Filottete
by Sofocle
PLOT
Philoctetes is abandoned on the deserted island of Lemnos by his companions because of a foul-smelling sore caused by a viper’s bite. He possesses Heracles’ invincible bow.
Ten years later, a prophecy reveals that Troy will fall only through the use of Philoctetes’ bow. Odysseus and the young Neoptolemus (son of Achilles) land on Lemnos to steal the weapon from him by trickery.
Neoptolemus wins Philoctetes’ trust, but remorse compels him to confess the truth and return the bow. Philoctetes, enraged by the past wrong done to him, categorically refuses to return to fight with the Greeks, preferring to die in solitude rather than help those who betrayed him.