#i have a major quiz tomorrow so i cant be on tumblr too much for now but

[hermesmoly]

Thank you so much for taking the time to address all the things I found noteworthy! I enjoyed your commentary and it gave me a lot more insight!! :D

As for Ajax speaking in Third Person, the line I found is somewhere along the 120-130th line, where he talks about the Atreides no longer dishonoring "Ajax". I cross-referenced it with other translations online and it also seems to be in third person

(Translation by Ian Johnston, Richard Jebb, and Herbert Golder-Richard Peaver respectively)

It seems to be a singular case, but I do find it interesting in this context. Almost as if Ajax is simultaneously being proud of Ajax for standing up for his honor, while also distancing himself from the Ajax who was dishonored. Almost as a form of coping mechanism!

Athena and Odysseus are very delightful as a duo and like you said you can really feel the love and bond between them <3 And yeah the allusion to the Odyssey is so cool!

The philosophical ideas are just abundant and it does make me stop and think about how different and alike the human psyche is portrayed in these characters ^^ I've only read one Sophocles tragedy before (Electra, surprise surprise) which I adored. Electra was thought-provoking, dramatic as hell, and tugged my heartstrings for Electra. He's doing the same again but for Ajax now xD

"It is possible that he is implying that the damage is permanent in his mind but as you see from the way he acts now he is "mad" but for a different reason; mad in sorrow and shame." THISSS. The psychological element in all this. Death is terrifying, but so is living with madness! With guilt and shame! The way he even tells his son it is better to feel nothing than to feel joy or sorrow, and it's how he was at the moment ;; Numb to it all.

I did not know Teucer was the big brother! I kind of assumed he was younger since Big Ajax is canonically, well very big. That recontextualizes so many things about their relationship 😭 Even in madness he calls for his big brother...

"swaying between insanity and sanity again and then he prays to Athena almost for courage to kill himself because he knows that if the Greeks found out the truth they would probably execute him so he wants to die with some left honor in him" Oh honor. Killer of many men. He's honor-bound to kill himself. If he goes home without anything he dishonors his father. If he lets the Greeks execute him he dies without honor. Not having the weapons dishonors him. He leaves his friends, wife, and son out of honor. Honor is such a pretty-sounding killer ;)

And the mention of Hector, and Hector's sword being the only "prize" he won? It being the weapon Ajax uses against himself, the weapon of the greatest Trojan soldier? AND HE ASKS FOR PEACE because he could meet him in the Underworld!!

And just. I love how this tragedy changes between bleakness and hopefulness! How Ajax's insanity is portrayed! Honestly, I have only studied Plato and Socrates in my philosophy class but Sophocles and Homer are really thought-provoking in their crafts! I'm honestly just in awe!

Reading Ajax by Sophocles for the first time: Part 1

some notes and comments! (I am reading the version translated by Ian Johnston) and tagging @katerinaaqu because I REALLY want to hear their thoughts as well as @venomspecs for being the catalyst for me to read this! :>

Odysseus calling Athena "the god I cherish the most" is so sweet they really are mentor and mentee

"We don’t know anything for certain." Man what a powerful line, It can be used for so many contexts within the Epic Cycle

I love how Odysseus' first reaction is "How could he have done something so reckless?" just. ugh speaks to him as a character and as a comrade

"and kept on chopping down and slaughtering, the ones with horns by slicing through their spines, until they made a circle all around him." CHILLS. DOWN MY SPINE.

"I kept encouraging him" ATHENA NO???

" But the sweetest laughter comes from mocking enemies. Is that not true?" I love this specific unhinged Athena so much

I like that Ajax speaks in the Third Person. I can very much see him doing that

Ajax really thought Athena would choose him over Odysseus XD

"I see that in our lives we are no more than phantoms, insubstantial shadows."

Athena of course uses this Ajax scenario to scold Odysseus over "never ever speaking against gods or be egotistical" I cantttt

"Envy creeps up against the man of wealth and power. And yet, without the great, we lesser men are fragile ramparts in our own defence."

I feel so bad for Tecmessa ;; she and her son deserve a lot more

"Come, help me kill myself" I mean, what do you SAY to that,,

"these awesome hands, against tame animal" Oh Ajax.

"If with my distorted mind and eyes," so Athena permanently blinds Ajax? Eye fatigue? Or is it more metaphorical...

Ajax's last conversation with his son is quite interesting. He loves his kid enough that he agrees with Tecmessa about her decision to keep him away from Ajax's madness. Trusts Teucer to take care of him. Gives him his own shield. "My other weapons you will bury with me." Does the kid even fully grasp that his dad is going to kill himself?

"Father, with god’s help even a worthless man can be victorious. But I believe I’ll win glory on my own without them." DAMN he said that to his father with his whole chest!

Telling Athena, the Athena, to go "stand there with the other Argives" IS SO??? Ajax you are impressively sacrilegious

Stopping around line 930 since this play seems to be 1700+ lines long ^^ Will continue tomorrow since it is late night here.