Deception in Sophocles Philoctetes and Hesiods Theogony :: Deception Sophocles Hesiod Essays

Deception in Sophocles Philoctetes and Hesiods Theogony For many centuries, the art of deception has been a virile tool for achieving goals, and it has spawned the ancient debate of the ends justifying the means. In the tragedy Philoctetes by Sophocles and in Hesiods Theogony, there are many instances of deception, particularly on the part of custody in the texts. For each of them, the deceit is justified as a means of building and maintaining a reputation or obtaining power. Ultimately, however, the use of deception results in putting the men in positions of further vulnerability. In Philoctetes, the character of Odysseus is portrayed as well accustomed to using deceit for personal gain without much consideration for ethics or human compassion. He not only deceives Philoctetes himself, but he has the audacity to con Neoptolemus, the son of Achilles, into doing the same. Odysseuss first deception of Philoctetes happens before his second arrival on Lemno s with Neoptolemus. Odysseus and his crew maroon the injured Philoctetes on the island with no one to help him by sneaking away while he is asleep. Odysseus explains their reasons for abandoning him We had no tranquility with him at the holy festivals, we dared not touch the wine and meat he screamed and groaned so, and those terrible cries of his brought ill luck on our celebrations (Phil. lines 6-9). No one is able to ameliorate Philoctetes because his disease was inflicted on him by divine power. Nor does he have the self-control to keep quiet, even during religious ceremonies, and his lack of self-discipline reflects poorly on the pigeonholing as a whole. Philoctetess unrestrained howling during solemn occasions jeopardizes their dignity and their reputations as serious and powerful men. Odysseus returns to Lemnos only because he realizes that, in order to crystalise Troy, he must have the bow of Heracles which is in Philoctetess possession.