Philoctetes by Sophocles – The Wounded Hero and the Power of Integrity

Philoctetes by Sophocles – The Wounded Hero and the Power of Integrity 

By a.d. elliott | Take the Back Roads - Art and Other Odd Adventures 

Dear Henry,

Book Ten of the Bucket List Book Adventure, Philoctetes by Sophocles, is complete! Let me tell you all about it.

Sophocles wrote Philoctetes during the Peloponnesian War, probably around 410 BC. It premiered at the Festival of Dionysus in 409 BC, where it won first prize, and for good reason. It’s one of those plays that balances myth, morality, and human compassion with beautiful precision.

The story centers on Philoctetes, a skilled archer who was given Hercules’s bow after performing a remarkable act of mercy. When Hercules lay dying, consumed by pain after donning the poisoned shirt of Nessus, it was Philoctetes alone who dared to light his funeral pyre. In gratitude, Hercules gave him his sacred bow.

Later, Philoctetes joined Odysseus and the Greek army on their way to Troy. But when they stopped on the island of Chryse, he accidentally trespassed on a shrine and was bitten by a serpent. The wound became infected and foul-smelling, and the cries of pain were unbearable. Unable to endure it, Odysseus and the Greeks abandoned Philoctetes on the deserted island of Lemnos.

“Still, if they are just, that’s better than being clever.” – Sophocles, Philoctetes

Years passed. Then came a prophecy: Troy could only fall with the bow of Hercules. And so Odysseus, in a rare moment of humility, returned to Lemnos, this time with Neoptolemus, the son of Achilles, to reclaim the bow.

Odysseus concocts a plan: Neoptolemus should deceive Philoctetes into giving up the weapon. After all, the wounded man would never willingly help those who abandoned him. Reluctantly, Neoptolemus agrees.

But once he meets Philoctetes, things change. Moved by the older man’s suffering and honor, Neoptolemus’s conscience rebels. He cannot bring himself to betray him.

“Why should one feel ashamed to do good to another.” – Sophocles, Philoctetes

Just as the two prepare to leave together for Greece, the god Hercules appears, now immortal, and tells Philoctetes that if he goes to Troy, he will be healed, the Greeks will win, and his name will live in glory.

I loved this play. Like Antigone, it felt deeply personal. As someone who has lived with a disabling injury (see “The Accident”), I know the sense of isolation that comes when illness or limitation drives others away. Philoctetes’s bitterness and loneliness felt achingly honest.

“Holiness does not die with the men that die.” – Sophocles, Philoctetes.

And, once again, I found myself frustrated with Odysseus, who is willing to sacrifice anyone to achieve his goals. Yet, amid that darkness, Neoptolemus shines. He represents the courage to do right when cleverness would be easier. In a world that often rewards manipulation, Sophocles reminds us that virtue still matters.

Philoctetes isn’t just about heroism. It’s about integrity, and the way compassion can restore what cruelty has broken.

Next up is Ajax, the last of Sophocles’s plays on my list. I’ll let you know what I think soon.

xoxo,

a.d. elliott

*Note* The Bucket List Book Adventure continues on Rite of Fancy — my literary corner of the Take the Back Roads journey. Come read more reflections on philosophy, faith, and the books that shape the road.

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a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia. 

In addition to her travel writings at www.takethebackroads.com, you can also read her book reviews at www.riteoffancy.com and US military biographies at www.everydaypatriot.com

Her online photography gallery can be found at shop.takethebackroads.com

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