Philoctetes by Sophocles
"Philoctetes" is a Greek tragedy that tells the story of a skilled archer abandoned on a deserted island by the Greeks during the Trojan War, due to a foul-smelling wound on his foot. Years later, the Greeks discover a prophecy that they will need Philoctetes and his magical bow to win the war. They send Odysseus and Neoptolemus to retrieve him, leading to a moral dilemma as they must decide whether to deceive the bitter and mistrustful Philoctetes or to persuade him to willingly join their cause. The play explores themes of suffering, deceit, and the struggle between personal integrity and duty.
The 717th greatest book of all time
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This book is on the following lists:
- 2nd on Six Professors from "Esteemed" Universities Favorite Books (Democrat and Chronicle (Newspaper))
- 17th on The 16 Greatest Books of All Time (NYU Local)
- 32nd on Pour une Bibliothèque Idéale (Raymond Queneau)
- Great Books of the Western World (Great Books Foundation)
- Books That Changed the World (Book)
- Harold Bloom's The Western Canon (The Western Canon (Book) by Harold Bloom)