Philoctetes and Modern Criticism
Abstract
Philoctetes has attracted more critical attention in the last fifteen years than any other play of Sophocles, more perhaps than any other Greek tragedy. This may be partly because its themes – alienation and communication, ends and means – are familiar and important to modern readers, partly because it is a play of remarkable complexity which presents a special challenge to the interpreter. What follows is a brief attempt to take stock, to see how far there are areas of common agreement and where the important problems now seem to lie.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Classical Antiquity Studies
Classical Philosophy and Thought
Classical Studies and Philology
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Cambridge University Press eBooks
- Pages
- 428–440
- Publication date
- 27 February 2026
- Language
- EN
- Document type
- Book chapter