The Inner Nature of Friendship
Cordelia Achen Over his long seclusion on the abandoned island of Lemnos, some meet Philoctetes and learn his melancholy history. However, no one gives him the aid he needs to escape his solitary existence and return to civilization. Except for Neoptolemus. He becomes friends with Philoctetes, at first to steal the bow of Heracles, but later due to his friendly feelings towards Philoctetes. Philoctetes too, has friendly feelings towards Neoptolemus, which survive even after Neoptolemus has seemingly betrayed him. What it is about Philoctetes and Neoptolemus that allows them to become friends, even though they spend most of the play at cross-purposes? Neoptolemus and Philoctetes become friends because they can …show more content…
When asking Neoptolemus to take him home, Philoctetes appeals to Neoptolemus’ parentage and the nobility inherent in his nature. He says in line 474 “But nevertheless suffer: Indeed, it is fitting with your birth” using the word γενναίοισί to tie Neoptolemus back to his father, the honorable Achilles. Philoctetes also tells Neoptolemus that saving him fits in with conventional notions of justice, stating “for you, forsaking this is reproachful, not noble, but doing this child confers the greatest gifts of glory” (477-478). Thus, Philoctetes presents the option of taking him home as an honorable act in accordance with Neoptolemus’ parentage. This unification of act and nature stands in stark contrast to the earlier appeals of Odysseus, the only other candidate for Neoptolemus’ friendship within Philoctetes. Odysseus outright admits that what he is asking goes against Neoptolemus’ nature. He tells Neoptolemus, “I know well, child, that you have not been disposed by nature to speak such things nor to contrive evils” (79-80). The Greek word here is πεφυκότα, which emphasizes the inner nature of the person to a greater extent than the word Philoctetes …show more content…
Neoptolemus tells Philoctetes “You have become savage” (1321) and “You are sick” (1326). He realizes that Philoctetes is not the man he once was nor the man he could be if he conquers Troy. This is why Neoptolemus brings up rest from the disease (or lack thereof, in the case of line 1329-1330) three different times in his speech. The disease is forcing Philoctetes to deviate from his nature like Odysseus was causing Neoptolemus to deviate from his. Philoctetes was a warrior, the man with Herakles’ bow, and has now been picked out by the prophecy to conquer Troy and receive “the highest glory” (1347), as Neoptolemus puts it. But right now, Philoctetes is little more than an animal due to his disease. He suffers attacks of pain that clear out rational thought, he is dependent on his bow for what little food he can gather, and his home is just a small cave. Because of this, all Philoctetes can do is pity himself. Neoptolemus, on the other hand, knows that Philoctetes is better than this. He is trying to lead Philoctetes to Troy so that together, they can act nobly and greatly in accordance with their natures and fulfil their destinies. Philoctetes will be healed and once more be himself, and Neoptolemus will have the glory he desires with the nobility Odysseus’ plan could not grant
Cordelia Achen Over his long seclusion on the abandoned island of Lemnos, some meet Philoctetes and learn his melancholy history. However, no one gives him the aid he needs to escape his solitary existence and return to civilization. Except for Neoptolemus. He becomes friends with Philoctetes, at first to steal the bow of Heracles, but later due to his friendly feelings towards Philoctetes. Philoctetes too, has friendly feelings towards Neoptolemus, which survive even after Neoptolemus has seemingly betrayed him. What it is about Philoctetes and Neoptolemus that allows them to become friends, even though they spend most of the play at cross-purposes? Neoptolemus and Philoctetes become friends because they can …show more content…
When asking Neoptolemus to take him home, Philoctetes appeals to Neoptolemus’ parentage and the nobility inherent in his nature. He says in line 474 “But nevertheless suffer: Indeed, it is fitting with your birth” using the word γενναίοισί to tie Neoptolemus back to his father, the honorable Achilles. Philoctetes also tells Neoptolemus that saving him fits in with conventional notions of justice, stating “for you, forsaking this is reproachful, not noble, but doing this child confers the greatest gifts of glory” (477-478). Thus, Philoctetes presents the option of taking him home as an honorable act in accordance with Neoptolemus’ parentage. This unification of act and nature stands in stark contrast to the earlier appeals of Odysseus, the only other candidate for Neoptolemus’ friendship within Philoctetes. Odysseus outright admits that what he is asking goes against Neoptolemus’ nature. He tells Neoptolemus, “I know well, child, that you have not been disposed by nature to speak such things nor to contrive evils” (79-80). The Greek word here is πεφυκότα, which emphasizes the inner nature of the person to a greater extent than the word Philoctetes …show more content…
Neoptolemus tells Philoctetes “You have become savage” (1321) and “You are sick” (1326). He realizes that Philoctetes is not the man he once was nor the man he could be if he conquers Troy. This is why Neoptolemus brings up rest from the disease (or lack thereof, in the case of line 1329-1330) three different times in his speech. The disease is forcing Philoctetes to deviate from his nature like Odysseus was causing Neoptolemus to deviate from his. Philoctetes was a warrior, the man with Herakles’ bow, and has now been picked out by the prophecy to conquer Troy and receive “the highest glory” (1347), as Neoptolemus puts it. But right now, Philoctetes is little more than an animal due to his disease. He suffers attacks of pain that clear out rational thought, he is dependent on his bow for what little food he can gather, and his home is just a small cave. Because of this, all Philoctetes can do is pity himself. Neoptolemus, on the other hand, knows that Philoctetes is better than this. He is trying to lead Philoctetes to Troy so that together, they can act nobly and greatly in accordance with their natures and fulfil their destinies. Philoctetes will be healed and once more be himself, and Neoptolemus will have the glory he desires with the nobility Odysseus’ plan could not grant