Sophocles, Philoctetes; We need your bow

It's Saturday afternoon and the sun is out, though it has been a little showery. Phil's busy talking to his Dad on the phone, leaving me to my own devices. Work is going well, though I have been struggling with a cold this week and have appreciated my days off all the more. That being said, I have not got a lot done and that includes work on this blog.

The Story
The play starts with Philoctetes stranded on an island. It is thought he was stranded there because of a snake bite on his foot which has festered. The other bit of backstory that is good to know, is that other sources state that Hercules, after the events of the women of Trachis where he is put in agony by acid burns, that he wanted to be burnt alive to stop the pain and the only one who would light the fire was Philoctetes and so, he gave him his legendary bow.
Odysseus and Achilles' son, Neoptolemus, arrive on the island in search of Philoctetes. They have come because it has been prophesied that they cannot win, and finish, the war at Troy until Philoctetes joins there side with Hercules' bow. Odysseus hides as Philoctetes is angry with him for stranding him on the island. Neoptolemus builds a friendship with Philoctetes based around his hatred of Odysseus, which Neoptolemus is faking. Neoptolemus convinces Philoctetes to go to Troy. When Philoctetes find out that he has been tricked, he rebels but is eventually persuaded to join the fight at Troy.

Reflections
At first, the thought that Philoctetes has been marooned on an island seems rather harsh. But, if you consider that had they taken him to war they would have had to feed him and he would have been a liability, it makes sense, though it is no less harsh.
Philoctetes' wound is not the only thing that has festered on the island. His attitude has also disintegrated and become septic. We see this in how he reacts to Odysseus and the hatred he has for the man.

Comparisons
We come back to the Trojan war, that we first see in Homers Iliad. This time, however, we are not at Troy but on a side quest that is meant to end the war. We see Odysseus again,though in a less heroic role and more as a commander, making the hard decisions that no one really likes.
Nowhere else, so far, do we see such a surly character as Philoctetes, or a story so driven by someone's misery.
Technically speaking, it is not a tragedy, as we do not see a string of deaths of characters at the end of the play. But, it still has a very somber and negative tone.

Have you read Philictetes? If so what did you think of it?

Want to read Philictetes but haven't? Hopefully this inspires you to take the time to do so.
Get a copy of Philictetes.