Ajax

Acts

• 0
  Act 0

  The complete text of Ajax. After the arms of Achilles are awarded to Odysseus, Ajax descends into madness, slaughters livestock believing them to be Greek generals, and takes his own life.

  38 lines
• Prologue

  Athena reveals Ajax's madness to Odysseus: driven insane by losing Achilles' armour, Ajax has slaughtered the army's livestock believing them to be his enemies.

  28 lines
• Parodos

  The chorus of Salaminian sailors searches for their lord. Rumours of his night raid terrify them.

  13 lines
• First Episode

  Tecmessa describes the horror of the night: Ajax returned drenched in blood, triumphant, then regained his sanity and saw what he had done.

  39 lines
• Ajax's Shame

  Ajax emerges, lucid and devastated. For a warrior whose identity is honour, the humiliation is unsurvivable. He resolves on death.

  Not yet imported
• First Stasimon

  The chorus laments Ajax's fall and recalls his former glory. They long for home — Salamis, the island they may never see again.

  76 lines
• The Deception Speech

  Ajax appears to relent, speaking beautifully about how all things yield to time. He goes out, ostensibly to purify himself. It is a farewell.

  Not yet imported
• Second Stasimon

  The chorus is deceived and sings with joy, believing Ajax is reconciled. The dramatic irony is devastating.

  38 lines
• The Messenger

  A messenger arrives with a warning from Calchas: Ajax must be kept indoors today or he will die. The chorus scatters to find him.

  Not yet imported
• Ajax's Death

  Alone on the shore, Ajax fixes his sword in the ground, addresses the sun, the earth, and Salamis, and falls upon the blade.

  20 lines
• Tecmessa's Discovery

  Tecmessa finds the body. The chorus arrives. Their captain, the bulwark of the Greek army, lies dead by his own hand.

  13 lines
• Third Stasimon

  The chorus mourns Ajax and curses the war that brought them to Troy.

  70 lines
• Teucer Arrives

  Teucer, Ajax's half-brother, takes charge of the body. He knows he will be punished by their father for failing to bring Ajax home alive.

  22 lines
• Menelaus

  Menelaus forbids burial — Ajax was a traitor. Teucer defies him.

  32 lines
• Agamemnon

  Agamemnon reinforces the decree. Teucer stands firm — Ajax was the greatest warrior after Achilles.

  19 lines