Part II: Lines 301-700
Summary:
Philoctetes finally arrives back at his cave and is surprised to discover Neoptolemus and his men. He demands to know their origin and is pleased to discover they are Greeks, then asks them to take pity on him. Neoptolemus pretends not to know who he is then formally introduces himself and tells Philoctetes, as planned, that he is sailing home to the island of Scyros from Troy. Dissapointed that no one appears to know who he is, Philoctetes tells his sad story of sickness and betrayal. It is clear from the story that Philoctetes is still very bitter about being left at Lemnos.
Neoptolemus empathizes with Philoctetes, telling him that he, too, has experienced the selfish and brutal ways of Odysseus. He procedes to tell his own (made up) story about how Phoenix and Odysseus came to fetch him after his father Achilles was killed, in hopes that he would be able to help them conquer Troy. Once he arrived at Sigeum and confirmed with his own eyes that his father had died, Neoptolemus went to claim Achilles' arms and belongings from Atreus' sons but was informed that Odysses was keeping the weapons. Neoptolemus explains to Philoctetes that he is now on his way home without the arms that are rightfully his. Feeling united through his shared enmity of Odysseus, Philoctetes begs Neoptolemus to take him with him when he departs.
Philoctetes finally arrives back at his cave and is surprised to discover Neoptolemus and his men. He demands to know their origin and is pleased to discover they are Greeks, then asks them to take pity on him. Neoptolemus pretends not to know who he is then formally introduces himself and tells Philoctetes, as planned, that he is sailing home to the island of Scyros from Troy. Dissapointed that no one appears to know who he is, Philoctetes tells his sad story of sickness and betrayal. It is clear from the story that Philoctetes is still very bitter about being left at Lemnos.
Neoptolemus empathizes with Philoctetes, telling him that he, too, has experienced the selfish and brutal ways of Odysseus. He procedes to tell his own (made up) story about how Phoenix and Odysseus came to fetch him after his father Achilles was killed, in hopes that he would be able to help them conquer Troy. Once he arrived at Sigeum and confirmed with his own eyes that his father had died, Neoptolemus went to claim Achilles' arms and belongings from Atreus' sons but was informed that Odysses was keeping the weapons. Neoptolemus explains to Philoctetes that he is now on his way home without the arms that are rightfully his. Feeling united through his shared enmity of Odysseus, Philoctetes begs Neoptolemus to take him with him when he departs.