Sophocles wrote Ajax about 2,500 years ago. The first thing that comes to mind when hearing the word Ajax was isn’t that a household cleaning product? Yes, it is but Ajax was also a mighty figure in Ancient Greek literature.
The play begins sometime after the Trojan War has ended. Ajax is angry that he was not given the armor of Achilles which was instead given to Odysseus. The two are portrayed as enemies. Ajax also is angered by Menelaus and Agamemnon. In his rage Ajax kills a bunch of animals. In shame for his actions Ajax kill’s himself. Menelaus and Agamemnon demand that Ajax be denied burial. Odysseus shower argues that he should be buried.
I found the second half of this play far more compelling than the first half. Particularly the rationale behind the actions of Agamemnon, Menelaus, and Odysseus. As Odysseus said “it is not righteousness to outrage, a brave man dead not even though thou hate him.”
Agamemnon and Menelaus are consumed by anger or hate and they allow that to dictate their actions. On the other hand Odysseus can see what is just even when it was concerning his greatest foe. Overall this was a descent play.
“Times of crisis, of disruption or constructive change, are not only predictable, but desirable. They mean growth. Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.”
Fyodor Dostoevsky
“A great civilization is not conquered from without, until it has destroyed itself from within. The essential causes of Rome's decline lay in her people, her morals, her class struggle, her failing trade, her bureaucratic despotism, her stifling taxes, her consuming wars.”
Will Durant
