'All we who live, live as ghosts of ourselves' - A Review of Sophocles' 'Aias'

Sophocles is primarily recognised for his play 'Oedipus Rex' (or in a more faithful Greek translation: Oidipous Turannos: Οἰδίπους Τύραννος), which tells the tragic story of the king of Thebes who unknowingly kills his father and marries his mother. This recognition is in no small part thanks to the significant amount of literary analysis and criticism has stemmed from this work (we might immediately think to Freud's controversial 'Oedipus Complex'). As a result, much of Sophocles' other works remain away from the limelight, unexplored or at least undervalued by the general public.

The Suicide of Ajax - Giovanni Battista Foggini - ca. 1690 (The Metropolitan Museum of Art)

One such work is 'Aias' (also known as Ajax), which tells the story of Aias, the son of Telamon (it is worth noting that there are two Aiases in the Iliad, the other being the son of Oileus). In this play, Aias mistakenly slaughters a large number of cattle, believing them to be the men he seeks vengeance against, leading him to contemplate and ultimately carry out suicide. The narrative then takes an unconventional turn as the Greek leaders discuss whether Aias should receive proper burial rites - some condemning him for attempting to kill Odysseus and the brothers Agamemnon and Menelaus, while others argue that he should be honored for his significant role in the Trojan War, second only to Achilles.

'Aias' is a captivating play that shares a similar theme with 'Oedipus Rex'. The central idea revolves around the tragic protagonist being unaware of his situation until it is abruptly disclosed to everyone. Aias faces disgrace due to his intense anger towards the (by all turns) fair vote on who should receive Achilles' armor, his attempt to kill the Greek captains, and ultimately his failure in carrying out the murder. Instead, he ends up torturing and killing cattle (an innocent herdsman caught in the crossfire) as a result of divine misdirection from Athena.

Aias finds himself entangled in a predicament that, despite divine intervention, is entirely of his own making. He is responsible for his own downfall: displaying hubris by disregarding the democratic process, succumbing to a blind rage that clouds his judgment, and feeling compelled to commit suicide despite the pleas and needs of his loved ones. Aias is a man with evident flaws, embodying the quintessential traits of an Iliadic figure, tragically so. While we sympathise with his plight, we must also accept that he was not wronged in a conventional sense; he is but a hero who has overstepped his bounds. Aias' contemplation of suicide, then, becomes iconic for how simplistic, and hence universal, it is - a man who can bear his disgrace no more; a man believing the world not wide enough for him.

The Belvedere Torso (believed to be 1st Century BC copy of an earlier statue; assumed to represent Ajax contemplating his suicide) - by an (otherwise unknown) "Apollonios, son of Nestor, Athenian (Vatican Museum)

In my view, the most inspiring moment is the passionate defence of Aias' burial rights by his half-brother Teucer, who arrives just a little too late to save him. Teucer boldly challenges the kings' authority to decide whether Aias should be buried or not, a scene that surely unsettled the aristocratic audience at the Athenian theatre. This, along with Odysseus' forgiveness and praise, creates a powerful and memorable scene.

Sophocles intriguingly places a Trojan War incident within the framework of 5th Century Athenian democracy and legalism, using Aias' death as a sort-of watershed between the Archaic and Classical Greek eras. The tragedy is not just about Aias' demise but also about the surrounding archaic culture that led to it and the retaliatory response from Agamemnon and Menelaus. Sophocles' portrayal of Classical Greece highlights the need for individuals like Teucer and Odysseus, who demonstrate respect, compassion, and basic human decency even towards those who may not deserve nor reciprocate it.

Although the memory of the ancient, Homeric world of honor and 'kleos' (represented by Aias) should be valued and handed down, the emerging democratic system calls for specific cultural changes. Sophocles' 'Aias' is a tragic story set within a clash of concepts: traditional and modern, ancient and classical, epic and tragic, vengeance and unconditional respect. Beneath the surface of a straightforward mythic hero narrative lies a keystone political piece.