good. I didn’t know any about Gide other than he was early on a symbolist, so I expected this to be some absurd spoof. But it is a quite beautiful play with a Buddhistic theme. Philoctetes has found peace on Lemnos being away from mankind, and the ending is
Philoctetes **** -- This short work explores the role of duty and mission, and how these can override or overwhelm our personal sense of morality and honor. Odysseus, for whom the end (Troy’s defeat) justifies the means, convinces Achilles’ son Neoptolemus, ostensibly a man of honor, to trick Philoctetes into handing over his bow. Philoctetes, meanwhile, is obsessed by ideas of vengeance no matter the cost to society.
This is rather a philosophical play where ideas are argued, more than an emotional piece. The ending is almost as surprising at Gide’s, but I won’t give it away.
Displaying 1 of 1 review