Spholcles plays Flashcards
Ajax
He was supposed to receive armor of Achillus after his death. However, the Greeks chose Odysseus. Outrage, Ajax wanted to kill Agamemnon, Menelaus and Odysseus. He then slaughters sheep and cattle, thinking that they are the Greek leader. He then kills himself.
Athena
The goddess tricks Ajax in believing that the sheep and cattle were the Greek leaders he was after and slaughter them.
Odysseus (in ajax play)
He appears in the beginning and end of the play. Odysseus in the beginning is discussing Ajax’s state with Athena. Then, at the burial decision, Odysseus again appears. At this scene, he advocates that Ajax should get an honorable burial because everyone deserves respect in death. Odysseus says they should look at the good deed Ajax did in throughout his life and overlook how he dies. Everyone agrees but Odysseus does not attend funeral.
Tecmessa
Ajax’s wife, who is very fearful in the play. She is afraid that Ajax might do something rash and regretful. She requests him to not leave her and their child. Tecmessa is the voice of wisdom for Ajax.
Teucer
He is the brother of Ajax, who advocates to bury his brother.
Agamemnon
Ajax want to kill him because he gave Achilles armor to Odysseus. He does not want to bury Ajax’s body because he is a dishonored warrior.
Menelaus
Ajax want to kill him because he gave Achilles armor to Odysseus. He does not want to bury Ajax’s body because he is a dishonored warrior.
Philoctetes
During the Trojan War, he was bitten on the foot by a snake. The bite caused agony and released a sickening smell. Therefore, the Greeks abandoned him on a desert island of Lemnos for ten years. He despises Odysseus for what he did. In the end, he reluctantly left with Odysseus because Heracles orders him.
Odysseus ( in philocetes play)
He abandoned Philoctetes on a desert island of Lemnos for ten years because of his snake bite that released a sickening smell. He realizes that he need Philoctetes and the bow of Heracles. Therefore, Odysseus makes plan to trick Philoctetes by Neoptolemus befriending Philoctetes and then taking a bow.
Lemnos
the Island that Philoctetes is deserted on for ten years.
Neoptolemus
He is the son of Achilles. Following Odysseus’s plan, Neoptolemus befriend Philoctetes by sharing the same dislike against Odysseus. Then when Philoctetes is suffering, he gives the bow to Neoptolemus. Neoptolemus is too loyal that he couldn’t carry out Odysseus’s plan. Thus, Neoptolemus tells Philoctetes everything.
Heracles
He persuades Philoctetes to go to Troy. He even promises that he will be cured and will gain much honor and fame.
Deianira
she is the wife of Heracles. She complains that Heracles is never home. When Iole comes into her house, she gets jealous and uses a love potion given by the centaur Nessus. However, this was a trick that had a poisonous blood that Heracles used on Nessus to kill. Knowing that it was her fault that Heracles will die, Deianira kills herself.
Hyllus
He is the son of Deianira and Heracles. He is send off to find her father by his mother. He witnesses his father’s death due to the exposure the robe made by his mother. He comes home blaming his mother for killing Heracles. In the end, Hyllus reclunctly agrees to marry Iole.
Lichas
He the friend of Heracles, who brings Iole into the palace. He tells Deianira a false story to why Heracles siege the city, He says the Heracles wanted to revenge against being imprisoned. He tells a false story because he did not want to hurt Deianira.
