Ajax

Roles

• Ajax - Young Adult (20-35), Adult (36-50), Male

About this piece

Ajax narrates his misfortune

Summary

Towards the end of the Trojan war between Troy and the Greeks, Achilles is killed by the Trojan arrow guided by Apollo. Ajax, considered one of the greatest Greek warriors after Achilles, expects to receive Achille's armor as a prize. The Greek commanders, however, decide to give the armor to Odysseus. Ajax loses his mind over this decision and decides to slay Odysseus and the Greek leaders. Athena, the goddess of war, intervenes and makes Ajax temporarily insane. Ajax mistakes sheep for his intended victims and slays them. Later, he realizes what he has done and feels profound shame. His concubine Tecmessa and his friends try to relieve his grief. He leaves and tells them he is going to bury the sword of Hector, a dead Trojan hero, but instead commits suicide by throwing himself onto the sword. In this monologue Ajax recounts the story of Achille's armor, his outrage and his insane killing of the sheep. He expresses his grief and shame over what he did.

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