Many think that Oedipus Rex is Sophocles' finest play--perhaps the finest tragedy ever written. Others think the lesser-known Philoctetes an even greater play. Did you like Philoctetes better than Oedipus Rex? Not as much? Why? What do you think Sophocles does particularly well in Philoctetes--or, perhaps, not so well?
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Philoctetes
Many think that Oedipus Rex is Sophocles' finest play--perhaps the finest tragedy ever written. Others think the lesser-known Philoctetes an even greater play. Did you like Philoctetes better than Oedipus Rex? Not as much? Why? What do you think Sophocles does particularly well in Philoctetes--or, perhaps, not so well?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Ruth Wilson
ReplyDeleteI honestly like Oedipus Rex more. I thought that the plot in Philoctetes was a bit crude. In even my short life thus far I have recieved a few insults that could have made me as bitter as Philoctetes given the ten years to stew over them. He forgot to tend his own garden, praying the gods for vengance, rather than healing or peace. Oedipus pursued his fate with all his being, Philoctetes abandoned it to ill-wish another. And really- in order to get things done heraclese needs to show up? Really? For four lines? Sigh. how convienient...
oh, and wasn't Philoctetes more than a bit emo? He should start complaining about how his parents don't understand him.
ReplyDelete-Ruth
I think I will have to agree with Ruth on part of this. I liked Oedipus Rex more because the plot is much more developed -- it reads like an epic. Philoctetes is a great play, and I really liked it, but the plot seemed undeveloped and the characters odd. I thought Sophocles did a good job portraying the idea of righteousness in Philoctetes, among other themes. The main problem I have with it is the slightly boring plot -- they don't really go anywhere, or do anything; they just stand around and talk.
ReplyDeleteAnnie Merkel
ReplyDeleteI found Philoctetes better to read than Oedipus Rex. For some reason, Philoctetes kept my interest more than the other play. The only reason I didn't like Philoctetes is because it was a long story that ended the way it should have about 20 pages earlier. The story was very plain, but it still kept me reading, hoping that it would get better.
Kirsten Saunders
ReplyDeleteI did like Philocetes and I thought Sophocles calls on the reader's compassion and symphaty for Philocetes throughout the play; however, it does get almost monotonous and taxing. There is little left for surprise, like that of Oedipus Rex. Similar to the comments above, there is a much more complex/ developed plot in Oedipus Rex. I found myself being dragged down by Philocetes and his refusal to heed any advice from friends or Gods despite their solutions to his suffering. Additionally, Philocetes is constantly calling upon death, rather than looking for a positive way to change his circumstance. I thought Sophocles does a good job defining Philocetes flaws and Neoptolemus says, "There are misfortunes sent from above which men are forced to bear. But when they cleave to self-inflicted sufferings, as you do, then one cannot pardon them in in justice, or be sorry for them either."
I can't believe im saying this but i agree with kirsten on what she said about philocetes, early on it was interesting and different then what I was used to but it got old real fast with his constant refusal of help. did like the line "if it is right, it overrides what's clever" i like reading about people who have strong morals and good character like neoptolemus
ReplyDeleteLaura McCowan
ReplyDeleteI have to say that I like Philoctetes better, because I like how he gets betrayed at the end. I can't believe he didn't see it coming. A guy shows up, claims to hate Odysseius, that must make him a friend. All I have to say to him, is that he is an Idiot. I still think it better, just for that reason. It's so perdictable that it is good.
Sam Merkel
ReplyDeleteI am going to have to go with the majority of what everyone else is saying. I liked Philocetes better than Oedipus Rex. It caught my attention early on and kept me interested in reading it, but as mentioned by everyone else it does have the problem of being repetitive through the story and that it could of ended long before it had to be over with. Even though within the story there really weren't any suprises, it still managed to make me want to finish the story.
I don't know if this is a better pure play than Oedipus Rex, but for me personally it is a more interesting play. I like that it includes some familar characters to me and takes place near the end of the Trojan War. I also like the fact that it has Achilles son in the middle of the story. Neoptolemus is a good man and warrior, and even though he is conviced to steal the bow from Philoctetes, he proves that he is a good man by telling the truth. I really like this play because it is about suffering and redemption.
ReplyDeleteZach Anderson
I also liked philoctetes better than oedipus rex because I thought it was very easy to read and they did very good job introducing philoctetes. Even though he comes later in the story you still know everything about him that you would want to know before he even says a word. He makes you feel sorry for him and envious at the same time.
ReplyDeleteJon Evenson
Brian Johnson
ReplyDeleteI think the two works actually shared several common themes: courage, honesty, and redemption among other things.
But it is still a little difficult to compare them because they are different styles. Oedipus Rex is more thrilling and mysterious. Philoctetes is more straightforward.
I think I enjoyed Philoctetes more for that reason. It is easier to understand and grasp. I think the repetition actually helped re-enforce what was happening. It helped to hammer home the point. I didn't mind it at all.
Philoctetes was the better of the two. I could better relate to characters in Philoctetes. It’s a somber and sad tale of a man stranded. We know him before he says a word and we sympathize with him once he speaks. Neoptolemus is lost and then reborn as a hero. The emotion between the two is heart retching. We feel betrayed when Neoptolemus choses to listen to Odysseus and welcome him back when she sees what’s right. The ending speech by Heracles is phenomenal as well.
ReplyDelete-Matthew Peterson
Although I thought the plot of Oedipus Rex was a bit better, overall I liked Philoctetes better. The reason for this is because of the characters. I thought that Odysseus, Philoctetes, and Neoptolemus are all very intriguing characters and all their personalities work well together. Odysseus is very two-faced and really doesn't care about Philoctetes, Neoptolemus is a very true character that has many changes in judgement, and finally Philoctetes is just a tortured man. Even though the story ends pretty badly I felt that all of the great characters made this play a very good read.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Payton on this one. The characters in Philoctetes made this the better play. I think the Odysseus' personality fits particularly well with Neoptolemus and Philoctetes as well. Also, I thought that Philoctetes was easier to understand and relate to a little bit more than Oedipus Rex. So, continuing the major theme of everyone else in the class, I htink that Philoctetes was the better work.
ReplyDeletei prefered Oedipus Rex alot better i found it more interestign
ReplyDeletephiloctetes just didnt captivate my interest. as i tryed to read it it felt dry and i just coudlent get into it.
where oedipus Rex, even though i already knew the story, i found very interesting and easily readable.
-allison rademacher
I thought Philoctetes was a better play. In this play I think Sophocles did a better job at using his setting to help tell the story. Right away he has Odysseus explain the island they are on and the cave they are looking for. By doing this it brings the reader in and makes them feel like they are actually there on the island with them. I also think he had more character development in this story. We learned about Philoctetes past and why he was stranded on the island so we were able to understand why he acted the way he did. We also were able to see Neoptolemus' character develop. At first he goes along with what Odysseus says, even though he doesn't quite agree with it. But as the story goes along he begins to act differently than what Odysseus wanted and more along the lines of what he believes is right. I think this also helps bring people in because they feel they know the characters and can relate to them.
ReplyDeleteJohn Rawerts
Peter Ryman
ReplyDeleteI do like Philoctetes better than Oedipus Rex.
One reason would be that Philoctetes doesn't contain as many vile "happenings" or things about it (i.e. Oedipus finding out he married his mother). But another reason for liking it better was the triumph of...good..and somehwat...truth at the end of the play. Everybody likes a happy ending better, whether they care to admitt it or deny it. In Philoctetes, you can really see the struggle of good overcoming evil; Sophocles did this well in the character NEOPTOLEMUS. Oedipus Rex is more of a lesson to be learned such as how to control your tongue, watching your attitude, not becoming prideful or haughty, etc., where as Philoctetes is about seeing good overcome evil in action like I already said :). I also believe that Love and true Compassion are elements that every single human being originally longs for, even though some have become so hardened to them, and those two virtues displayed in NEOPTOLEMUS's character are what make Philoctetes better as a play.
I liked Oedipus Rex more than Philoctetes. The story of Oedipus Rex is so famous for psychological term ‘Oedipus syndrome.’ so it is more familiar to me. And also tension in the Oedipus make me so nervous as like I play the role of Oedipus.
ReplyDeleteAs time goes on and the play goes to end, the story of Oedipus is more interesting and after reading this, we would think about the fate what god give us so we cannot change..
On the other hand, when I read the Philoctetes, the only thing which I can feel is just that Odysseus is bastard!